News

Leon Lederman to Discuss Pre-College Science Education Troy, N.Y. — Leon Lederman, Nobel Prize-winner and internationally renowned particle physicist, will offer some radical ideas for improving pre-college science education when he delivers the annual Robert Resnick Lecture Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 4 to 5 p.m. in room 3303 of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Russell Sage Laboratory. The talk, titled “A Vision of 21st Century Science Education,” is free and open to the public.

Award will be given to underrepresented students of color Troy, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has established a new scholarship for underrepresented minority students. The award, the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship, will provide financial support to one or more qualified and deserving undergraduates who have unmet needs and require additional support to enroll in or continue their studies at Rensselaer.

Hartford, CT — Dennis Tito ’64, founder and CEO of Wilshire Associates Inc., was given the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Hartford Chapter of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Alumni Association today. He received the honor at a dinner reception at the Hartford Club on Prospect Street this evening. The award recognizes a graduate’s outstanding achievement in professional and/or civic involvement.

Alumnus to Discuss His Career, Entrepreneurship, and the Economy Troy, N.Y. — Dennis Tito, founder, president, and CEO of Wilshire Associates Inc., will participate in the Rensselaer Alumni Association Back-to-Campus Speaker Series at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Heffner Alumni House on Peoples Avenue. The event is free and open to the public.

Troy, N.Y. — John J. McDonnell Jr. ’61, founder, chairman, and CEO of Transaction Network Services (TNS) in Reston, Va., was named the 2002 William F. Glaser ’53 Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. McDonnell’s company is one of the world’s leading providers of fast, reliable data communications services for transaction-oriented applications.

Entrepreneur Jim Mullen ’80 Will Talk About Jobs in Biotechnology Troy, N.Y. — James Mullen ’80, president and CEO of Biogen Inc., will offer advice to students, scientists, and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking careers in biotechnology on Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Heffner Alumni House. The event is free and open to the public.

Troy, N.Y. — James M. Tien has been named the prestigious Yamada Corporation Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, President Shirley Ann Jackson has announced today. Tien, chair and professor in the Department of Decision Sciences and Engineering Systems (DSES) and professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering, is the first to be selected for the named professorship established last year.

Albany, N.Y. — Attendees at a major conference in the Capital Region convened to hammer out recommendations for solving the looming shortage of a qualified nuclear workforce and to strengthen collaborations between universities, industry, and government. The conference, titled Universities, Industry, and Government: Partners for the Future of Nuclear Education and Technology, was sponsored by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Nuclear Energy Institute, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Troy, N.Y. — Three companies that got their start at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Incubator have been asked to present their business plans to more than 100 venture capitalists, angel investors, bankers, and private lenders at one of the country’s largest and most important clean energy venture forums.

Albany — The future of education in nuclear sciences and engineering brings a large contingent of experts to New York’s Capital Region Monday, Oct. 28, for a major conference at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center. Sponsored by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Nuclear Energy Institute, and the U.S. Department of Energy, the event will attract leading representatives from education, industry, and government.