Editor’s column

If anything good comes from this crisis, the first experience with a global pandemic for any of us, it may be a newfound respect for science. The learned experts were too often ignored early in the outbreak. But soon, every politician had one standing by his or her side. That’s who the public wants to hear from now. A doctor. A scientist. A straight-talking specialist.

I thought of that as Case’s researchers and innovators, many of them immersed in their own research, dropped everything to target the coronavirus. At the urging of the dean, Case staff and faculty went into “emergency mode,” focusing their world-class skills and research teams on the global crisis.

News of their nascent innovations and hopeful projects aroused the interest of a virus-weary public. Professors Yanfang Ye and Ken Loparo practically became media stars in Greater Cleveland after they introduced an online tool that helps people map the coronavirus danger around them. Seemingly every TV and radio station in the area sought to interview them about their Alpha Satellite, and some national outlets as well.

Why? There was no shortage of coronavirus news to report. But the thought of data scientists and engineers working on solutions gave people something new, hope — a blessing we had not felt enough of. Everyone realizes now that COVID-19 will not be vanquished by money or might or bravado — but by science. And they have not heard the last from the Case School of Engineering.

Professor Anant Madabhushi, one of the world’s leading innovators in medical imaging, has trained his super computers on the disease. Professor Jing Li asked the National Science Foundation for a rapid response to his proposal to apply data science to decoding the transmission of the virus. But he’s not waiting for the grant. He’s told his graduate students to get cracking.

When we finally win this war, I think all of us are going to look more deferentially toward the people who don’t deny problems, but address them and seek solutions: Scientists and engineers.

Robert Smith Editor Robert.Smith@casealum.org

The Case Alumnus is published quarterly for members and friends of the Case Alumni Association, which serves the interests of more than 20,000 alumni of the Case School of Applied Science, Case Institute of Technology and the Case School of Engineering.

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OFFICERS Sunniva Collins, MS ’91, PhD ’94, President Ron Cass ’84, 1st Vice President Joe Fakult ’90, 2nd Vice President Brian Casselberry ’95, Treasurer Frank Merat ’72, MS ’75, PhD ’78, Assistant Treasurer Curtis Grant ’11, MEM ‘12, Secretary

STAFF Stephen Zinram, Executive Director Thomas Conlon, Chief Financial Officer Emily Speer, Director of Gift Planning and Grants Compliance Robert Smith, Director of Communications Kelly Hendricks, Director of Alumni Relations Ryan Strine, Director of Annual Giving Janna Greer, Manager of Donor Relations and Grants Lillian Messner, Manager of Digital Content Pamela Burtonshaw, Database Administrator Melissa Slager, Manager, Executive Office

CASE ALUMNUS Robert L. Smith, Editor Steve Toth, Toth Creative Group, Layout and Design Duke Print & Mail Solutions

PHOTO CREDITS Wetzler’s Photography Roadell Hickman Photography Flaticon.com, Icons

To serve and advance the interests of the Case School of Engineering, the math and applied sciences of Case Western Reserve University and its alumni and students.

As they learn engineering skills beneath the greenhouses, Case students help an innovative urban farm flourish.

New film makes stars of biomedical engineers and the people they help.

The pandemic demands the best of scientists and engineers — stat. Case researchers are rising to the challenge.

Cover Story 16 New civil engineer

Civil engineers like Kirsten Bowen ’96 put their work on display. Exhibit A: The taming of Cleveland’s Memorial Shoreway.

Students say Case’s “top prof” offers sound instruction and something more.

Alumni Adventures

An Invacare engineer by day, Brett DiCello ’18 is drawn to the stage at night. Thanks, mom.

1 Dean’s Message 2 Editor’s column 4 Letters, posts and emails 6 Around the Quad 8 Alumni Newsmakers 22 News Bytes 24 Case Memories 27 Class Notes 30 In Memoriam 31 Tribute — Jack Flynn ’51, MS ’53, PhD ’56 32 Long We'll Remember

Spring 2020 • vol. 36 • no. 1

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