Carnegie Mellon University's Michael J. Tarr has been selected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Tarr, head of the Department of Psychology and a member of the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC) in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, is being recognized for outstanding contributions to research on face, object and scene perception, on computational and artificial vision systems and on the nature of perceptual expertise.

AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of several highly regarded journals, including "Science." Fellows are elected by their peers to honor their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.

Carnegie Mellon also has named Tarr the Trustee Professor of Vision Science.

"Mike is not only a great scientist, propelling us toward a much deeper understanding of how the brain accomplishes the miracle of vision, but he is also a phenomenal citizen and leader," said Richard Scheines, dean of the Dietrich College. "His leadership in brain science, and of the Department of Psychology, have been absolutely crucial in the rise of the college and the institution at large. I am delighted that AAAS has elected him as a fellow and very pleased that we can honor him with the Trustee Professorship of Vision Science."

Tarr joined the CMU faculty in 2009 after spending 14 years at Brown University and six years at Yale University. He studies the neural, cognitive and computational mechanisms underlying visual perception and cognition. He is particularly interested in how humans effortlessly perceive, learn, remember and identify faces, scenes and objects, as well as how these visual processes interact with our other senses, thoughts and emotions.

Tarr also is interested in the connection between biological and artificial intelligence, in particular, focusing on how high-performing computer vision systems can be used to better understand human behavior and its neural basis. Conversely, his models of biological vision may help inform and improve the performance of artificial vision systems.

Since his arrival in Pittsburgh, Tarr has been instrumental in further advancing Carnegie Mellon and the city's positions in brain and behavioral sciences. From 2009 to 2014, he served as co-director of the CNBC, a joint program between CMU and the University of Pittsburgh. He has led the internationally ranked Psychology Department since 2014 and was a founding member of BrainHub, CMU's initiative that focuses on integrating the university's world-class computation and engineering communities in the study of the mind and brain.

"Carnegie Mellon and the entire Pittsburgh academic community is a special place for studying the nature of human intelligence, behavior and the brain. The synergy we have between computational scientists and engineers with psychologists, cognitive neuroscientists and neuroscientists is unique - it is this kind of interdisciplinary collaboration that will lead to a deeper understanding of the amazing complexity of the human brain," Tarr said.

He added, "As a representative of this larger community, it is an honor to be recognized both by AAAS and CMU."

Tarr is the 23rd CMU faculty member and the seventh from the Dietrich College to be elected as a fellow of AAAS. He will be inducted on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018,during the AAAS annual meeting in Austin, Texas.

CMU will hold an event to honor Tarr as the Trustee Professor of Vision Science in the fall of 2018.

As the sun shone through the beams of an iconic, abandoned steel mill Monday, more than 250 dignitaries from business, government and Carnegie Mellon University came together to bring a new day to American manufacturing.

Through the visionary leadership of area foundations and the innovation expertise of Carnegie Mellon, the shuttered Jones & Laughlin Steel Company's Mill 19 will be the site of a one-of-a-kind hub for advanced manufacturing — a collaboration among researchers, the U.S. Defense Department and companies from across the region.

ARM’s developing a robust education & work force training program to prepare the next gen to join the workforce-Tracy Frost #hazelwoodgreen

— Carnegie Mellon (@CarnegieMellon) November 20, 2017

The innovations developed there from new technologies, such as robotics, 3-D printing and machine learning, promise to return America to the vanguard of global manufacturing, and empower American workers.

CMU Interim President Farnam Jahanian praised the effort as a transformative engine of future regional and national economic prosperity, not seen since steel production transformed the world.

"The technologies that emerge from this building will have the power to make things in a whole new way, to trigger a significant resurgence of a major economic sector in the United States, and to assert our global leadership in advanced manufacturing," Jahanian said.

"By bringing together large-scale academic research and industrial development under one roof, Mill 19 will become a true differentiator for Pittsburgh and for the region," he added. "When complete, it will be the first manufacturing hub of its kind in the nation — in the world, for that matter."

As part of an agreement between Carnegie Mellon and the nonprofit Regional Industrial Development Corporation, the university has agreed to a lease of two floors of the 94,000-square-foot building that will be built within the skeleton of Mill 19.

CMU will use the space to house the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute and the Manufacturing Futures Initiative (MFI).

ARM, initially founded at Carnegie Mellon and now operating as an independent nonprofit, won an $80 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense in January to create an ecosystem that will speed the movement of industrial robotics technologies into commercial use, while ensuring American workers can get the training needed throughout their careers to benefit from advanced technologies and compete with manufacturing abroad.

“You see this incredible facility which will allow for so much opportunity.” Heidi Shyu #hazelwoodgreen

— Carnegie Mellon (@CarnegieMellon) November 20, 2017

It will operate as part of the national Manufacturing USA network, and be supported by an additional $173 million in commitments from more than 100 members and other partners in industry, academia, government and the nonprofit sector.

"Robotics is key to U.S. competiveness in manufacturing, and one of the major factors in the economic prosperity of the United States," said Tracy Frost, director of manufacturing institutes for the Department of Defense.

"ARM, as the youngest member of the DOD-led manufacturing institutes, will work to enable smart, perceptive, collaborative robots, which can perform multiple tasks efficiently with great precision and be quickly repurposed at a cost which will make them accessible to small and medium-sized business," Frost added. "ARM is also developing a robust education and workforce training program to prepare the next generation of American workers for participation in the future workforce."

MFI, launched at Carnegie Mellon in early 2017, seeks to advance manufacturing capabilities and accelerate workforce and economic development by expediting the adoption of new technologies through interdisciplinary research.

It will build on CMU's strength in research and development, and attract public and private sector partners to push advanced manufacturing research, bridge the gap between manufacturing research and industrial use, and foster economic development in the region and the state.

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle reflected on how Hazelwood Green would build upon the nation's powerful legacy of steelmaking — a legacy that benefited his own family and millions of other Americans.

"Jobs at mills like this helped shaped the American dream and created the modern American middle class," Doyle said. "In their heyday, Pittsburgh steel and Pittsburgh steelworkers were the envy of the world. Today's groundbreaking is a sign that a new heyday is coming for Pittsburgh and for America — one that will transform and revive an entire sector of the American economy in every corner of our great nation."

The site was first developed as a steel mill in 1884 by the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company — the most determined regional competitor to the Carnegie Steel Company made famous by CMU founder Andrew Carnegie. The mill operated under many names over the years — lastly the LTV Coke Works — and has sat dormant since 1998.

Since then, three foundations have worked diligently to return industrial vitality to the site. The Heinz Endowments, Richard King Mellon Foundation and Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation joined forces in 2002 to purchase the property and have led efforts to clean the brownfield site and seek new development opportunities.

Rebranding the property as Hazelwood Green in October, the foundations brought the Hazelwood community, along with local, state and federal government stakeholders together to realize a vision for the property that will create opportunity, while promoting diversity and economic sustainability.

"This site is envisioned as a place where people will thrive, ideas will be forged, and this entire ecological condition of the site will be regenerated over time," said Hazelwood Green Project Director Rebecca Flora.

A $20 million gift from the Richard King Mellon Foundation to Carnegie Mellon helped catalyze the ARM Institute, support the new facility at Mill 19 and launch the MFI.

“There’s possibly no other site in the [US] that has the potential to look to the future & see where manufacturing has a place” @billpeduto

— Carnegie Mellon (@CarnegieMellon) November 20, 2017

Hazelwood Green also is deeply rooted in neighborhood redevelopment. By focusing on Pittsburgh's largest undeveloped property and its adjoining neighborhood, and incorporating extensive and ongoing engagement with local stakeholders, Hazelwood Green aims to benefit area residents along with American manufacturing.

A key component of the Hazelwood Green effort will be to make the development a center for workforce training and education to empower American workers to be more competitive in the global manufacturing marketplace. The effort also aims to further Pittsburgh's resurgence as a global innovation leader.

"We are here today because government — federal, state and local — recognize the potential of this site, of the region, and of these partners to usher in this game-changing manufacturing renaissance," said Dennis Davin, Pennsylvania Secretary of Community and Economic Development.

"With the cooperation and coordination of our industry partners and Carnegie Mellon, which is truly one of Pennsylvania's greatest assets and a global pillar of research and development, our investment will help transform an entire sector of the economy, not just for Pennsylvania, but for the country," Davin added.

Added Don Smith Jr., president of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation: "When they roll the opening credits of Monday Night Football, this is the building they're going to show to show what Pittsburgh's all about. It's building on our past of steel, but it's showcasing our future of technology and manufacturing."

Kaeo Helder is driving back to the future.

Helder, a 2012 alumnus from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design, is an industrial designer for Candylab Toys, which builds handcrafted wooden cars inspired by "the glamorous '60s American modernist vibe."

The sleek, durable, elegant, yet simple wooden cars crafted by Candylab evoke a modern take on classic car designs that aim to drive experiences that bring children and adults together.

"Right off the bat there is the beautiful color," Helder recently told CBS This Morning. "When you dig in deeper there are a lot of small details that are very well considered. You have small iconic moments that are pulled from actual cars that you can see."

Helder, who started working as an industrial designer for Candylab in February, handles a wide variety of tasks at the company.

"As a member of a small team I tackle a wide variety of roles: product development, design, engineering, design for manufacture, packaging and working closely with overseas factories for production," Helder said. "My day to day involves managing multiple work streams and deadlines to make sure that production is kept on track as well as working with our team to design and engineer new products for our ever-growing catalogue."

It is an age-old question. Do you pick out a gift you think someone might like, or do you purchase exactly what they have asked for?

At Carnegie Mellon University, behavioral economists tackle questions like this using a distinct fusion of economics and psychology. They work to understand why we eat unhealthy food, pay women less than men and even how to give the perfect gift. Here are four science-backed tips to help during the holiday shopping season.

Avoid Guessing

Projection bias is a phenomenon that describes how people believe others hold the same beliefs and values as they do — and will in the future. When gift giving, shoppers often try to predict what the recipient would like, thinking recipients will share their same tastes.

"If you like dark chocolate and loath milk chocolate, it's very tempting to give dark chocolate, even if the gift recipient's tastes are opposite to yours; it's very difficult to imagine that another person would enjoy receiving a gift that you would hate," said George Loewenstein, the Herbert A. Simon University Professor of Economics and Psychology in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and co-founder of the field of behavioral economics.

A gift that someone asked for might seem lacking in creativity, but it has a better chance of success. Research has shown people are not very good at predicting what their friends and family members would like.

Be Aware of Your Shopping Environment

Kareem Haggag, assistant professor of economics in the Social and Decision Sciences Department, studies attribution bias, and his work shows the gift-givers past experiences will influence their opinion of a product.

"Our work on attribution bias is about evaluations we make of past experiences with an item and, specifically, our failure to fully account for our temporary states — thirst, fatigue, etc. — that could have affected enjoyment. For example, if you happened to sample a restaurant when you were extremely hungry, you might later overrate it because you failed to account for just how important being extremely hungry played in that experience," Haggag said.

He advised gift-givers to be careful and think about past experiences with an item they are considering purchasing. An item purchased on vacation when the buyer was happy and carefree may be the so-called lousy T-shirt to the recipient. Attribution bias may cause the gift-giver to believe their gift is more valuable or attractive than it actually is.

Consider Whether Past Holidays Are an Influence 

If you were not thanked by a recipient in the past, you may be less likely to put time and effort into gift-giving for that person in the future, according to Shereen J. Chaudhry, who earned her Ph.D. in behavioral decision research in 2016 from the Department of Social and Decision Sciences. Chaudhry, now a postdoctoral research fellow at Wharton School of Business, wrote a dissertation with Loewenstein for the Behavioral Decision Research Program titled, "Thanking, Apologizing, Bragging and Blaming: The Currency of Communication."

Chaudhry said words of thanks are more than "cheap talk" and help keep relationships healthy.

"With gift-giving, the desire is often to deepen the connection with and to impress the recipient, to show the recipient that the giver is a valuable partner or friend," Chaudhry said.

She continued, "Though it may be difficult for some people to admit, this means that, in many, if not most, cases of gift-giving, our generous motives are mixed with self-interested motives. Rather than taking this as depressing news, realize that this highlights the importance thanking can have in maintaining and deepening relationships."

Focus on the Long-Term

Researchers led by the Tepper School of Business' Jeff Galak found that gift givers tend to focus on the moment of exchange when selecting a gift, whereas gift recipients are more focused on the long-term utility or practical attributes of the gift.

"We studied many existing frameworks from research in this area, trying to find a common ground between them. What we found was that the giver wants to 'wow' the recipient and give a gift that can be enjoyed immediately, in the moment, while the recipient is more interested in a gift that provides value over time," said Galak, associate professor of marketing.

"We are seeing a mismatch between the thought processes and motivations of gift givers and recipients. Put another way, there may be times when the vacuum cleaner, a gift that is unlikely to wow most recipients when they open it on Christmas day, really ought to be at the top of the shopping list as it will be well used and liked for a long time," Galak said.

Choosing the perfect gift may be less about how well you know someone, and more about allowing time for careful consideration and setting aside emotions.

But keep the receipt, just in case.

Physicists from Carnegie Mellon University's Mellon College of Science helped organize the recent annual meeting of the American Physical Society's Division of Nuclear Physics, held at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center, downtown.

Professor of Physics Reinhard Schumacher chaired the local committee for the four-day, science-packed conference that drew some 800 faculty, researchers and students.

City Councilman and CMU alumnus Dan Gilman welcomed the attendees to Pittsburgh and opened the floor to the meeting's plenary sessions, beginning with a talk by 2004 Nobel Laureate David Gross. Gross won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the discovery of asymptotic freedom in the theory of the strong interaction, which led to the theory of quantum chromodynamics. His talk chronicled the history and application of the field over the last 50 years.

Invited national and international physicists and graduate students presented over 550 scientific talks about recent advances in experimental and theoretical aspects of the fundamental interactions among quarks, mesons, baryons and nuclei. Additional workshops for younger conference attendees focused on modern machine-learning methods in data analysis, theoretical approaches to hadron structure and advances in particle detectors.

"We enjoyed bringing the country's nuclear physics community to Pittsburgh for an exciting program highlighting new results and plans for future research," Schumacher said.

About 200 undergraduate physics students from around the U.S. joined the meeting as part of the 20th annual Conference Experience for Undergraduates (CEU). CEU allows students to experience a large scientific meeting, attend seminars and graduate school recruitment sessions and present their research at a poster session. Carnegie Mellon physics majors Viren Bajaj and Samuel Dai presented work with Schumacher on the photoproduction of baryon-antibaryon particle pairs at the poster session.

"I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my work with such passionate and bright minds from around the country," Bajaj said. "It was inspiring to see the quality and volume of research being done - one of the key reasons I came to the United States for my undergraduate degree."

At the closing banquet, MCS Dean Rebecca Doerge introduced Marcel Just, the D. O. Hebb Professor of Psychology at CMU. Just discussed his fMRI brain imaging studies that show how the brain encodes physics concepts such as "momentum" or "gravity" in contrast to disparate concepts such as "hammer" or "shelter."

Members of the local organizing committee for the meeting included Schumacher, Gregg Franklin, Curtis Meyer, Colin Morningstar, Diana Parno and Brian Quinn from Carnegie Mellon; Fatiha Benmokhtar from Duquesne University; Michael McCracken from Washington and Jefferson College; and Eric Swanson of the University of Pittsburgh.

Entrepreneurs and investors gathered Friday at Carnegie Mellon University to discuss smart city innovations and technology as part of the Road to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit — Pittsburgh.

The daylong event focused on Pittsburgh as a smart city leader. Ramayya Krishnan, dean of the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, emphasized how CMU's partnerships with the city and Allegheny County have benefitted many of the applications coming out of the university.

"Innovation and entrepreneurship are in the DNA of Carnegie Mellon," Krishnan said. "We have amazing faculty and students from CMU working in close partnership with the city and the county, and out of this have come innovative startups and ways of really improving the quality of life of citizens, while creating economic development opportunities and jobs right here in Pittsburgh."

The event included opportunities to hear directly from people and institutions at the forefront of entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and innovation and technology. Eric R. Jones, deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Scott Ticknor, acting special representative for the U.S. Department of State, kicked off the event with a keynote fireside chat. Panel discussions and entrepreneur talks featured representatives from CMU and the City of Pittsburgh, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh.

The U.S. Department of State selected Pittsburgh as one of three U.S. cities to help raise awareness for the eighth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), Nov. 28-30 in Hyderabad, India. GES serves as a vital link between governments and the private sector, and convenes global participants to showcase projects, exchange ideas and champion new opportunities for investment. Milwaukee and Houston hosted Road to GES events earlier this month.

Over the past two months, hurricane relief efforts led by a Carnegie Mellon University student have changed the lives of 211 evacuees from Puerto Rico.

Countless other people living in Puerto Rico have benefitted from the roughly 46,000 pounds of supplies Rosana Guernica's chartered flights have delivered to the island ravaged by Hurricane Maria.

On Saturday, Guernica, a Puerto Rican native and third-year student majoring in decision science and minoring in innovation and entrepreneurship at CMU's Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, wrapped up her fourth and largest relief flight, delivering 28,000 pounds of supplies and evacuating 127 people to the U.S. mainland. Like the evacuees on her three prior chartered flights, many were in need of medical attention.

Through crowdfunding efforts, Guernica and other volunteers have raised more than $174,000 for her missions.

Prior to Saturday's flight, Guernica spoke with CBS News Correspondent David Begnaud about her humanitarian efforts.

"It's made me realize that any one person can make a difference," Guernica told Begnaud during an interview Nov. 17. "I, by no means, did this independently. I've worked with so many groups of people who've helped me along the way. But it's shown me that one person can set things in motion."

Meet Rosana Guernica, 22, a junior at @carnegiemellon - Tomorrow, she'll deliver 28,000lbs of medicine & supplies, in her 4th humanitarian trip, to Puero Rico. She's raised the money, chartered the private flights & become an unsung hero
(Full interview) https://t.co/6BbVtPpujT pic.twitter.com/diYwQv7I3S

— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) November 18, 2017

Guernica has accomplished her work with the help of a team of volunteers from CMU led by Gabriel Ostolaza, a master's degree student in electrical and computer engineering; medical professionals; and foundations like Global Links, which donated supplies for the most recent flight, and the Fundacion Stefano, which has helped identify patients in need of evacuation.

Guernica and Ostolaza plan to create a nonprofit organization to continue their work in Puerto Rico.

When researchers in Latin America and the Caribbean needed to collaborate on HIV/AIDS, Carnegie Mellon University alumnus Tim Ryan conceptualized and developed an information and communication system. At the time, he was a technical writer associated with the Mexican National Institute of Public Health.

Ryan had gained the skills to make it happen as a 1996 graduate of the English Department's Master of Arts in Professional Writing (MAPW) program.

"Through the MAPW program I became equipped professionally in broad aspects of communication, such as project management and user-centered design. I would not have been as well prepared if I had gone through a narrowly focused technical writing program," Ryan said.

Globetrotting began for Ryan in graduate school when Nicole Vecchi, a 1986 alumna from the Dietrich College, offered him a summer co-op at the Swiss Scientific Computing Center near Lugano. Since then, the Massachusetts native has lived in five countries and visited more than 40, all while building up a public health communications career that has fueled his travel.

The World Health Organization (WHO) learned of Ryan's work in Mexico when it brought him to Geneva.

At WHO, Ryan served as project manager to develop a low-bandwidth solution for healthcare providers in Sub-Saharan Africa. He hired Steve Kuhn, a 1997 graduate of the CMU School of Design's Master of Design, Communication Planning and Information Design program. The product later evolved into the Knowledge Gateway — one of the most popular information systems used by health and development professionals around the world.

"It was great working with Tim. It's always fulfilling to work on a project that's both a good design challenge but also has a worthy impact on the world. I was glad to be part of it," said Kuhn, who is a product manager at a Brooklyn-based digital product consultancy.

"The MAPW program has an outstanding track record of preparing students for careers as writers, communications specialists and information designers to work in the new information era, an era in which it no longer suffices to only be able to write clear and effective prose. Though excellent writing remains foundational, it is also now necessary to create and execute complex information strategies involving both visual and verbal elements and media ranging from print and online to multi and social media. Tim exemplifies the resourceful, multi-dimensional communication professionals we help prepare," said Chris Neuwirth, professor of English and human-computer interaction and director of the MAPW program.

Today, after eight years in Thailand that included communications work for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ryan lives in Geneva, again. This time, he works for Unitaid, a global organization helping to defend the world against devastating infectious diseases by facilitating projects such as improving treatments for children with tuberculosis and promoting self-testing for HIV.

Ryan said some nations need not only greater access to existing health measures, but also new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria more quickly, more cheaply and more effectively. Unitaid identifies and invests in such new health solutions.

As the grants performance manager, Ryan leads, develops and maintains the quality management and business improvement systems needed for effective grant implementation and performance at Unitaid.

His ability to move into a leadership role stems from "intellectual honesty" he developed in the MAPW program, Ryan said. It helps him to scientifically recognize and promote the best possible solutions, even when it means putting aside traditional approaches or his own initial conclusions.

Ryan brings together an impressive skill set with a global perspective — plus intellectual honesty — to move a technical writing career on an upward trajectory in public health communications.

"Unitaid has been an amazing opportunity that allows me to apply several of my professional strengths and interests, namely communication science, quality management and health, within an outstanding organization that is applying an innovative approach to achieve tremendous public good," he said.

Carnegie Mellon University and King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, a leading engineering university in Thailand, have announced a long-term collaboration to significantly expand research and education in the areas of information, computing and autonomous technologies.

The collaborative activities, to be collectively known as the Carnegie Mellon — KMITL (CMKM) program, will occur both in Thailand and at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The CMKM program will involve professors, researchers and students from Carnegie Mellon and KMITL, and include several industry partners from Thailand. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering within Carnegie Mellon's College of Engineering will play a central role in the CMKM program.

"This partnership brings much-needed capabilities in world-class engineering research and education to Thailand. We are looking forward to working with top talents for ground-breaking research and innovation that will drive the emerging economies of Southeast Asia," said Teerakiat Jareonsettasin, Thailand's minister of education. "There is no better time to put Thailand at the heart of education investment. The Thai government is doing its utmost to provide the best opportunities, privileges, incentives, and above all the commitment to make our collaboration the best we can." 

"This long-term collaboration between CMU and KMITL, in association with the Thailand Ministry of Education, will not only strengthen historic ties between CMU and scholars and alumni in Thailand, it will greatly enhance our shared capacity for research and education in areas that are shaping the global economy," said Carnegie Mellon Interim President Farnam Jahanian. "As this program develops, we look forward to the growth of new international networks of knowledge and intellectual pursuits."

"I am incredibly excited at just the mere thought of collaboration of such global scale," said Suchatvee Suwansawat, president of KMITL. "Today marks the day Carnegie Mellon University and KMITL make history. We are committed to delivering uncompromised research and education in computing, AI, Big Data, and to bring about high impact research to accelerate digital transformation for Thailand and Southeast Asia. It is our vision to make Thailand the Southeast Asia center for advanced research, to make capacity building a reality, and to create a sustainable model for the developing countries."

"KMITL's passion for excellence is a perfect match with ours and I see great potential in our partnership," said James H. Garrett, Jr., dean of CMU's College of Engineering. "This partnership establishes an excellent foundation for even greater collaborations yielding wider impact."

Carnegie Mellon University doctoral candidate Luke Scime is working at the intersection of mechanical engineering and computer science to optimize the process of metal 3-D printing.

3-D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, uses a layer-by-layer manufacturing process to print objects out of metal, plastic and other materials. The technology has the potential to make stronger, lighter and more customized products than traditional manufacturing.

Researchers, like Scime, are working to better understand and perfect the process.

Scime, who is in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, studies metal laser powder bed fusion, a process in which a machine spreads a layer of metal powder that is a fraction of a millimeter thick. Next, a laser beam melts the metal powder into a cross-section of the object being built. The machine repeats this process until the object is complete.

Scime is analyzing how problems can occur in the process by taking images as the machine spreads each layer. He uses machine-learning techniques to teach the computer to recognize what flaws look like. Then, the computer aggregates those images and begins to mark areas where a problem may be occurring.

An image shows what a printed part looked like, with flaws highlighted.

"Computer science offers opportunities to solve problems that we're finding in our work with additive manufacturing, problems that we don't otherwise have a way to solve," said Scime, who received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida. "At every stage of my life, as I've pursued mechanical engineering I somehow always find myself incorporating computer science concepts into traditional engineering."

Though small, these flaws take a number of forms. "Recoater hopping" occurs when the recoater blade lightly impacts the part and "recoater streaking" happens when the blade itself is nicked or damaged. There also can be debris lying on the powder bed, parts may start to warp or deform from heat stress or items can be damaged when the machine does not spread enough powder for a layer. Scime's machine vision techniques pose a solution to help identify these issues underlying the process.

The end goal is for the machine to recognize an issue and then correct it right away.

"If you know where the problem is happening in real time, you can see the area flagged on the images and be able to either fix it or at least stop it, so you're not wasting time and material," Scime said.

Scime works in Mechanical Engineering Professor Jack Beuth's lab, which focuses on expanding process space, such as modifying how much power and speed to give a laser beam and identifying what effects those changing parameters have on a part. Beuth is co-director of the NextManufacturing Center.

"I've always loved the City of Pittsburgh," Scime said. "So when I learned how heavily Carnegie Mellon was investing in Additive Manufacturing, I jumped at the opportunity to come here."

Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed a new method for delivering chemotherapy nanodrugs that increases their bioavailability and reduces side effects.

Their study, published online in Scientific Reports, shows that administering an FDA-approved nutrition source prior to chemotherapy can reduce the amount of the toxic drugs that settle in the spleen, liver and kidneys.

Nanodrugs — drugs attached to tiny biocompatible particles — show great promise in the treatment of a number of diseases, including cancer. Delivery of these drugs, however, is not very efficient — only about 0.7 percent of chemotherapy nanodrugs reach their target tumor cells. The remainder are absorbed by other cells, including those in the liver, spleen and kidneys. When the drugs build up in these organs, they cause toxicity and side-effects that negatively impact a patient's quality of life.

Administering a combination of Abraxane® and Intralipid® results in less toxicity of the chemotherapy drug in the kidneys (bottom row) than administering Abraxane® alone (top row).

Chien Ho, professor of biological sciences at Carnegie Mellon, and his colleagues have developed a novel way to improve delivery of chemotherapy nanodrugs by using Intralipid®, an FDA-approved nutrition source to temporarily blunt the reticuloendothelial system — a network of cells and tissues found throughout the body, including in the blood, lymph nodes, spleen and liver, that play an important role in the immune system.

Ho and colleagues tested their technique in a rat model of cancer using three FDA-approved chemotherapy nanodrugs, Abraxane®, Marqibo® and Onivyde®, and one experimental platinum-based anti-cancer nanodrug. In the study, they administered Intralipid one hour before giving the animal a chemotherapy nanodrug. They found their method reduced the amount of the drug found in the liver, spleen and kidneys and reduced the drugs' toxic side-effects. They also found more of the drug was available to attack tumor cells. Additionally, the Intralipid treatment had no harmful impact on tumor growth or drug efficacy.

The researchers believe their drug delivery methodology can be applied to a variety of nanodrugs without any modifications to the drugs.

"This methodology could have a major impact in the delivery of nanodrugs not only for patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment but also to those being treated with nanodrugs for other conditions," Ho said.

Macroeconomist Marvin Goodfriend, monetary policy expert and central banking historian, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the White House announced yesterday. A professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business since 2005, Goodfriend epitomizes the school's longstanding reputation as a thought leader in global monetary and banking economics.

Prior to his appointment at the Tepper School, he served as senior vice president and research director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. During his 27-year tenure with the central bank, Goodfriend worked closely with the bank president to develop the bank's policy positions.

"This is richly deserved recognition at the highest level for Professor Goodfriend, a tribute to his distinguished career as one of the nation's foremost experts in monetary policy," said Farnam Jahanian, Carnegie Mellon's interim president. "It is a remarkable honor for the entire Carnegie Mellon University community to have one of our own called to public service by the White House and is also a testament to the excellence of the Tepper School."

"Marvin has brought both visionary and superb practical thinking to the frontlines of today's most provocative debates on monetary policy," said Robert Dammon, dean of the Tepper School of Business and professor of financial economics, "and the Tepper School community is immensely proud to see Marvin's life's work recognized with this vital and prestigious nomination."

The Board of Governors is comprised of seven members when fully seated. Board members are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate and serve staggered 14-year terms. The Board oversees the 12 Federal Reserve Banks, sets Federal Reserve bank regulations, and decides monetary policy together with the Reserve Bank presidents.

Goodfriend's research encompasses monetary theory and monetary policy practice with a focus on banking and financial markets, economic development and macroeconomic fluctuations. His leadership and scholarship within global economics include his co-leadership of the Carnegie Rochester NYU Conference on Public Policy and his membership on the Shadow Open Market Committee as well as his ongoing work advising many of the world's major central banks. A popular professor, he has earned teaching awards from both Tepper School MBA students and undergraduate economics students for excellence in the classroom.

Goodfriend's mentor, inspiration and close colleague for more than three decades was the late Tepper School political economist and renowned Federal Reserve historian Allan Meltzer, who died in May at the age of 89. Goodfriend presently holds the Friends of Allan H. Meltzer Professorship.

The Tepper School is proud of its contribution to economic research and teaching, boasting nine Nobel laureates in Economic Sciences as part of its research and academic legacy.

U.S. Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis has appointed Carnegie Mellon University's Kiron Skinner to the Defense Policy Board. The board provides the secretary, deputy secretary and under secretary for policy with independent, informed advice and opinion concerning matters of defense policy. 

Skinner, founding director of the Institute for Politics and Strategy in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, is a renowned expert in national security and foreign policy. She recently was named the Taube Professor of International Relations and Politics.

Secretary Mattis tapped J.D. Crouch, a former assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor and currently the chief executive officer and the president of the United Services Organization, to chair the Defense Policy Board. Four additional members were also announced: Wanda Austin, Making Space, Inc; Eric Cantor, Moelis & Company; David McCormick, Bridgewater Associates; and James Talent, American Enterprise Institute. 

They will join returning members Madeleine Albright, Rudy deLeon, Michèle Flournoy, Jamie Gorelick, Jane Harman, Henry Kissinger, Frank Miller, William Perry and Adm. (Ret) Gary Roughead.

Skinner joined CMU in 1999 and is also a distinguished fellow of CMU's CyLab and holds courtesy faculty appointments in Heinz College and the Institute for Software Research.  She served on President Donald Trump’s transition team’s executive committee, and the teams for the National Security Council and the State Department.

CMU's Institute for Politics and Strategy, which was launched by Skinner in 2015, serves as a center for research, undergraduate and graduate education, and university-wide initiatives in the fields of political science, international relations, national security policy and grand strategy. 

At Carnegie Mellon, Skinner also directs the Center for International Relations and Politics, Washington Semester Program and Institute for Strategic Analysis, a joint effort between Dietrich College, College of Engineering, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, School of Computer Science, and the Software Engineering Institute. She co-created CMU's Master of Information Technology Strategy program, which provides a multidisciplinary education focusing on cybersecurity issues, decision-making challenges and international security.

Skinner currently serves as special adviser to Admiral John Richardson, the chief of Naval Operations, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a life director of the Atlantic Council, and is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. From 2001-2007, she was a member of the U.S. Defense Department's Defense Policy Board as an adviser on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She is the co-author, along with political scientists Serhiy Kudelia, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Condoleezza Rice, of "The Strategy of Campaigning: Lessons from Ronald Reagan and Boris Yeltsin," which is used in political science courses at leading research universities. She authored "Turning Points in Ending the Cold War,” a landmark work in international history featuring a collection of essays by leading American and Russian statesmen and scholars. She co-authored the New York Times best sellers "Reagan, In His Own Hand" and "Reagan, A Life In Letters." She is a frequent contributor of opinion essays and has written for CNN.com, National Review online, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. 

In October, Fox News Channel signed Skinner as a contributor to offer  foreign policy and political analysis across FNC and FOX Business Network's daytime and primetime programming.

Skinner earned master's and doctoral degrees in political science and international relations from Harvard University and undergraduate degrees from Spelman College and Sacramento City College. She received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Molloy College in Long Island, New York.

Jay Whitacre, director of Carnegie Mellon University's Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, has been awarded the 2017 Leigh Ann Conn Prize for Renewable Energy for creating the first mass-produced, low-cost, eco-friendly battery called the Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI™).

This $50,000 biannual award presented by the University of Louisville recognizes outstanding renewable energy ideas and achievements with proven global impact. Whitacre's sodium-ion batteries, which use water-based chemicals, are an economical way to incorporate renewable energy into the grid. The batteries do not feature lead, lithium or organic solvents.

"Dr. Whitacre is a world-class scientist and entrepreneur dedicated to the viability of low-cost energy storage," said Greg Postel, University of Louisville interim president. "The University of Louisville celebrates his research and its positive influence. In a changing world of energy use, he is an outstanding winner of the Leigh Ann Conn Prize."

Whitacre, the College of Engineering's Trustee Professor of Energy in the departments of Materials Science & Engineering and Engineering & Public Policy, came to Carnegie Mellon in 2007. Shortly after, he debuted his unique battery — the only sustainable battery to ever be mass-produced and Cradle to Cradle Certified™.

Whitacre's battery is now manufactured by Aquion Energy, an energy storage technology company he founded in 2009. Among its many awards are the 2011 World Technology Award and the North American Company of the Year in the 2017 Global Cleantech 100. Aquion Energy was included on MIT Technology Review's list of the 50 Disruptive and 50 Smartest Companies.

The company was acquired in June 2017 by a U.S.-based branch of Titans Energy Technology Group.

In conjunction with a public lecture, Whitacre will receive the award and a medal at a ceremony in Louisville in March 2018. The prize, administered by the University of Louisville's Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research at the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, is named for the late daughter of Hank and Rebecca Conn, center supporters and the prize benefactors.

"This revolutionary battery technology and Jay's resilient entrepreneurial spirit demonstrate a vitality that resonates. It's what we all need," Hank Conn said. "It is exciting to recognize his innovations and their translation into impactful technology."

Previous prize winners include world-renowned chemist and Harvard University Professor Daniel Nocera who developed two energy storage systems, the "Artificial Leaf" and the large-scale flow battery, and Swiss chemist Michael Graetzel, developer of the dye-sensitized solar cell.

"With this award, Jay's track record of being a standout innovator in the world of energy technologies will continue to position the College of Engineering and Carnegie Mellon University as a leader in groundbreaking energy innovation," said James H. Garrett Jr., dean of the College of Engineering. "We in the college are very proud of Jay for winning the prestigious Leigh Ann Conn Prize."

Whitacre has won several awards for his innovative battery, including the prestigious $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize, and the Carnegie Science Center Advanced Materials Award. He received the Caltech Resnick Sustainability Institute Award "for research and development of scalable, environmentally benign, low-cost grid-scale energy storage." Fortune Magazine has named him one of the world's Top 25 Eco Innovators. He was also named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.

Whitacre has served on the boards of various energy technology companies and committees for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. He has authored or co-authored over 70 peer review papers and is a prolific inventor who has authored or co-authored over 30 patents that are issued or pending.

"Assemblage," the Carnegie Mellon University School of Design Senior Thesis Exhibition will be held Dec. 2-10 in the Miller Gallery on CMU's Pittsburgh campus.

The exhibition features final works from 48 seniors — the first class to complete CMU's new Bachelor of Design program — in three design concentrations: Products, Communications and Environments. A reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

Throughout the new curriculum, the students have been encouraged to think about the long-term effects of decisions and how those decisions affect the larger environment. At the beginning of the process students asked questions that lead to more questions, talked to people and reflected on lessons learned from the past.

"This approach often leads us to help others speak in order to build empathy around the user's experiences," the students said in their exhibit statement. "To convey our intentions, we craft outputs, whether a carefully communicated message or thoughtfully crafted artifact, that respond to our research and reflection. However, as creatives, we often look to express and strengthen our own voice in our personal work. So, as design professionals, when do we speak and when do we listen?"

In the show, visitors will experience a wide variety of works from deeply personal narratives to community building projects and future-oriented artifacts. In each piece, the designer's presence is balanced with the message of the project, whether prompted in studio or self defined.

The exhibitors are: Adella Guo, Albert Yang, Alex Palatucci, Angee Attar, Anqi Wan, Benal Johnson, Bettina Chou, Carolyn Zhou, Chris Perry, Christie Chong, Deborah Lee, Deniz Sokullu, Emily Mongilio, Faith Kaufman, Gillan Johnson, Hae Wan Park, Hee Jung Koh, Jake Scherlis, Jasper Tom, Jeong Min Seo, Jesse Klein, Jessica Headrick, Ji Tae Kim, Julia Ainbinder, Kate Martin, Kevin Gao, Lily Fulop, Lily Kim, Lois Kim, Lucy Yifan Yu, Maggie Banks, Max Plummer, Maximilien Stein, Meredith Newman, Natalie Harmon, Natapitt (Popo) Sethpornpong, Nina Flores, Noah Johnson, Raphael Weikart, Rufeng (Steven) Ji, Sara Remi Fields, Selena Norman, Sharon Yu, Tiffany Jiang, Tina Park, Treat Swarstad, Ty Van de Zande and Youjin (Juliana) Nam.

Carnegie Mellon University engineers and cognitive neuroscientists have demonstrated that a new high-density EEG can capture the brain's neural activity at a higher spatial resolution than ever before.

This next generation brain-interface technology is the first non-invasive, high-resolution system of its kind, providing higher density and coverage than any existing system. It has the potential to revolutionize future clinical and neuroscience research as well as brain-computer interfaces.

To test the custom-modified EEG, the research team had 16 participants view pattern-reversing black and white checkerboards while wearing the new "super-Nyquist density" EEG. They compared the results from all electrodes to results when using only a subset of the electrodes, which is an accepted standard for EEG density. Published in Scientific Reports, the results showed the new "super-Nyquist" EEG captured more information from the visual cortex than any of the four standard "Nyquist density" versions tested.

"These results are crucial in showing that EEG has enormous potential for future research. Ultimately, capturing more neural information with EEG means we can make better inferences about what is happening inside the brain," said lead author Amanda K. Robinson, a postdoctoral fellow in CMU's Department of Psychology and Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition during the study who is now a research fellow at the University of Sydney. "This has the potential to improve source detection, for example in localizing the source of seizures in epilepsy."

To create the new tool, the team modified an EEG head cap from a 128-electrode system, which increased its sensor density by two to three folds over occipitotemporal brain regions. They designed the experiments to use visual stimuli with low, medium and high spatial frequency content.

Then, they used a visual paradigm designed to elicit neural responses with differing spatial frequencies in the brain and examined how the new super-Nyquist density EEG performed, revealing that the new configuration captured more neural information than standard Nyquist density EEG. The subtle patterns of neural activity uncovered by the new super-Nyquist EEG were closely related to a model of primary visual cortex.

"It is exciting to see that exceeding these engineers' Nyquist densities can provide new information about brain activity, and it opens doors for utilizing higher-density EEG systems for clinical and neuroscientific applications. It also validates some of our fundamental information-theoretic studies in the past few years," said Pulkit Grover, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and a member of the CNBC.

"Development of higher density systems is underway, in collaboration with Shawn Kelly in the Engineering Research Accelerator at CMU," Grover said.

Early financial support to modify and test the new EEG was provided by CMU's BrainHub initiative and ProSEED program.

"This collaboration arose out of CMU's unique BrainHub Initiative that was created to encourage collaboration between brain and behavioral scientists, engineers and computer scientists," said Michael J. Tarr, the Trustee Professor of Vision Science and head of CMU's Psychology Department."Our project is but one example of how working across disciplines can push the boundaries of our science, enabling new methods for studying and, ultimately, understanding the brain. Novel partnerships such as ours are our best avenue for making real progress that can eventually be translated into devices and theories that will help improve our lives."

In addition to Robinson, Grover and Tarr, CMU's Praveen Venkatesh and Marlene Behrmann and the University of Pittsburgh's Matthew J. Boring participated in the study.

Instrumentation of the novel cap was funded in part by the SONIC center of the Semiconductor Research Corporation. Venkatesh was supported by the Phil and Marsha Dowd Fellowship, and Boring was funded by the CNBC computational neuroscience undergraduate fellowship.

Carnegie Mellon University students have taken music and art to a new place — hundreds of feet below the earth's surface.

Students and faculty from CMU's College of Fine Arts, School of Computer Science, the BXA Intercollege Degree Programs and Integrative Design, Arts and Technology (IDeATe) Network put on a one-hour festival Saturday in a limestone mine in Brady's Bend, Armstrong County.

"SubSurface: Site-Specific Sight & Sound" appears to be the first arts festival in the region to be held in an underground limestone mine, according to Rich Pell, associate professor in CMU's School of Art and co-organizer of the event.

After buses took them deep within the mine, about 130 attendees explored a quarter-mile path transformed by swirling light projections, electronic music performances and art installations, including corn stalks, a person wearing a donkey mask in the restful pose of a TV-watching retiree and a clothesline strung with forgotten socks.

"My students were all approaching this from the perspective of the Anthropocene, which is this idea of the human influence over environment, climate and geology," said Pell, who came upon the mine after looking at old industrial sites for his class' final art critique. "So, I wanted to find a place where their work could speak to that, where you could be inside it."

The journey concluded with a concert in a long, cavernous room. The performance began as an instrumental set and gradually transitioned to electronic music, with purple and teal computer-controlled lighting that visualized sound moving through the room.

The Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) will once again recognize an exemplary teacher with the "Excellence in Theatre Education Award," to be presented at the 2018 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 10, 2018. CMU alumnus, actor and producer, Zachary Quinto, will serve as the award's official ambassador and will take part in the selection committee.

Now through February 16, 2018, submissions will be accepted online for K-12 theatre educators at an accredited institution or recognized community theatre organization. Anyone — from students and school administrators, to friends, neighbors and family — can submit a worthy teacher for consideration. He or she must be a teacher whose position is dedicated to and/or includes aspects of theatre education. Submissions can be made at www.TonyAwards.com/EducationAward.

Since 2014, the Excellence in Theatre Education Award has been bestowed annually at the Tony Awards. Last year's honor was presented to Rachel Harry of Hood River, Oregon, where she has been teaching drama for 30 years. She built the program and created performances that frequently sell out at the high school and a larger middle school theater with 1,100 seats.

After earning his drama degree at CMU, Zachary Quinto went on to star in several popular TV series, including "Heroes" and "American Horror Story," along with a memorable turn as Spock in the recent "Star Trek" feature films. In spring 2018, Quinto will share the stage with another CMU alumnus, Matt Bomer, alongside Andrew Rannells and Jim Parsons in Broadway's "The Boys in the Band." Quinto is a staunch supporter of arts education and its positive effects on young people.

"The teacher who inspired me and supported my foray into theatre arts was Jill Wadsworth from CLO (Civic Light Opera) Academy in Pittsburgh," Quinto said. "Arts education is an essential part of both creative and personal development, giving young people an opportunity to know themselves on a deeper level and celebrate the limitless possibility of their uniqueness. Whether or not they end up pursuing a career in the arts, it is the foundation for a more integrated acceptance of self, and a springboard for a wide range of educational and professional opportunities as they mature."

"We see the effects of great teachers every time we attend a performance and watch a skilled actor capture the audience," said Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League and Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing. "We are honored to recognize theatre education professionals through the Excellence in Theatre Education Award, especially at a time in our nation when the arts are so vitally important."

"Teachers change lives, and presenting this annual award is one of the greatest ways to recognize that," said Dan Martin, Dean of CMU's College of Fine Arts. "Together with the League and the Wing, giving a nod to a deserving teacher helps us to support the ongoing platform of arts education and reinforces how very important it is in our society today."

A panel of judges comprised of the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League, Carnegie Mellon University and other leaders from the theatre industry will select the winner. The winner will receive a cash grant for his or her school, flights to New York City, hotel accommodations and a pair of tickets to the 2018 Tony Awards Ceremony and Gala.

This year, the person/persons who submit the entry that wins also will receive recognition, including a master class presentation at their school from professionals at Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon's School of Drama is the oldest drama degree-granting program in the United States and celebrated its centennial in 2014. In the past century, CMU has produced hundreds of Tony nominees, and its alumni have won more than 40 Tony Awards to date.

The 2018 Tony Awards, presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, will air live on CBS on Sunday, June 10. For more information on the Tony Awards, visit TonyAwards.com and Facebook.com/TheTonyAwards and follow @TheTonyAwards on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.

Press releases and high-res images are available at www.TonyAwards.com/presskit.

Students and faculty from Carnegie Mellon University Silicon Valley are working to support the next generation of technologists by mentoring high school students competing in community hackathons.

"The first time I saw these teens, I was quite amazed by their passion for computer science," said Miaozhen Zhang, a master's degree student studying software management at CMU's Integrated Innovation Institute (III). "At CMU we work hard, but we are doing what we love. It was inspiring to share my passion with young people, to help them find what they love as well."

Instructor and CMU alumnus Catherine Fang has been a strong advocate for supporting Bay Area teenagers, connecting CMU students from the III, the Information Networking Institute and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to many local volunteer opportunities, including recent teen hackathons MVHacks, which was organized by Mountain View High School, and CU Hacks 3, an event organized by the Cupertino Library and Santa Clara County Library District.

"Events like hackathons are good opportunities for our students to pay it forward to the community and share the expertise they acquire at Carnegie Mellon," Fang said. "Our Silicon Valley campus is rooted in the heart of the computer science industry, and our programs here are infused with both academic knowledge as well as industry best practices."

Fang said each semester CMU students brainstorm product ideas and push them through prototyping and productization.

"The MVHacks hackathon is like a mini-version of the process," she said. "We were very touched and inspired by the enthusiasm of the local high schoolers and their willingness to take on challenges."

Additional sponsors for the event included Microsoft, LinkedIN, Symantec and LeanGap.

With the support of CMU mentors, the 120 high school students from 25 area schools who participated in the inaugural MVHacks developed high-tech products and prototypes exploring many areas. For example, Team Food Raccoon developed an app to detect food waste by analyzing how much food is thrown away in IoT-enabled trash cans. One group of students created BookBuddy app, a technology to scan data about a book by taking a photo of its cover. And another team created Whiteboard Web, which aimed to use virtual classroom technology to make education more accessible to remote regions.

"We've already heard very positive feedback from participants and their families," Fang said. "We plan to keep the momentum going and make hackathon mentorship one of CMU Silicon Valley's traditions. Together, we can build a better community that is ready for the next digital transformation."

At CU Hacks 3, participants were encouraged to code prototype applications that would help the Cupertino community become a better place to live, while giving the high school students hands-on knowledge in computer science and software engineering. The winning team created an image recognition app that, when given a photograph of a plastic or glass bottle, a container or another object, would tell the user whether that item is recyclable.

"The students really learned a lot from all of the outstanding CMU mentors," said Matt Lorenzo, the teen services librarian at Cupertino Library and host of the hackathon. "It was a wonderful collaborative effort, and in the end, the teens created some really awesome projects that went toward helping the Cupertino community."

Elaine Aw, a software management master's degree student at CMU-SV, was a mentor for the Cupertino event.

"You can feel the energy in the room — the teens learned really fast," Aw said. "It's amazing that at their young age they were able to prove their ability to leverage new technologies, like Google Cloud Vision API and Firebase, to create new applications. It is a nice reminder that regardless of age, anyone can be creative, hack and create something of value."