Computer science students build Beowulf Project
You've seen them in movies like "Jurassic Park" and "Star Wars." With their flashing lights and impressive buttons, supercomputers that take up an entire room are busy at work figuring out the genetic engineering of dinosaurs or how to save the universe against unwanted intruders.
But that's Hollywood.
In the real world supercomputers are high-performance pieces of equipment designed for fast computing of everything from weather forecasting and human bone modeling to statistical mechanics. These supercomputers are also very expensive.
Then along came the Beowulf Project. In 1994 NASA developed a low-cost computer cluster using parallel processing. In other words, NASA took off-the-shelf computers and linked them together to act as one, mimicking the workings of a supercomputer. Today, Montclair State University has its own Beowulf, and the system is the fastest running on campus. It was built entirely by undergraduate students with virtually no budget.
"This is cutting-edge technology that stretches technological limits," said Harry Schuckel, vice president for Business, Planning and Information Technology. "I love the idea of having a supercomputer at Montclair State."
Dorothy Deremer, chair of the Computer Science Department who supervises the 10- member student Beowulf Project team, said the five Compaq computers that comprise the system were already available on campus. The Red Hat Linux operating system cost less than $40 and the software for making the computers act as one was free.
In the fall, the students met every week laying out plans for building Beowulf. They continued meeting this semester as part of a two-hour class taught by Deremer called Special Topics in Parallel Construction.
"We ran it more like a meeting than a class," said Deremer. "We had an agenda and someone took minutes. The students were responsible for every aspect of this project." Students also met one evening a week in sub- teams, each responsible for understanding and developing the project. "All the students were in charge of loading the software and making sure the hardware was working correctly," Deremer explained. "But they were all responsible for each other. They needed to learn how to work as a team."
Ed Griffin, a junior computer science major, has been a member of the team since its inception. As an intern at Allied Signal Aerospace in Teterboro, Griffin was responsible for upgrading and documenting a programming project, an experience he said helped him on the Beowulf Project. "This has given me a good idea about what it takes to bring a project together, work well in a group and make presentations," he said. The student team has made several presentations about Beowulf, including one last month to the Board of Trustees and another last weekend at a student research conference sponsored by the MSU chapter of Sigma Xi, the national research society for science.
The Beowulf system has proven its speed in computing problems such as the largest prime number less than one million and the value of pi. "The students ran these computations on various computers on campus and found that the Beowulf system was significantly faster," Deremer said.
The goal is that the system will one day be open to faculty who are familiar with parallel processing for their research. "Many faculty in computer science are doing research and publishing in this area," she said, adding the system will be used in the spring 2000 for a parallel processing computing course.
With Mother Nature offering a cool breeze that moved the flags of the world hanging in the Student Center Quad in symbolic unison, the 1999 World's Fair brought together the campus community to celebrate diversity and culture. Participants had the opportunity to taste foods from around the world as well as learn about the dress, music and symbols of other cultures. Gregory Waters, vice president for Institutional Advancement and deputy provost, gave remarks as people joined hands in Hands Across the Campus. "One of our greatest strengths as a university is our diversity, our campus commitment to understanding and celebrating cultural difference," he said. "We enjoy the opportunity to learn from each other, to appreciate each other's heritage." Although it was a time of celebration, Waters asked the audience not to forget those suffering in Kosovo and initiated a moment of silence to "recognize the appalling situation" there and elsewhere. "On the surface, a festival such as this one might seem as another happy event for getting together and having fun, but it is a powerful occasion for creating a forum for dialogue and discovery, a chance to learn about each other's cultures."
May 3 begins National Teacher Appreciation Week, so we hit the campus and asked a few students, "Who is your favorite professor, and what makes him or her special?"
"Deena Linett. Her classes are laid back and oriented toward students' thought processes.
She's genuinely enthusiastic, open minded and interested in new ideas. She's also
supportive of an individual's educational pursuits."
-Lisa Cunningham, senior, English
"John Specchio, my professor for food composition and scientific preparation. He looks into the best interest of his students and cares about their futures. He's always available for discussion." -Brian Harkavy, nutrition
"Harold Flint, who teaches money and banking. He's a good professor and knows what he's talking about. He always makes sure students understand what is taught, and my grades show it." -Agron Aliu, senior, economics
"James Nash, my adviser in the English Department. He's always very helpful and patient when I have questions." -Tania Ohanian, senior, English
"Carol Westfall. I think it's important for teachers to have passion for what they teach and a love for whom they teach. Professor Westfall is a fountain of knowledge and full of ideas. She's very helpful and really cares for students." -Joanne, senior, art education
"Judith Shillcock. She's fantastic. She guides students along and makes sure we do our best. Dr. Shillcock is organized, makes complicated concepts easier, and is always around to help." - Donna Moline, senior, biology
A mother of five, the secretary of the Dietetics Association and a student hoping to pursue a career in journalism or book editing were this year's recipients of the Women of Montclair State University scholarships. Marylynn Perkins, Jackie Issa and Jennifer Zimmerman, who will each receive a $500 scholarship, were honored at a reception last week that also paid tribute to Sybil Smith-Darlington of Academic Needs Assessment.
Perkins is a junior human ecology major with a concentration in family and child studies, early childhood education. She has often been on the Dean's List and is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and Kappa Omicron Nu, the honor society of the Department of Human Ecology. She is the mother of five young children and is a Tiger Cub pack leader for the Boy Scouts of America. She is a parent volunteer at a co-op nursery school and the MSU Child Care Center and has participated in school-sponsored food and clothing drives.
Issa is a senior dietetics major who plans on becoming a registered dietitian after she graduates in December 1999. She is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, the Gold Key National Honor Society and is secretary of the Montclair State Dietetic Organization.
Zimmerman is a sophomore English major with minors in journalism and French. She is a student assistant in Sports Information and Athletic Marketing and works as a statistician for baseball, basketball, lacrosse and soccer. She is a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and hopes to pursue a career in journalism or book editing.
Each year the Women of MSU honors a woman member of the campus community who has supported the mission and goals of the Women of MSU. Smith-Darlington, a former member of the Women of MSU Board, has been at Montclair State since 1986. She was a member of the most recent Presidential Search Committee and has been an adviser to the Caribbean Students Organization.
George Antoniou
professor, Computer Science
"It is a great pleasure to have Margaret Sokol with us because she truly values education and research."
A six-year veteran of Montclair State, George Antoniou of Computer Science said he was surprised when he learned he was named this year's Margaret and Herman Sokol Faculty Fellow. His accomplishments, however, as well has his future research are testimony that he is well deserving of the honor. "Dr. Antoniou certainly fits the mold of the eight previous winners of this award," said Vaughn Vandegrift, dean of Science and Mathematics. "He is an exemplary colleague, scholar and teacher. I'm certain we will all benefit from the ways he uses his tenure as a Sokol Faculty Fellow."
Established in 1991 by alumna Dr. Margaret Sokol (hon.), the Fellowship recognizes a faculty member in the College of Science and Mathematics who has demonstrated evidence of past excellence and future prospects of growth as a teacher, scholar and colleague.
According to Antoniou, he will use most of the $25,000 award money to design and build a new image processing system laboratory in the Department. "It is a great pleasure to have Margaret Sokol with us because she truly values education and research," Antoniou said. "She knows they not only benefit the College and the University, but mankind as well." Past recipients of the Sokol Faculty Fellowship are Bonnie Lustigman, Evan Maletski, Anna Pai and Jonathan Lincoln.
INSIGHT: What are some of your accomplishments that helped garner this award?
Antoniou: I've had many students participate in my research during the past six years, and
the results of our work have been published in international journals and have been
presented at conferences. I've also created some courses and I try to incorporate a lot of
variation in them.
INSIGHT: What courses have you developed?
Antoniou: Image processing and parallel computers, which I offer every other year, and
multimedia systems, the newest course I've created that I will introduce in spring 2000. It
will include fluid ideas and programs related to voice images and data.
INSIGHT: Tell us about your research.
Antoniou: I'm working on image processing using parallel computers and neural networks
to create new algorithms. I'm doing this mainly by myself because this is high-level
research, but I have assigned some smaller parts to my students. I'll continue with this
research in the future because it is an endless field.
My students have had more input in performing new algorithms and image compression
using wavelets, theoretical image processing techniques and systems analysis.
INSIGHT: Where have the results from some of your research been published?
Antoniou: In February 1998, "Constrained Learning in Neural Networks: Application to
Stable Factorization of 2D Polynomials" ran in the journal, Neural Processing Letters. The
research involved adaptive artificial neural network techniques that are produced and
applied to the factorization of 2D second-order polynomials. "Minimal State Space
Realization Structures for positive 2D Systems" ran this year in FCDS. In this research
project, new minimal state space realizations are presented for two-dimensional positive
systems.
I've traveled throughout Europe and the United States, and to Athens to present papers; I've done research in Greece at the National Research Center for Physical Sciences "Demokritos" Athens; I'm on the editorial board for the IMACS /IEEE International Multiconference; and I'm one of five editors who have been chosen from around the world to work on a special issue of the International Journal of Computer Research titled Neural Networks: Past Present and Future.
INSIGHT: Describe the lab you intend to build.
Antoniou: The new image processing system laboratory will be within the framework of
this department where students can work on projects. We're going to build the laboratory
from scratch. We'll buy hardware such as computers and cameras, then the students will
put them together and perform research on the system. They will apply new algorithms to
modify the images and perform variations of color.
The South East Museum of Photography in Daytona Beach, Fla. is publishing a monograph of works by Nancy Goldring of Fine Arts. The book, Distillations, will include 35 color reproductions based on work Goldring did on a 1995 Fulbright to Sri Lanka and India, and is scheduled to be released this fall. Goldring has had her photos published in more than 20 books, but this is the first book devoted entirely to her work.
The essays that will accompany the photographs are written by Allison Devine Nordstrom, director of the South East Museum of Photography; Dr. Ellen Handy, curator of collections at the International Center of Photography in New York; and Sudarshan Seneviratne, dean of the University of Peradeniya, one of the main graduate schools in Sri Lanka, where Goldring was a guest lecturer.
Goldring's Fulbright work focuses on sacred Buddhist sites. Her "foto projections," a technique she invented 20 years ago, are a combination of photographs, drawing and projecting images.
The publication of Distillations will be followed by an exhibition of Goldring's work at the museum in the fall of 2000. Her show, which includes five series with eight images each and a large-scale slide installation, will coincide with two other shows featuring photographic diaries of 19th century travelers and a selection of international photos by 20th century travelers. After the exhibition at the museum, the shows will then travel to Sri Lanka.
Diana Guemárez-Cruz of Spanish and Italian will have her article, "Dos libros de poemas de la vanguardia Española: Signario de Antonia Espina y Presagios de Pedro Salinas, publicados por Juan Ramon Jiménez," in the Summer/Fall 1999 issue of Cuadernos de ALEDEEU. In the article, Guemárez-Cruz explores the important role Jiménez played as editor of major figures of the Spanish Literary vanguard such as Antonio Espina and Pedro Salinas.
Ron Hollander of English and coordinator of the journalism program recently gave the following lectures: "How the Press Handled the Holocaust" at Congregation Beth Israel of Northern Valley in Bergenfield; "Railroad History in New Jersey" at Friends of the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Museum annual conference at Drew University; and "Holocaust and the American Press" at Congregation Ahavas Sholom in Newark. He also presented a paper, "Ethical Issues in Newspaper Advising," at the College Media Advisers annual conference in Kansas City, Mo; and had an article, "Celebrating a Century of Lionel Railroading," in Lionel Heritage 1999 catalog.
Chip Maxwell of Anthropology had his article, "Bikers vs. Motorcyclists," published in the April issue of The Skylander, a monthly publication of the Skylands BMW Riders motorcycle club.
Jane Peterson of Theatre and Dance has received a Fulbright-Hays Group Project award to study in Turkey during June. She will be investigating the performing arts within the cultural context of contemporary Turkey.
Gloria Pierce of Counseling, Human Development and Educational Leadership presented "Empowering Women: Healing the Earth," a session on ecofeminism and ecopsychology, at the New Jersey Counseling Association Conference in Princeton. She also presented a session on the New Faculty Program at Montclair State at the American Association for Higher Education national conference in Washington, D.C. Tony D'urso of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and a participant in the second cohort of the program, was co-presenter of the session, "Developing New Faculty: A Leadership Challenge."
Sharon Spencer of English recently spoke about the book, I Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala, during a lecture for Women's History Month at the Englewood Public Library.
Carol Westfall of Fine Arts has been invited to lecture next month at the International Taegu Textile Design Exhibition in Korea, where she won a merit award at last year's exhibition. She also will have an exhibit of her work at the Miniature Textile Exhibition in Como, Italy this summer.
English prof has a passion that runs in the family
Angela Conrad of English is part of a family tradition of involvement with Montclair State University. In 1963 her grandfather, Laurance H. Conrad, retired from a teaching career in the English Department that spanned more than 30 years.
"He was very beloved by the community here," Conrad said of her grandfather, who passed away in 1982. "He's remembered for his creative writing classes, which led some of his students to form the Conrad Group outside of class. It continued for more than 20 years after he retired."
In 1985, the Laurance H. Conrad Memorial Scholarship was created and each year has been awarded to a graduate student pursuing a degree in American literature, which Laurance also taught, or creative writing. This year's recipient is graduate student Benjamin Robertson. Each year the award is presented by Laurance's son-Angela's father-David W. Conrad, an attorney who was involved in incorporating the Montclair State University Foundation in 1960.
Not to be left out of the family connection, Angela's mother, Marilyn, earned a bachelor's degree in speech pathology in 1976.
Angela, who recently earned a doctorate from Drew University, has followed in her grandfather's footsteps. As a pre-doctoral fellow, she taught classes such as introduction to literature, creative writing, and Shakespeare,. "It's a nice connection to have," Angela said. "My grandfather loved the school and the students, and always had wonderful things to say about them."
Sculptures and masks part of unique dance performance
"More Than Words," a dance performance with sculptures and masks by Alfredo Cardenas, will be presented May 22 at 8 p.m. and May 23 at 2 p.m. in Life Hall dance space.
MSU faculty member Maxine Steinman choreographed the performance. Three new works will be premiered: "Inside the Green Walls," a collaboration with choreographer Raymundo Costa, inspired by the music of Brazilian Indians; "Transfiguration," an innovative work of sculpture and dance motivated by the sculptures of Alfredo Cardenas; and "Playing with Vivaldi," a playful rendition of Vivaldi's musical score.
In addition, two of Steinman's previous works will be presented: "Whispers to Myself," a sensuous trio to the voices of Bulgaria, and "The Closet," an intensely emotional piece about a woman's struggle with abuse.
Steinman, a Brooklyn native, received an undergraduate degree in dance from Adelphi University and a master's degree in dance education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she taught for two years. She has performed with the Eleo Pomare Dance as a soloist for 10 years, and has danced with the Denishawn Repertory Dancers, Mafata Dance Company, Robin Becker & Friends and the Shadow Box Theater.
She has traveled to Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico and Spain to teach Limon modern dance classes and workshops. She currently teaches dance classes for the Limon Institute.
Tickets are $10, $7 for students, seniors and children. To order tickets, call the Box Office at 4175. For additional information, call (718) 645-8418.
Students recognized for work in Montclair Schools
Thirty-four students who tutor Montclair elementary school children were publicly thanked for their efforts last week by the Montclair Board of Education and each received certificates of appreciation from the Board.
Montclair State students who participate in the Service-Learning Program or America Reads were instrumental in getting the After School Tutorial Program operating again after funds for the program were cut two years ago. "Last summer, a group of community members and I got together to try to re-establish the program using community volunteers and our students," said Reesa Greenwald, coordinator of the Service-Learning Program. "It was quite moving to hear Board members speak about the positive impact our students have on young children. I was proud to be there with our students."
Softball guide and Neighbors win national awards
The 1999 softball media guide received the Best Cover in the Nation award for Division III softball media guides from CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). The entire book was named Best in the District [New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware] and placed 10th in the nation.
Neighbors, the quarterly community newsletter produced by the Office of Public Information, received a bronze medal in the 1999 CASE (Council for the Advancement of Education) Circle of Excellence Awards Program in the External Audience Newsletters category. Sixty-three entries were judged in this competition, and three silver medals and four bronze were awarded.
It's a boy
Congratulations to John O'Brien of Academic Technology and his wife, Josephine, on the birth of their son, John Antonio, born Friday, April 23, weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces, 20 1/4 inches long. John joins sister, Roseanna, age 8.
A color map of a bird's eye view of the campus has been produced by the Publications Office. The attractive brochure, which includes directions to the campus by car or public transportation and introductory information, fits into a number 10 envelope and is available from Central Stores.
The Newman Catholic Center will hold its annual Blessing of the Graduates on Sunday, May 9, at the 11 a.m. Mass in Russ Hall, Kops Lounge, and at the 6:30 p.m. Mass in the Newman Catholic Center. Graduates of the Class of '99, their parents and friends are invited to attend.
The application deadline for the James P. Keenen III, Joseph T. Moore, Anita E. Uhia and Connie Waller Scholarship is Monday, May 10. The scholarship was established in 1996 by members of AFT Local 1904 in honor of Keenan, Moore, Uhia and Waller for their service to the University as founders of the Local. Four $500 scholarships will be awarded. Applications are available from the AFT Office, College Hall, Room 318C.
For more information about position announcements, see the bulletin board outside the Personnel Office in College Hall or visit MSU's web site at www.montclair.edu.
Vice President for Human Resources. Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications. Starting date: July 1 or as soon thereafter as possible. Send letter and resume to Nicholas Michelli, search chair, Box C316, V-026.
Program Assistant, Campus Recreation and Intramural Services. Salary: $26,746.11-$40,123.61. Starting date: July 1, 1999 (negotiable). Send letter and resume by May 14 to Steve Smith, Box C316, V-020.
Promotional Announcement: Buyer. Salary: $34,156.10-$46,778.50. Applications may be obtained from and returned by May 21 to the Personnel Office.
Afternoon/Evening Recitals. McEachern Recital Hall.
Home games only are listed. Schedule is subject to change. For more information, call the Athletic Office at 5234.
ON 'CARPE DIEM'
The weekly television show produced by MSU broadcasting majors features Advertising Day with Ralph DiPietro of Marketing and Judith Lin Hunt, dean of Library Services, Sprague Library, discussing her experience as a librarian in Brunei. This episode also features a Wellness Minute on healthy dieting with Nancy Ellson, director of the Center for Health and Wellness. Produced by Patricia Piroh and Stephanie Wood; directed by David Strauss; hosted by Ophelia Johnson. Airs May 4 at noon on Cablevision and 9 p.m. on Comcast, and May 6 at 8:30 a.m. on CTN.
AT THE MUSEUM
Admission to the Yogi Berra Museum is $4 for adults; $2 for children and students. There is no additional charge for programs.
May 14: Commencement exercises for the class of 1999. 10:30 a.m., Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford.
June 7-25: New Jersey Center for Mime's 18th annual Mime Workshop. Directed by mime artist Yass Hakoshima, workshops will be offered "to introduce students to a better understanding of the human body and its expression." The workshop offers comprehensive training in all aspects of body awareness and movement. Register by May 28. For more information, call the New Jersey Center for Mime, the only professional Mime Institute in New Jersey, at 973-783-9845.
July 2-16: International Study Tour, "Ecuador: From the Andes to the Galapagos Islands-A Photojournalistic Exploration." A photographic exploration of two distinct regions of Ecuador: the Andes and the Galapagos Islands. Participants will visit Quito, the Andes, highland villages, artisan communities, Indian markets, Inca ruins and the colonial city of Cuenca. From Cuenca, participants will fly 600 miles to the remote Galapagos Islands for four days aboard the "Santa Cruz," with two daily shore excursions escorted by specially trained naturalists. This tour is designed for nature lovers, those interested in experiencing other cultures and photographers of all levels of interest and expertise. Sponsored by the Global Education Center and Continuing Education. For more information, call Global Education at 4185.