WEEK OF 03.31.03

IIT Research Professor Richard Beissinger lost his long battle with cancer last week, after a 20-year career as a member of the Main Campus faculty. Funeral services were held March 27, 2003, in Chicago.

Beissinger joined IIT in 1981 as assistant professor of chemical engineering and rose to the rank of full professor in 1994. Beissinger was renowned at IIT as the first professor to incorporate biomedical engineering in the chemical engineering curriculum. He organized and taught IIT's first undergraduate and graduate courses in transport phenomena in living systems. He was also a member of the initial faculty committee established to create the Engineering/M.D. joint degree program in cooperation with the Chicago Medical School.

Beissinger’s work was both innovative and practical, and was documented in a number of patents, including a patent for the production of artificial blood. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the IIT Center of Excellence in Polymer Science and Engineering, and the development of its related research and education programs. In 1998 he received the ChEE Department’s Service Award. Dr. Beissinger is survived by his wife Janet and five children.

Contributions may be sent in Professor Beissinger's memory to: The Richard L. Beissinger Memorial Fund, c/o IIT Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Perlstein Hall 127.

With April nearly upon us, IIT’s student affairs team has been busy selecting winners of annual IIT Main Campus awards. This year, Donald Chmielewski is the recipient of the Outstanding Student Organization Adviser Award, honoring an adviser for their outstanding contributions as a volunteer. Chmielewski, an assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering, will receive his award on April 16, 2003, as part of the Distinguished Service Awards banquet.

A number of students will also be recognized at the banquet, including:

Kristina Felfe, recipient of the Richard Babcock Leadership Award, honoring one outstanding sophomore or junior who has demonstrated significant leadership skills in his or her personal and academic life. The award winner must have a cumulative and major GPA of not less than 3.0, hold a position of leadership in a university-recognized student organization, and display a high standard of ethics, as well as religious and racial tolerance. This prestigious award carries an honorarium of $7,500.

Also, the following students will receive the Clinton E. Stryker Distinguished Service Award, honoring students who have made notable contributions to campus life:

Michelle Ogrinc and Jesse Yurkovich are the recipients of the Outstanding Student Employee of the Year Award, honoring students for outstanding job performance and dedicated service to the IIT community.

Bo Lu is the recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, honoring a graduate teaching assistant who has shown extraordinary dedication and commitment to undergraduate education.

IIT’s Campus Ministry is sponsoring a new lecture series on the meaning of technology in human life. Three speakers will offer input and invite discussion on how technology can best serve the common good and what is the relationship between technological advances and human progress.

One highlight of the series is a visit by Fr. Michael Amaladoss, S.J., professor of theology at Vidyajyoti College in Delhi, India. Fr. Amaladoss, an internationally known author and speaker, is one of the most highly respected Christian theologians in Asia.

All lectures are on Wednesdays at noon in the HUB. Participants may bring their own lunch. Beverages and cookies will be provided.

APRIL'S SCHEDULE:

"The Relationship of Faith and Science"
Wednesday, April 2
Noon - 1 p.m.
HUB - Hermann Lounge
Most Rev. Joseph Perry, J.C.L., D.D. Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Chicago

"Technology, Globalization and the Survival of Local Cultures"
Wednesday, April 9
Noon - 1 p.m.
HUB - Trustee Dining Room
Rev. Michael Amaladoss, S.J. Professor of Theology, Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi, India; Director, Institute for Dialogue with Cultures and Religions, Chennai, India

For more information visit this Web-site: www.iit.edu/~ministry/tech.html or contact Campus Minister Eric Schwister, 312.567.3160 or schwister@iit.edu

Biology Colloquium, March 31, 2003:
Dr. Jie Liang, Bioengineering Department, UIC.
Topic: "Spatial and Surface Pattern of Proteins and Optimal Potential for Protein Folding and Protein Design."
Lecture 3:50 p.m., refreshments 3:30 p.m., Life Sciences Building, Room 111.

Main Campus Open House, April 1, 2003:
Prospective students and interested members of the public can learn about IIT's new Center for Professional Development and IIT's graduate and undergraduate degree programs, Information Technology Certificate Programs and 1-3 day Professional Development Short Courses.
4 p.m. - 7 p.m., HUB.

Special Lecture, War on Iraq, April 1, 2003:
Chicago-Kent College of Law presents "A New Kind of War: The Media's Role in the War in Iraq."
Speaker: Joel Weissman, host of WTTW's Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review. 
12:50 p.m., Downtown Campus Ogilvie Auditorium
 
Business Leadership Forum, April 3, 2003:
Stuart Graduate School of Business presents "Discover Your Super Memory."
Speaker: Jason Chen, Executive Director, Think Tank Consulting
4 - 6 p.m. Downtown Campus, Room 490.
For more information contact Phillip Wah at 312.906.6502 or pwah@stuart.iit.edu

First Thursday Program, April 3, 2003:
Dr. Nasrin Khalili, Stuart Graduate School of Business
Topic: "Online/Distance Education, with an EM Twist." One of IIT’s ventures with online learning has been in environmental management. Professor Khalili, the lead instructor and course designer for that work, will discuss that experience, what was learned, and how we will apply that learning in the future.
Noon - 1:15 p.m., Stuart Graduate School of Business, 4th floor, Downtown Campus.
RSVP to John Blanchet-Ruth at 312.906.6518 or jb-r@stuart.iit.edu.

Rice Campus Open House, April 3, 2003:
Prospective students and interested members of the public can learn about IIT's new Center for Professional Development and IIT's graduate and undergraduate degree programs, Information Technology Certificate Programs and 1-3 day Professional Development Short Courses.
5 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rice Campus in Wheaton.

College of Architecture Exhibit through April 19, 2003:
Faculty Exhibit series continues with the work of John Kriegshauser. The exhibit includes three furniture pieces in three different materials; wood, metal and plastic. These pieces demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship rarely seen today.
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily, S.R. Crown Hall, Graham Resource Center.