News

Rensselaer researcher to present March 20 at National Academies public meeting

TROY, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson and New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno joined biotechnology researchers and business leaders today at the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies at Rensselaer to unveil a powerful new tool — a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer — that aids in research on the cause and treatment of disease.

Troy, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute today announced that General Wesley K. Clark will deliver the 2006 Commencement address, and will receive an honorary degree at the Institute’s 200th Commencement, on Saturday, May 20, 2006 at 9:30 a.m., at the Harkness Field.  Architect Peter Bohlin ’58, architect, artist, and engineer Santiago Calatrava, and FedEx Corporation chairman, president, and CEO Frederick W. Smith also will be awarded honorary degrees at Commencement.

Troy, N.Y. — Twenty-seven students have recently been inducted into the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Phalanx honor society. Phalanx honors student leadership and celebrates those who have “worked to better the standing of Rensselaer both on and off campus.” New members are selected — or “tapped” — by the student members of Phalanx.

Troy, N.Y. — A team of researchers has developed a new process to make flexible, conducting “nano skins” for a variety of applications, from electronic paper to sensors for detecting chemical and biological agents. The materials, which are described in the March issue of the journal Nano Letters, combine the strength and conductivity of carbon nanotubes with the flexibility of traditional polymers.

TROY, N.Y. — A Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researcher has been awarded a five-year, $947,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study how proteins behave under pressure. Angel Garcia, senior constellation chaired professor in biocomputation and bioinformatics, seeks to address gaps in scientific knowledge regarding the role of water pressure in protein structure and function that could aid in the understanding and treatment of disease.

Troy, N.Y. — In celebration of National Engineers Week 2006, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute hosted a day of hands-on engineering activities Feb. 25 for more than 250 area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The day’s events were organized and run by Rensselaer undergraduate and graduate engineering students.

Troy, N.Y. — A delegation of experts in technological entrepreneurship from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will travel to China for symposia on innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization.

Troy, N.Y.

Troy, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute today announced a $1 million scholarship gift commitment from Jeanne and Frank Fischer ’64, in support of Renaissance at Rensselaer: The Campaign for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Jeanne and Frank Fischer ’64 Scholarship will become part of the Rensselaer endowment, and income from the gift will be used to provide significant scholarship support directly to students.