"Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT"
is published quarterly by the
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Bldg. 1-383, 77 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139

Editor: Debbie Levey
(617)253-7101
levey@mit.edu

Readers' notes

Correction

            Regarding a picture caption in the last issue describing events and speeches at Prof. Rafael Bras’s commemorative dinner, Prof. Peter Eagleson responded: “You wrote (the quotes are yours): ‘We don’t hire children,’ sniffed the professor who initially turned [Bras down for a position on the faculty], later acknowledging that this had been an extremely bad decision.’ You have used quotes, so by the standards of respectable journalism this should be what the (unidentified) professor said. However, this is not what was said and is furthermore a seriously misleading misquote to which I, the speaker in question, object strenuously.
            “Had you followed sound journalistic practice you would have checked out your quotes and would have found (since I handed Prof. Bras a copy of my comments) that I actually said, ‘Being aware of the perils associated with academic “children” joining their “parent” on the faculty,...’
            “In an attempt to be ‘cute’ and/or ‘clever’ you have twisted my statement into a pejorative reflection on the candidate’s age which had nothing to do with the issue. You then compounded the felony by describing the manner in which I had spoken your words back in 1974. I don’t remember you being present. Such tabloid journalism is not what we expect of an MIT publication.”             The newsletter editor regrets having mixed up the quote.

General

            On March 1st, Michael Rosengaus ‘88 (ScD) was named the coordinator of the National Meteorological Service of Mexico. After finishing up at MIT 14 years ago, he joined the Mexican Institute of Water Technology, where he subsequently founded the Hurricane Research Group and the Hydrometeorology Department.

            Thanks to the alumni and companies who participated in the MIT CEE Career Day 2002 on March 21. Students learned about real-world engineering from Ann Shaw of Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc.; Lisa Ferri of Columbia Univ.’s Biosphere Program; Ronald Laurence of Jacques Whitford; Judith Resnick of Linbeck/Kennedy & Rossi; Katherine Fogarty ‘81 of Menzie-Cura & Associates, Inc.; Sylvia Lee ‘99 of Montgomery Watson Harza; Tony Centore ‘62 of Parsons Brinckerhoff; Scott Johnson of Sandia National Labs; John Thomsen and Matthew Tripi ‘99 of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.; Chris Conklin ‘99, Marc Richards, and Jessica Fox ‘00 of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., Nicole Rossbach of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center; and the MIT Venice Internship. The event was organized by the CEE Student Association and Lisa Marie Sandoval ‘03.

            Over Spring Break, Brian Loux ‘04 learned that he was accepted into the National Science Foundation program on Marine Science and Engineering in China (at Qingdao Univ.) with Clarkson University. “I'll actually hop on a plane almost immediately after I finish my finals here, and I’ll be there for most of June and July. I’m going to study landfalling Tropical Cyclones.”
            In addition, Brian will be a counselor for the Freshman Urban Preorientation Program (FUP), and he will participate in the Canada-US AIDS Vaccine ride. “It’s a five-day race of over 400 miles from Montreal to Portland, Maine, and I have to raise $3500 to officially participate. If people want to donate, they can reach me at elbaron@mit.edu.”

Query

            As he composed a possible op-ed piece commemorating the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, Gary Gray '57 (SM in structures) wondered why the study of large-scale fire is not a part of CEE in general since it is such an important interdisciplinary issue, inextricably involved with structures and earthquakes. He feels that there is much too little attention paid to huge fires such as the one in San Francisco, which caused over twice as much damage and twice as many casualties as the quake. Do any readers teach courses or conduct research on large-scale fires?  Is it part of anyone's civil engineering curriculum, aside from being mentioned as part of building codes considered on a building-by-building basis?  Are there any unifying theories?  Please respond to Gary directly at rgrayaia@aol.com.

Arts

            Given the chance to explore new and different activities, grad student Todd Radford has recently discovered his versatile dramatic talents. “I had my stage debut as the title character in the MIT Theater Guild’s performance of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown in Spring 2001. I followed up with a small part in MTG’s summer production of City of Angels, in which I also played trombone in the orchestra. In autumn I played Sir Evelyn Oakleigh in MTG’s Anything Goes, and then ended as Reverend Hale in the MIT Community Players production of The Crucible.” Relegated to backstage work due to knee surgery in January, he is now helping out with set design and construction for the May performance of MITCP’s The Dining Room. “           I'm not sure what my plans are for upcoming shows since my main concerns at the moment are finishing off my Masters and figuring out what I will be doing thereafter.”

            Thai students at MIT produced an elaborate evening of food, dancing, music, and sports displays for their “Made in Thailand” gala on March 1. Among the participants were Warit Durongdej ‘01 (MEng in Information Technology), who played saw-u (alto fiddle) and ching (a metal percussion instrument) in two classical Thai music numbers, and Chakrapan Taukta ‘04, who danced in the Long Drum Dance.
            Having studied saw-u, ching, and another instrument, the ranad-ek, for many years, Warit explains that the saw-u can be played solo and also in ensembles. The body of the 2-stringed instrument is made of a coconut shell, and the bow is heartwood or ivory, with horsehair like a violin bow. “Although small in size, the ching is an important member of the Thai musical ensemble taking on the role of leader or conductor. Shaped like a teacup or like a small hollow cone, the two Ching are played by hitting them together. Usually, we play these instruments in a group with friends in the practice room. The instruments are very fragile considering that they are made from wood or coconut shell. Changes in humidity or temperature can also change the tones of­each­instrument.
            “I am now working as a­Java developer at Enablearning, LLC, based in Cambridge. Although it is not a big company, it gives me the opportunity to do many things myself and I enjoy working at this place!”

            Nelly Rosario ‘94 read from her debut novel, Song of the Water Saints, on April 24 at MIT. The press release notes, “Born in the Dominican Republic, Nelly Rosario grew up in Williamsburg. Though she always knew that she wanted to become an author, she decided to study engineering in college and received her SB in Environmental Engineering from MIT in 1994. Rosario now resides in Brooklyn with her two-year-old daughter, Olivia.
            “Song of the Water Saints follows the lives of four generations of Dominican women. It opens in the Dominican Republic in 1916. Gracelia, a young woman leading a poor, rural life, is frustrated with the opportunities available to her. She leaves her baby daughter Mercedes to be raised by Mercedes stepfather, Casimiro. However, after Casimiro dies, Mercedes is left to raise herself. Devoutly religious, Mercedes eventually marries Andres and they make their way to New York City where they raise their granddaughter Leila. The novel leaves us in 1999 with Leila coming of age in a fast-paced a world so unlike the world her great-grandmother once knew.”

Sports

            As the strongest fencing team in the New England Conference, MIT cleaned up at the new England Championships on Feb. 23 by taking every team prize and most of the squad and individual awards. Team coach Jarek Koniusz called it “the most amazing performance I’ve seen in my nine years at MIT.” Among the stars were perennial winner Caroline Purcell ‘02 in women’s sabre, and Rafael Bras ‘02 (EECS; son of CEE Prof. Rafael Bras) in men’s sabre.