From the Dean

Change is in the air at the College of Science. We’re glad to see the winter chill waning and the spring warmth and sunshine. The strategic planning effort is moving forward and we are confident it will help position the College as a powerful leader amongst our peers. The Pillar groups are meeting regularly and formulating goals, strategies, and metrics. Last week, some of the co-chairs presented their proposals, which I’d like to share with you.

The Learning Pillar group is enthusiastic about its goal for an interdisciplinary course between the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Fashion Merchandising in Consumer and Family Sciences. The effort would have the two departments working to design a new line of apparel for Avatars. It has been rumored that actuarial sciences is about to launch a brand of virtual life insurance for online gaming characters, which could tie in to make an exciting interdisciplinary initiative!

The Discovery Pillar group believes there isn’t a need for any new discoveries right now. Their proposal includes an initiative to examine what we have already discovered and find ways to learn how to use those things before we go out discovering more.

The Engagement Pillar group appears to be stalled. Its concern is whether or not the community will truly understand the concept of engagement. Outreach was an easier concept for the group to implement; they just went out into the community and gave hugs wherever they went. They question if engagement means that they should randomly start proposing to people, which could be problematic on many levels. They have gone into seclusion for more brain storming sessions.

Our Meet the Dean events are helping us stay connected with alumni and friends. We are looking forward to upcoming events in Dallas this Thursday and Indianapolis later this spring. We are also reaching out to burgeoning bedroom communities like Battle Ground and Buck Creek. Dates are being determined but we promise events that will be fun and engaging.

In Battle Ground, teams will score points by answering the following pressing questions. The team with the most points will receive summer passes to the Battle Ground pool.

How many Fiddler’s Gatherings have you attended?
How many Steam, Power, & Gas shows have you attended?
Can you spell Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa?
Do you know where Prophet’s Rock really is and its geologic age?
Who was Tecumseh’s brother?

Another event is a trivia contest in Buck Creek at the community center; at stake are tickets to the town’s annual fish fry. While I don’t want to give away any secrets, some questions may include

When is the annual Buck Creek fish fry?
What body of water is the town named for?
What river does it flow into?
What is the name of the grain elevator next to the railroad tracks?
What is the Buck Creek zip code?

I think you’ll agree that with ideas and events like these, there’s no question that we’re headed for uncharted waters!

All the best,

Jeff Vitter

SCIENCE NEWS

Bio CD plays new tune

The Bio CD (biological compact disk), a revolutionary medical testing technique that can screen thousands of proteins in your blood for potential diseases while you wait, has medical staff dancing. A cutting-edge feature of the CD went unnoticed until two weeks ago when a technician mistook the Bio CD for a music CD. When it played, the test results were sung aloud to "Hail Purdue." Full story.

Computer Science goes green!

Recent news of global warming has prompted research in many departments and centers at Purdue on the question of how to reduce energy consumption. The Department of Computer Science has joined the effort with a new project named "Deep Green." Department Head Aditya Mathur explained, "Most computing is done in binary—zeroes and ones, or 'no' and 'yes' values. Our faculty are exploring adding a 'yeah, whatever' state that requires less energy. Next on our list is educating our students in 'green' responsibility. This includes teaching them to build new binary trees to offset the environmental effects of their data mining activities." Full story.

Chemistry marches to its own drum

Purdue is one of several schools that claim to have the world’s largest drum. Now researchers in Purdue's chemistry department have taken the opposite tact of designing the world’s smallest drum—a molecule with a circular frame and a flexible arm that can be cycled between positions close to and far away from the drum head. The researchers are adding a phosphorus atom to the design (the Purdue drum needs a ‘P’), and the analytical chemists are working on a sensor to amplify the drum beats so they can be heard. Full story.

Department of Biological Sciences gets new building

Construction of Hockmeyer Hall is underway and another building may be in the future for the Department of Biological Sciences. An unnamed pharmaceutical company has offered to sponsor a new building but they have one requirement—it must resemble a prescription bottle. The building design is revolutionary but the possibility of doorknobs being designed like childproof caps is causing some anxiety. Full story.

CERIAS security suggestions

With new computer security risks appearing daily, keeping your computer secure is a continuous process. Purdue’s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS), the world’s slightly-above-average information security center, recommends five security tips:
Full story.

Password Safety. Writing your computer passwords on a Post-it® note and sticking it to the front of your monitor is not safe. We strongly recommend that you conceal your password Post-it® UNDER your keyboard to prevent others from finding it.

Online Identity. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. Guard against your identity being stolen by always using someone else’s credentials (perhaps a roommate or an unsuspecting neighbor). For as little as $15 you can buy people’s identity, including their mother’s maiden name, address, social security number, and credit card numbers.

Respond to Requests Promptly. There are many organizations actively trying to protect you. Help them to help you by responding promptly to email requests for information from banks, credit unions, IRS refund centers, the “Purdue e-mail account team,” and well-intentioned Nigerian lawyers who are looking out for your interests.

Keep it Simple. The more software programs and revisions you add to your computer, the less memory your computer will have to fight problems. Avoid adding updates and security patches to your computer so that it continues to run efficiently. The storage space you save can then be put to better use by running file-swapping and music sharing programs.

Beware of Vendor Hype. Don’t fall for sales pitches for equipment you don’t really need. When was the last time you heard of someone’s computer spontaneously combusting just because it didn’t have a firewall?

Physics couch gets new home

Mojo the Physics Couch, a motorized couch built by members of the Society of Physics Students at Purdue University, will be relocated to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute. It will reside next to Archie Bunker’s recliner. Full story.

Students blow final project

Inspired by the MythBusters visit to campus last fall, a group of science seniors slated to graduate in May were working on their honors project but found themselves in trouble when they blew up part of Elliott Hall instead. "We didn't follow the MythBuster protocol for calling the police and fire department before any testing," said one student who asked not to be identified. Full story.

Event preparation takes toll

Preparations for Dr. Jane Goodall’s successful March 29 visit were very consuming for John Fisher, director of special events. “I knew he was really getting into the spirit of this event when I saw him roaming the ninth floor of the Math Building looking for nuts and berries,” said Bente Fein, director of advancement. Full story.

Centennial celebrations continue

The College of Science will continue Centennial celebrations by creating 93 new departments. “We just got caught up in the excitement, and before we knew it, the Faculty Council voted to have 100 departments instead of seven. It's a nice round number,” said Greg Frederickson, Faculty Council chair and computer science professor. Dean Jeff Vitter is accepting suggestions for the new areas of study. Full story.

SCIENCE EVENTS AND CALENDAR

Pi Day events a win for department

The Department of Mathematics hosted its annual Pi Day celebration on March 14, 33 and a half seconds before 2 p.m. Activities included eating mini pies for Albert Einstein’s birthday, Pi Decorating, a Pi Mile run, and a Pi-ku contest. The highlight was a fundraiser for Mathematics where people paid to “pie” Maarten de Hoop, professor of mathematics and earth and atmospheric sciences, and director of the Center for Computational and Applied Mathematics. Total raised: $3,141.59! Full story.

Earn your wellness apples

You have plenty of time to earn your apples under the Healthy Purdue incentive program. Guidelines require participants to complete five of eight wellness criteria apples by November 30, 2008 to earn a $250 incentive. You can earn apples by participating in certain programs. Full story.

Courses that might interest you:

Relaxation Techniques for the Stressed, facilitator: Bobby Knight;
Financial Management, facilitator: Jeffrey Skilling (formerly of Enron);
How to Manage on $10 a Day, facilitator: Donald Trump;
Special Session with Rush Limbaugh: How Childproof Doorknobs
Saved My Life!



From the Dean Change is in the air at the College of Science. We’re glad to see the winter chill waning and the spring warmth and sunshine. The strategic planning effort is moving forward and we are confident it will help position the College as a powerful leader amongst our peers. The Pillar groups are meeting regularly and formulating goals, strategies, and metrics. Last week, some of the co-chairs presented their proposals, which I’d like to share with you. The Learning Pillar group is enthusiastic about its goal for an interdisciplinary course between the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Fashion Merchandising in Consumer and Family Sciences. The effort would have the two departments working to design a new line of apparel for Avatars. It has been rumored that actuarial sciences is about to launch a brand of virtual life insurance for online gaming characters, which could tie in to make an exciting interdisciplinary initiative! The Discovery Pillar group believes there isn’t a need for any new discoveries right now. Their proposal includes an initiative to examine what we have already discovered and find ways to learn how to use those things before we go out discovering more. The Engagement Pillar group appears to be stalled. Its concern is whether or not the community will truly understand the concept of engagement. Outreach was an easier concept for the group to implement; they just went out into the community and gave hugs wherever they went. They question if engagement means that they should randomly start proposing to people, which could be problematic on many levels. They have gone into seclusion for more brain storming sessions. Our Meet the Dean events are helping us stay connected with alumni and friends. We are looking forward to upcoming events in Dallas this Thursday and Indianapolis later this spring. We are also reaching out to burgeoning bedroom communities like Battle Ground and Buck Creek. Dates are being determined but we promise events that will be fun and engaging. In Battle Ground, teams will score points by answering the following pressing questions. The team with the most points will receive summer passes to the Battle Ground pool. How many Fiddler’s Gatherings have you attended? How many Steam, Power, & Gas shows have you attended? Can you spell Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa? Do you know where Prophet’s Rock really is and its geologic age? Who was Tecumseh’s brother? Another event is a trivia contest in Buck Creek at the community center; at stake are tickets to the town’s annual fish fry. While I don’t want to give away any secrets, some questions may include When is the annual Buck Creek fish fry? What body of water is the town named for? What river does it flow into? What is the name of the grain elevator next to the railroad tracks? What is the Buck Creek zip code? I think you’ll agree that with ideas and events like these, there’s no question that we’re headed for uncharted waters! All the best, Jeff Vitter SCIENCE NEWS Bio CD plays new tune The Bio CD (biological compact disk), a revolutionary medical testing technique that can screen thousands of proteins in your blood for potential diseases while you wait, has medical staff dancing. A cutting-edge feature of the CD went unnoticed until two weeks ago when a technician mistook the Bio CD for a music CD. When it played, the test results were sung aloud to "Hail Purdue." Full story. Computer Science goes green! Recent news of global warming has prompted research in many departments and centers at Purdue on the question of how to reduce energy consumption. The Department of Computer Science has joined the effort with a new project named "Deep Green." Department Head Aditya Mathur explained, "Most computing is done in binary—zeroes and ones, or 'no' and 'yes' values. Our faculty are exploring adding a 'yeah, whatever' state that requires less energy. Next on our list is educating our students in 'green' responsibility. This includes teaching them to build new binary trees to offset the environmental effects of their data mining activities." Full story. Chemistry marches to its own drum Purdue is one of several schools that claim to have the world’s largest drum. Now researchers in Purdue's chemistry department have taken the opposite tact of designing the world’s smallest drum—a molecule with a circular frame and a flexible arm that can be cycled between positions close to and far away from the drum head. The researchers are adding a phosphorus atom to the design (the Purdue drum needs a ‘P’), and the analytical chemists are working on a sensor to amplify the drum beats so they can be heard. Full story. Department of Biological Sciences gets new building Construction of Hockmeyer Hall is underway and another building may be in the future for the Department of Biological Sciences. An unnamed pharmaceutical company has offered to sponsor a new building but they have one requirement—it must resemble a prescription bottle. The building design is revolutionary but the possibility of doorknobs being designed like childproof caps is causing some anxiety. Full story. CERIAS security suggestions With new computer security risks appearing daily, keeping your computer secure is a continuous process. Purdue’s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS), the world’s slightly-above-average information security center, recommends five security tips: Full story. Password Safety. Writing your computer passwords on a Post-it® note and sticking it to the front of your monitor is not safe. We strongly recommend that you conceal your password Post-it® UNDER your keyboard to prevent others from finding it. Online Identity. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. Guard against your identity being stolen by always using someone else’s credentials (perhaps a roommate or an unsuspecting neighbor). For as little as $15 you can buy people’s identity, including their mother’s maiden name, address, social security number, and credit card numbers. Respond to Requests Promptly. There are many organizations actively trying to protect you. Help them to help you by responding promptly to email requests for information from banks, credit unions, IRS refund centers, the “Purdue e-mail account team,” and well-intentioned Nigerian lawyers who are looking out for your interests. Keep it Simple. The more software programs and revisions you add to your computer, the less memory your computer will have to fight problems. Avoid adding updates and security patches to your computer so that it continues to run efficiently. The storage space you save can then be put to better use by running file-swapping and music sharing programs. Beware of Vendor Hype. Don’t fall for sales pitches for equipment you don’t really need. When was the last time you heard of someone’s computer spontaneously combusting just because it didn’t have a firewall? Physics couch gets new home Mojo the Physics Couch, a motorized couch built by members of the Society of Physics Students at Purdue University, will be relocated to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute. It will reside next to Archie Bunker’s recliner. Full story. Students blow final project Inspired by the MythBusters visit to campus last fall, a group of science seniors slated to graduate in May were working on their honors project but found themselves in trouble when they blew up part of Elliott Hall instead. "We didn't follow the MythBuster protocol for calling the police and fire department before any testing," said one student who asked not to be identified. Full story. Event preparation takes toll Preparations for Dr. Jane Goodall’s successful March 29 visit were very consuming for John Fisher, director of special events. “I knew he was really getting into the spirit of this event when I saw him roaming the ninth floor of the Math Building looking for nuts and berries,” said Bente Fein, director of advancement. Full story. Centennial celebrations continue The College of Science will continue Centennial celebrations by creating 93 new departments. “We just got caught up in the excitement, and before we knew it, the Faculty Council voted to have 100 departments instead of seven. It's a nice round number,” said Greg Frederickson, Faculty Council chair and computer science professor. Dean Jeff Vitter is accepting suggestions for the new areas of study. Full story. SCIENCE EVENTS AND CALENDAR Pi Day events a win for department The Department of Mathematics hosted its annual Pi Day celebration on March 14, 33 and a half seconds before 2 p.m. Activities included eating mini pies for Albert Einstein’s birthday, Pi Decorating, a Pi Mile run, and a Pi-ku contest. The highlight was a fundraiser for Mathematics where people paid to “pie” Maarten de Hoop, professor of mathematics and earth and atmospheric sciences, and director of the Center for Computational and Applied Mathematics. Total raised: $3,141.59! Full story. Earn your wellness apples You have plenty of time to earn your apples under the Healthy Purdue incentive program. Guidelines require participants to complete five of eight wellness criteria apples by November 30, 2008 to earn a $250 incentive. You can earn apples by participating in certain programs. Full story. Courses that might interest you: Relaxation Techniques for the Stressed, facilitator: Bobby Knight; Financial Management, facilitator: Jeffrey Skilling (formerly of Enron); How to Manage on $10 a Day, facilitator: Donald Trump; Special Session with Rush Limbaugh: How Childproof Doorknobs Saved My Life!	April 1, 2008 In this issue Science News and Research Bio CD plays new tune Computer Science goes green Chemistry marches to its own drum Biological Sciences gets new building CERIAS security suggestions Physics couch gets new home Students blow final project Event preparation takes toll Centennial celebrations continue Science Events and Calendar Pi Day events a win for department Earn your wellness apples Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Share your professional news and your personal and family milestones by clicking here. 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