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Passport to Rensselaer Your Guide to Virtual Reunion & Homecoming

October 7-9, 2021

JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS Schools • Architecture • Engineering • Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences • Lally School of Management • Science

Research Showcase and Center Highlights • Research @ Rensselaer • Center For Architecture Science And Ecology (CASE) • The Center For Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) • Cognitive And Immersive Systems Lab @ EMPAC (CISL) • Rensselaer Institute For Data Exploration And Applications (IDEA) • Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media And Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) • Center For Materials, Devices, And Integrated Systems (CMDIS) • Additional Resources: Videos and Links

Divisions and Departments • Student Life • Athletics • Rensselaer at Work • Institute Advancement

WEEKEND EVENTS The following events will be available live at the specified times. Use the individual event links below to access them. If you can’t join us live, don’t worry! Recordings of these events will be available following the broadcasts. Be sure to check back!

Thursday, October 7 Rensselaer Scholarship Gala: Virtual Auction Live now! Closes October 8, 9:00 p.m. EDT

VISIT AUCT ION

Presidential State of the Institute Virtual Address 3:00 p.m. EDT Join President Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., to celebrate the progress and accomplishments of the past year, and to learn about the plans for the future of Rensselaer.

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All-Class Happy Hour 5:00 p.m. EDT Are you looking to connect with classmates and other RPI alumni/ae to reminisce and network? This is the opportunity. Breakout groups will be set up based upon your class year(s).

WATC H LI VE

Black and Latinx Alumni Group (BLAG) Meeting 7:00 p.m. EDT The Rensselaer’s Black and Latinx Alumni Group (BLAG) will hold their General Body Meeting. Join to learn more about BLAG’s current projects and networking.

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LIVE

Friday, October 8 Rensselaer Scholarship Gala: Virtual Auction Live now! Closes October 8 at 9:00 p.m. EDT

VISIT AUCT ION

Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 3:00 p.m. EDT The Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame honors the past while celebrating all generations of Rensselaer pioneers. Join us as we honor those inducted in 2017 and 2020. 2020 Inductees: John Joseph Albright, Class of 1868 Marta Ruth Bohn-Meyer, Class of 1979 Charles I. Cassell, Class of 1951 Edgar M. Cortright Jr., Class of 1947

Peter E. Hart, Ph.D., Class of 1962 James A. Parsons, Ph.D., Class of 1922 Augustine Sackett, Class of 1862 Kathryn Egloff Zoon, Ph.D., Class of 1970

2017 Inductees: Alfred P. Boller, Class of 1861 Harry H. Rousseau, Class of 1891 Wesley A. Brown, Class of 1951

For more details on each of these inductees, visit the Alumni Hall of Fame website. 

RPI @ Union College: Women’s Hockey

W AT C H LI V E

6:00 p.m. EDT Watch the live broadcast from Union College.

Rensselyrics Virtual Concert 7:00 p.m. EDT The Rensselyrics are a co-ed a cappella group that sings mainly contemporary music arranged by its members. The ‘Lyrics are the oldest a cappella group at RPI, having been born from the original RPI Glee Club (the oldest a cappella group in the country) in 1991. They perform at many campus and regional events, and each semester host their own invitational. The Rensselyrics are proud to perform for this year’s Virtual Reunion & Homecoming.

E W AT C H L IV

RPI vs. Bowling Green: Men’s Hockey W AT C H LIVE

7:00 p.m. EDT Watch the game live on RPITV’s YouTube Channel.

Saturday, October 9 RPI vs. Buffalo State: Football

RPI vs. Union: Women’s Hockey

RPI vs. Bowling Green: Men’s Hockey

12:00 p.m. EDT

3:00 p.m. EDT

7:00 p.m. EDT

WATC H LIV E

Watch each of these games live on RPITV’s YouTube Channel.

WELCOME TO VIRTUAL REUNION & HOMECOMING A Message from the President President Jackson welcomes you to our virtual celebration of the important tradition of Reunion & Homecoming, and to the exciting array of recorded and live presentations that make up the program.

VIEW VIDEO MESSAGE

 The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D.

JOURNEY THROUGH RENSSELAER SCHOOLS

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE A Message from the Dean Dean Douglis shares amazing stories from the School of Architecture as, in spite of a global pandemic, we continue to educate the next generation of architects to go out into the world and do great things. Learn how virtual course delivery and innovative teaching strategies have empowered the school – and Rensselaer – for the future.

VIEW VIDEO MESSAGE

 Dean Evan Douglis

Architecture is situated at a unique moment in history where a convergence of global interests demands critical and innovative responses.

Support the ture chitec School of Ar und Annual F

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Architecture Showcase 1. Architecture at Rensselaer Video  2. Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE) Website  3. Lighting Research Center Website  4. Architectural Acoustics Website  5. Spring 2021 Lecture Series - Anne Schopf ’83 – “Quiet Activism”  An alumna and a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council, Anne Schopf is a principal with Mahlum Architects in Oregon. Working across all studios in the firm in her role as Design Partner, she challenges teams to question deeply and listen intently to support the creation of healthy and sustainable spaces for their clients and the communities they serve. Recorded 3/18/21

6. Recent Architecture Lectures The three distinguished guest speakers highlighted below are a sample from our recent 2020-21 Lecture Series. Their unique contribution as leaders in the profession reaffirm the School of Architecture’s commitment to addressing the important environmental, technological, and social challenges of our time. Here is brief summary of their career highlights, and links to their lectures: Maurice Cox, a leader of the public interest design movement, is Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development in Chicago. Prior to that, he directed planning and development in Detroit, where he championed the equitable redevelopment of neighborhoods. Earlier in his career, he was director of Tulane City Center and associate dean for Community Engagement at the Tulane University School of Architecture in New Orleans. Cox is a co-founder of the national SEED (Social, Economic, Environmental, Design) Network, and was design director for the National Endowment for the Arts 2007-2010. Maurice Cox presents “Designing Equity” Annual Global Perspectives Lecture. 

Rune Grasdal is Senior Architect at Snohetta firm in Norway, and was the lead designer for Under, Europe’s first under-water restaurant. Snohetta was formed in 1989 as a trans-disciplinary firm that integrates architectural, landscape, interior, and graphic design. Besides Under, the firm’s works include the New Library of Alexandria in Egypt, the Norwegian National Opera in Norway, the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at the World Trade Center in New York City, the expansion to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the design for Norway’s new banknotes. Rune Grasdal presents “Under” 

Martha Schwartz is a landscape architect, urbanist, artist and climate activist who founded Martha Schwartz Partners, an award-winning international design firm. She is a tenured Professor in Practice of Landscape Architecture at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and a founding member of the Working Group of Sustainable Cities at Harvard’s Center for the Environment. She also is a founding member of the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s Working Group on Climate Change, and the founder of MAYDAY, Earth, a non-profit whose goal is to educate people about geoengineering and global-scale climate solutions. Martha Schwartz presents “Climate Change and Why We Will Need Geoengineering.” 

7. Preparing Future Leaders  A series of slides highlighting the importance of the discipline of architecture during a time of environmental crisis, and calling attention to the broad number of exciting and innovative educational and research opportunities afforded at Rensselaer’s School of Architecture.

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING A Message from the Dean The aspiration of the School of Engineering is to define and to lead 21st century technological education. Dean Garde outlines what this ambition means to the school as we refresh and update curriculum, and provide pedagogical innovations focused on experiential learning, innovation and entrepreneurship, and integration of technology.

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Dean Shekhar Garde, Ph.D. Elaine and Jack Parker Chaired Professor

The School of Engineering is committed to educating engineers prepared to solve society’s grand technical challenges with integrity and excellence.

Support the ring ginee School of En und Annual F

eng.rpi.edu 

Engineering Showcase 1. The Mill  2. The Forge 

15. Engineering a Better World Using Mirrors, Sun, and Steam 

3. Women at Rensselaer Mentor Program 

16. Rensselaer Working on Project to Help Refuel Satellites in Space 

4. Rensselaer Manufactures PPE for Albany Med 

17. Enhanced Robot “Vision” Enables More Natural Interaction with Humans 

5. Juergen Hahn Discusses Blood Test for Mothers of Autistic Children 

18. Rensselaer Augmented and Virtual Environment (RAVE) Lab 

6. A Better Carbon Trap Will Take Greenhouse Gases Out of the Air and Put It To Use 

19. John Christian, Director of the Sensing, Estimation and Automation Lab (SEAL), on Space Imaging 

7. Rensselaer Team 3D Prints Skin with Blood Vessels Included  8. Rensselaer Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies  9. Unique System for Using UVC Light to Sterilize Masks in Bulk Developed at Rensselaer  10. New Findings and Approaches Emerging from Remote Investigation Part 1  11. Rise of Connected Autonomous Vehicles Will Require New Models for Managing Traffic 

20. By Combining Neuroimaging and AI, Researchers Aim To Save Military Lives  21. Research at the Center for Modeling and Simulation in Medicine (CeMSIM) at Rensselaer  22. NIH Grant Will Support Development of Virtual Operating Room Team Training  23. A Mechanical Engineering Approach to Tumor Research  24. Women in Engineering: Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering 

12. Luigi Vanfretti, Director of the ALSETLab on Power Grid Modeling and Simulation 

25. Rensselaer-led Experiment Headed to the International Space Station 

13. Biometric Data, Algorithms To Unlock Key Information About Circadian Clock 

26. Rensselaer Team Developing Tool to Battle Space Debris 

14. New System of Infrared Sensors Maintains Privacy While Keeping Patients Safe 

27. COVID-19 Model Inspired by Gas-Phase Chemistry Predicts Disease Spread 

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SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES, ARTS, AND S A Message from the Dean Dean Simoni shares the many accomplishments and awards in HASS from the past year, and describes what the school has been doing during the pandemic to make the world a better place. She also describes the innovative ways the school has adapted to the special challenges to musicians brought on by social distancing protocols.

VIEW VIDEO MESSAGE

 Dean Mary Simoni, Ph.D. Professor, Arts

We seek to understand the very nature of our humanity. We seek to improve the quality of life for all. We seek to preserve our world. We seek truth through artistic innovation...

Support the ASS School of H d Annual Fun

SOCIAL SCIENCES

hass.rpi.edu 

HASS Showcase 1. Video Tour of the Corridor of Creativity in the Russell Sage Laboratory  2. Darrin Communications Center HASS Media Studio Video Tour  3. Center for Deep Listening (CDL) Website  4. Alumni Weekend Virtual Concert Recording with performances by the Rensselaer Fusion Ensemble, Chris Fisher-Lochhead, Director, Fall 2020  5. Coretet Performance with Professors Rob Hamilton and Christopher Fisher-Lochhead  6. President’s Virtual Holiday Concert  Peace and Comfort was directed by Christopher Fisher-Lochhead and Ricardo Tovar Mateus. This concert features the Rensselaer Fusion Ensemble, which was formed amid the COVID-19 pandemic and is comprised of the Orchestra, Concert Choir, Chamber Music Ensembles, and remote collaborators. The musicians reimagined how a music ensemble could perform in an era of social distancing to present this concert. Recorded December 13, 2020

7. Spring Virtual Concert  “Coming Together”, the first in the Jean and Joel Leider ’74 Music Series, featured Steinway Artist Mary Simoni, dean of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and student musicians from the Rensselaer Fusion Ensemble. Shared May 8, 2021.

VR PROJECT The following three digital environments offer a glimpse into Matthew D Gantt’s graduate research at HASS, focusing on the use of web-based virtual reality to create communal, cross-platform artistic spaces and sonic environments. 8. FEELINGS  A virtual gallery show presenting sound art, immersive environments, and digital sculpture.

9. H00PS.NET  A virtual performance venue created at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

10. THE ROEDELIUS CELLS  A virtual environment with eight movements of surround sound piano and immersive audio collage across a surreal virtual landscape. To enter, simply click on the links and follow the prompts to choose your username ‘avatar’ (how you will appear in virtual space), and audio input if you choose to use the included voice chat feature to speak with other visitors. Once in the space, you may navigate by clicking and dragging your mouse or trackpad to look around, and using the ‘WASD’ keyboard keys or arrows to walk. Many of these spaces contain ‘portals’ to other virtual worlds as well – feel free to explore! 

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LALLY SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT A Message from the Dean The progress of the Lally School is built upon the success of past years as we rise to meet the new challenges of the 21st century. Learn how the school has transitioned to online learning, provided support for students and staff, and continued to create opportunities for innovation as students work across business disciplines to make interdisciplinary linkages and address the global challenges during the worldwide pandemic.

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Acting Dean Chanaka Edirisinghe, Ph.D. Kay and Jackson Tai ’72 Chaired Professor in Quantitative Finance

The Lally School of Management uses a technology-driven business education to shape leaders who have the perspectives and experiences needed to meet the multifaceted challenges of the 21st century.

Support the l Lally Schoo Annual Fund

lallyschool.rpi.edu 

Lally Showcase 1. Rensselaer and Stevens Institute of Technology To Establish First-Ever NSF-Backed Fintech Research Center  New center positions Rensselaer as a leader in Fintech innovation.

2. Lally Faculty Research and Student Highlights Video  3. Severino Center for Entrepreneurship Website  4. His job: Help startups launch — even during the pandemic  Albany Business Review (posted May 14, 2020 – may include a paywall)

“We’ve got probably three teams that have products or services that are directly linked, or somewhat linked, to the needs generated by this crisis,” says Jason Kuruzovich of the Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship at Rensselaer.

5. How Will Banking Be Affected by the Presidential Election Result?  US News & World Report (posted October 1, 2020)

Professor Brian Clark comments on the impact of the White House on the Banking sector.

6. Coronavirus just dropped white-collar workers in the middle of America’s biggest accidental experiment  Business Insider (posted May 16, 2020 – may include a paywall)

Article featuring Professor Tim Golden’s research on the link between telecommuting and career success. If employees do their jobs effectively, flexible work could become more common.

7. 4 Ways to Make Your Small Business More Innovative  USChamber.com (posted February 22, 2021)

Article featuring Professor Dorit Nevo’s research on IT-enabled creativity.

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SCHOOL OF SCIENCE A Message from the Dean Dean Breneman provides highlights of the past year, in terms of pedagogy and research. Learn how the school has adapted to online instruction during the pandemic, and hear about notable research activities addressing critical global issues.

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 Dean Curtis Breneman, Ph.D. Professor and Director, Rensselaer Exploratory Center for Cheminformatics Research

In the School of Science, we discover answers to humanity’s most compelling questions, define new fields of study, and invent solutions to global challenges. Moving seamlessly across disciplinary boundaries, we bring together the best of all fields in order to advance the cause of science.

Support the e ienc School of Sc d Annual Fun

science.rpi.edu 

Science Showcase BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 1. Video tour of the Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology labs  Michael Klein, Ph.D. Lecturer, Biological Sciences

2. Research on Lake Oxygenation (video embedded in article)  Kevin Rose, Ph.D. Frederic R. Kolleck ’52 Career Development Chair In Freshwater Ecology and Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences

3. Research on Circadian Rhythms and Health (video embedded in article)  Jennifer Hurley, Ph.D. Richard Baruch M.D. Career Development Chair and Associate Professor, Biological Sciences

CHEMISTRY & CHEMICAL BIOLOGY 1. Adapting the I-PERSIST Program to COVID-19 Pandemic  Alex Ma, Ph.D. Sr. Lecturer, Chemistry and Chemical Biology

2. Overview of the I-PERSIST Program  Freddy Colón, Ph.D. Professor and Department Head Chemistry and Chemical Biology

COMPUTER SCIENCE 1. Computer Science Program Mentor Program  2. Health Empowerment by Analytics, Learning, and Semantics (HEALS) An IBM AI Horizons Network Partnership  Mohammed J. Zaki, Ph.D. Professor, Associate Department Head, and Graduate Program, Director Computer Science Department

3. Information Trust and Misinformation  Sibel Adali, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Computer Science Associate Dean of Science for Research and Graduate Studies

4. AI and ML for Predicting COVID-19  Malik Magdon-Ismail, Ph.D. Professor, Computer Science

EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 1. Stories of Carbon Cycling as Told by Dissolved Organic Matter  Sasha Wagner, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Earth and Environmental Science

MATH 1. Enabling Advanced Simulations with Mathematical Analysis  Jeffrey Banks, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Eliza Ricketts Career Development Chair

2. Mathematics in Imaging and Data Science  Rongjie Lai, Ph.D Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics

PHYSICS 1. Crowdsourced Astrophysics – Discovering Ripples in the Milky Way  Heidi Jo Newberg, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy

2. Experimental Study of Light-Matter Interactions at the Nanoscale  Esther A. Wertz, Ph.D. Associate Professor Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy 

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JOURNEY THROUGH RENSSELAER RESEARCH SHOWCASE AND CENTER HIGHLIGHTS

WELCOME TO THE RESEARCH SHOWCASE A Message from the Acting Vice President of Research At Rensselaer, we ask, why not change the world? Explore some of our most recent transformational research initiatives – projects that are tackling today’s most pressing global challenges using the most advanced tools and technologies, and working with partners across disciplines, sectors, and geographic regions. Watch a short of video of each center director as they share updates, accomplishments, and accolades from the past year, and detail how their work is contributing to the fight against COVID-19.

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Robert Hull, Ph.D. Acting Vice President for Research, Director, Rensselaer Center for Materials, Devices, and Integrated Systems, and Henry Burlage Professor of Engineering

Support the Rensselaer nd Research Fu

Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE) case.rpi.edu  Dennis Shelden, Ph.D., AIA, Director Associate Professor, School of Architecture For over a decade, the Center of Architecture, Science and Ecology has been driving innovation in architecture and the built environment through a unique collaboration among academic faculty and students, research teams, and professional firms. CASE takes an integrated science, engineering, and tech startup-inspired approach to advancing building capabilities across architecture, construction, technology, and product supply chains, with the goal of advancing sustainable, resilient, and healthy environments.