How can we better track unhealthful airborne particles?

Neil Donahue, assistant professor of chemical engineering, Carnegie Mellon.

Carnegie Mellon University researchers led by Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Professor Neil Donahue have created a new center to pinpoint the sources and effects of harmful atmospheric particles. The $2 million Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies (CAPS) will conduct laboratory and field tests to investigate the health effects of particulate matter, including natural and synthetic nanoparticles, and to understand the role of regional transport of these airborne particles. There is a clear correlation between PM2.5 pollution and health effects, including hospitalization and premature death. 

Contact: Neil Donahue, 412-268-4415

How is engineering helping change environmental education?

Cliff Davidson, professor in civil and environmental engineering, Carnegie Mellon

A collaborative research team led by Carnegie Mellon’s Cliff Davidson and researchers from The University of Texas at  Austin and Arizona State University plan to revolutionize the way engineering education is taught by creating a new Center for Sustainable Engineering. The new center is designed to help future engineers better manage increasd stress on the world’s resources. 

Contact: Cliff Davidson, 412-268-2951

How can we improve urban water quality?

Dave Dzombak, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon.

Carnegie Mellon’s Dave Dzombak and Jeanne M. VanBriesen of Civil and Environmental Engineering are collaborating to create a new center dedicated to investigating ways of improving urban water quality and developing the best science and technical tools to combat a variety of urban water issues, including sewer overflows during wet weather, stormwater runoff flooding and erosion, and aging drinking water infrastructure. More than 200,000 water main breaks are reported in the U.S. each year. Further, pathogens and fecal indicator bacteria associated with sewage are at dangerous levels in various urban waters of the U.S. The new center will study regional, integrated approaches to urban water quality management to address such problems.

Contact: Dave Dzombak, 412-268-2946

How can we improve archaic lead standards?

Cliff Davidson, a  professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon’s Cliff Davidson and PhD student Allison R. Harris have found that lead exposure is lower than it used to be in the United States because of virtual elimination of  lead in paints and gasoline. But their research also found that lead exposure at some locations is problematic. Carnegie Mellon researchers have found that potentially dangerous lead particulates are still found in many urban areas.

Contact: Cliff Davidson, 412-268-2951
Media: Chriss Swaney 412-268-5776

How can we build better computer security defenses?

Mike Reiter, professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science; Bruce Maggs, professor of computer science; Dena Haritos Tsamitis, director of the Information Networking Institute; Chenxi Wang, research scientist in electrical and computer engineering; and Jeannette Wing, department head and professor of computer science, Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon University researchers received a $6.4 million grant over the next four years to create a new center to build better security defenses. The new center, Security Through Interaction Modeling (STIM), will explore ways to improve computer defenses by incorporating such models into the defenses themselves. The STIM center was one of two university research entities nationwide awarded funds from the National Science Foundation to focus on eliminating plagues of Internet viruses and building better, more secure and accountable computer systems for the future.

Contact: Mike Reiter, 412-268-1318

What kind of consumer education is Carnegie Mellon CyLab spearheading?

Dena Haritos Tsamitis, director of the Information Networking Institute, Carnegie Mellon.

Carnegie Mellon CyLab has created The MySecureCyberspace Portal. The portal (www.mysecurecyberspace.com) provides users of all ages with the tactical countermeasures to stay cybersafe and to better understand the privacy issues related to cybersecurity threats. The portal provides customized information to users.

Contact: Dena Haritos Tsamitis, 412-268-3297

What is being done to secure computers from viruses?

Adrian Perrig, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon’s Adrian Perrig has developed software designed to detect remote malicious attacks, such as worms and viruses. The Carnegie Mellon SWATT software is programmed to seek out and find even the most finicky virus no matter how elaborate the virus defenses are. “This new software will have tremendous impact for industry and consumers as we can find viruses that infect cars, cell phones and other networked devices,” Perrig said.

Contact: Adrian Perrig, 412-268-2242

How can we help emergency and security workers improve communication?

Rob Rutenbar, professor of electrical and computer engineering, Carnegie Mellon

Rob Rutenbar is leading a national research team to develop a new, efficient silicon chip that may revolutionize the way humans communicate and have significant impact on homeland security. “Imagine, if an emergency responder could query a critical online database with voice alone, without returning to a vehicle, in a noisy, dangerous environment. The possibilities are endless.” The goal is to create a radically new and efficient silicon chip architecture that not only does speech recognition, but also does this 100 to 1,000 times more efficiently than a conventional computer.

Contact: Rob Rutenbar, 412-268-3334
Contact: Chriss Swaney, 412-268-5776