Adirondack
After years of declaring many Adirondack lakes uninhabitable for fish and other wildlife, scientists are now seeing signs of recovery. Researchers at the Darrin Fresh Water Institute say that levels of acid depositions in 30 of the lakes studied have decreased moderately.
The reductions are contributed to the 1990 Clean Air Act, which significantly reduced the emissions that cause “acid rain.” However, researchers admit that more research is needed to determine the long term effects.
Acting VP for Hartford
David Rainey ’77 has been named acting vice president for Rensselaer at Hartford. Rainey, who is also the chair of the Hartford Department of the Lally School of Management and Technology, was appointed by President Jackson while the nationwide search for the new position of vice president and dean at Hartford continues.
Rainey will work closely with the administration on day-to-day operation and finalize the performance plan and budget.
Rainey has an M.S. in Engineering Science, a M.S. in Management, and a Ph.D. in environmental studies from RPI.
Finance
Kristen Volpi has been named assistant vice president for finance and controller. As chief accounting officer, Volpi will manage financial reporting, systems, and operations. In addition, she will be responsible for establishing accounting police and practices to ensure that RPI financial operations are efficient and compliant with government and external regulations.
Before this position, Volpi served as associate vice president for finance and administration for the University of Colorado Foundation, Inc. in Boulder, CO.
SEED
The Rensselaer Scientific Computation Research Center announced that researchers have invented a high-tech automated design process that would greatly minimize costs and accelerate the process.
The invention, called Simulation Environment for Engineering Design, is an advanced simulation and computerized component testing that will be used in designing new products. Where prototypes used to cost millions to be manufactured, SEED will help companies and researchers create simulated prototypes that could be changed and that would ensure minimal costs.
The Scientific Computation Research Center is partnering with Simmetrix, Inc., under a $1.9 million grant for the Institute of Standards and Technology. $550,000 of this funding goes to RPI.
Technology awareness
RPI will host a Black Family Technology Awareness event in commemoration of the Black History Month. It will be held on Saturday, February 9, from 11 am to 4:30 pm under the theme “Bridging the Digital Divide: The Importance of Technology in Everyday Life.”
A variety of workshops will be held, among them the interactive session “It’s a Material World” where students explore space vehicle construction and prosthetic devices, and the “Young Inventors” workshop with Tahira Reid ’00, inventor of the double dutch jump rope machine.
Attendants will have a chance to win a drawing for a new personal computer and the first 100 people will be given a T-shirt. For more information contact Trina Beaudoin at beaudp@rpi.edu.
