Congressional grant
After the passage of the 2005 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill in Congress this past Saturday, November 27, RPI received $500,000 in federal grants.
The purpose of a portion of the funds is for the Center for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences. The center is researching the possible integration of experimental bioscience with advanced methods of computationally predicting biological functions.
The appropriation bill also makes appropriations for the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, the Delta Regional Authority, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Office of the Inspector General, and the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board totaling some $28 billion.
The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board is primarily tasked with the completion of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage project. It is hoped that through innovation in the biosciences that governments can change the way nuclear waste is handled and stored—as the current casks being employed are seen as short term solutions.
In 2005, David Duquette, professor and chair of Material Sciences and Engineering at RPI continues his service on the board, offering his expertise in the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of metals and alloys.
Robert Palazzo named director of Biotech Center
Last week, Robert Palazzo was appointed director of the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies. As director of the Biotechnology Center, he will oversee RPI’s priorities in biotechnology research, coordinating and developing the center’s research programs and core facilities.
The search committee initially considered many candidates from the biotechnology industry and academia. Recently, they focused their attentions on Palazzo, whom they consider to be an excellent internal candidate for the position as his research background, experience, and accomplishments as acting director have been made apparent during the progress of the Biotechnology’s construction and staffing.
Palazzo will be heading RPI’s largest foray into the life sciences as the center strives to provide facilities for research and education focused on the application of engineering and the physical and information sciences to biology.
Troy Judge removed from bench re-hired by city
Approximately a month ago, the New York State Court of Appeals voted 4-3 to remove Judge Henry Bauer from his criminal court bench for inappropriate use of excessive bails and other tactics in order to coerce guilty pleas from suspects.
On November 8, Henry Bauer began his new part-time job as a deputy corporation counsel for the city of Troy at a salary of $30,000. Mayor Harry Tutunjian defended the hiring as not being in any way secretive or related to his removal from the criminal court bench.
As for Bauer’s former bench, the newly elected Democrat Christopher Maier won the race against Republican Joseph Ahearn and will take office on January 1.
