Continuing RPI’s success in nuclear fusion research, Institute researchers have developed a tabletop accelerator for producing nuclear fusion, helping to confirm results from earlier experiments at the University of California, Los Angeles. UCLA Professor Seth Putterman led a team which created the initial version of the device in 2005. The developments are not directly connected to energy research initiatives, and potential applications are more focused on technologies commonly associated with imaging and detection, as well as medical applications.

The new results, discovered by Associate Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering Yaron Danon and graduate student Frank Saglime are discussed in the February 10 issue of Physical Review Letters. The research was funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Engineering Education Research program.

Power struggles

Following the unseasonably warm weather experienced by most of the Capital District during the early to middle part of last week, strong winds and thunderstorms ushered in a return to colder-than-average temperatures amid high wind warnings from the National Weather Service. While the effects of the wind did not cause serious damage in the Capital District, four resulting deaths were reported in the region, including two in Rochester and one in Saratoga Springs.

According to an e-mail to campus residents from Associate Director of Residence Life Melissa Powers, “Power lines on Burdett Avenue shorted out disrupting power to the Commons and all of the residence halls on Freshman Hill.” Flickering lights were also observed on the core campus. Power was restored by National Grid / Niagara Mohawk at approximately 12:45 pm.

Jackson rejects offer

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the front-running candidate to succeed George Pataki as governor, recently approached RPI President Shirley Ann Jackson about running along-side him as a candidate for lieutenant governor. Spitzer eventually selected state Senate Minority Leader David Paterson, who represents Harlem and portions of the upper west side of Manhattan.

In comments published in The Business Review of Albany, Jackson stated, “The subject came up, but I’m focused on what I’m doing here, and I do finish what I start. This is a wonderful platform to address the issues that I’ve devoted so much of my life and time to.”

At the most recent Pizza with the President event, held on February 13, President Jackson acknowledged that her “quiet crisis” message has gained added attention following President Bush’s State of the Union address, and that she had dinner at the White House earlier this month.

Concerns for ski resorts

While many students have enjoyed warmer than average temperatures and sunny skies, a legion of sports enthusiasts have deplored the departure from normal winter weather conditions in upstate New York and neighboring New England. According to the Albany office of the National Weather Service, the area has observed just 26.2 inches of snow since the start of the season, compared to an average of 45.2 inches. Last year, 44.6 inches of snow had fallen on the Capital District by this date.

Ski areas often note that even though there may not be snow in backyards in the major cities, there probably is snow on the slopes. According to Chic Wilson, general manager at Willard Mountain in Easton, “We have gotten to the point where we realize that we can’t rely on mother nature ... Customers are saying that conditions are fine.” Despite solid conditions at Wilard, Wilson estimates that “attendance is off between 20 and 25 percent.” Not all areas seem to be having a bad snowfall year, however. At Whiteface Mountain near Lake Placid, 142 inches of snow have fallen since the season began. In a normal year, approximately 168 inches of snow fall in a typical winter at Whiteface.

CAREER award given

Alhussein Abouzeid, assistant professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering, has been awarded a Faculty Early Career Development Award, CAREER, which includes a five-year, $400,000 grant, from the National Science Foundation.

The grant will fund his research in dynamic wireless networks with applications in environmental sensing and disaster response, work which he has been engaged in for several years. His work will continue to focus on multi-hop ad-hoc wireless networks.

The CAREER Award is given to faculty members at the beginning of their academic careers and is one of the NSF’s most competitive awards, placing emphasis on high-quality research and novel education initiatives.