February 13, 2017

Dear members of the Hajim School community:

Students interested in an exciting overseas experience this summer — and earning six academic credits as well — should drop by 2-162 Dewey Hall at 5:15 p.m. tomorrow to hear about the Ghana field school being organized by Renato Perucchio, director of our Archaeology, Technology, and Historical Structures program in collaboration with the University of Ghana. From May 28 to July 1, 10 to 15 undergraduate and graduate students in engineering, the social sciences, and the humanities will launch a multidisciplinary study of historic Elmina Castle on Ghana’s Atlantic Coast, engaging in structural analysis, historical and cultural context, surveying, and 2D and 3D modeling. There will be visits to eight other sites as well. Michael Jarvis, our director of digital media studies who has similar projects underway in Bermuda, will be part of the team. This is an extraordinary opportunity for students. Interested? Please apply as soon as possible to Renato at rlp@me.rochester.edu. Field schools in Bermuda and Italy will also be discussed at this meeting.

The Memorial Art Gallery’s “Hidden Passions: Inspiring Conversations about Hyphenated Lives” is in its third season of celebrating the creative lives and private hobbies of Rochesterians. Given that many of our Hajim School students excel in activities outside the classroom, it is not surprising that three of them were featured on Saturday as part of the celebration. Erik Rosenkranz ’18 of mechanical engineering has a passion for woodworking — especially for creating longboards, a larger type of skateboard designed for speed instead of tricks. “Everyone has that hidden passion, something that they like,” Erik says, “and whatever that is, you should always go in and do the best. Because those times that you’re doing whatever you want to do are when you’re being you—you’re being true to yourself.” Omar Soufan ’17 of biomedical engineering, along with friend and classmate Ibrahim Mohammad ’17 of mechanical engineering, have set up a physical rehabilitation center in Lebanon to help Syrian refugees wounded in that country’s civil war. “Our goal was simple,” Ibrahim says. “We wanted to help as many refugees as we could.” Omar, who left war-torn Syria for the United States five years ago, and Ibrahim, a Palestinian refugee who lived in Lebanon before coming to America, are now working on the second phase of their project, Prosthesis for a New Syria, which aims to bring 3D-printed prosthetic upper limbs to refugees at the rehabilitation center. We wish them all the best in this worthy project!

Congratulations to Ken Sims, a PhD student working in the lab of Danielle Benoit, associate professor of biomedical engineering. Ken has received funding from the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellowship program to support his research on designing a drug delivery system capable of penetrating dental plaque and releasing antibacterial drugs specifically where cavities develop: the acid-covered tooth enamel surface.

Our condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Albert Simon, emeritus professor and former chair of mechanical engineering and senior scientist at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, who passed away recently. Professor Simon was a leading theoretician in the fields of thermonuclear and plasma physics, whose work illuminated important aspects of direct-drive laser-fusion research and whose high standing in the field attracted many graduate students to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. Read more here.

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman