Thayer School

By the time this column is read, Dean Myron Tribus' new book, "Rational Descriptions, Decisions and Designs," will be available. This pioneering text presents Myron's recent work in the application of decision theory to engineering design. Pergamon Press is the publisher and Jacques Pezier '69 is translating the book into French for them. Jacques, who taught the Thayer course in Decision Theory last fall, received his M.S. degree in June 1969 and is continuing at Thayer School as a Ph.D. candidate. Adjunct Professor Fred Sanger's detailed design monograph, "Foundations of Structures in Cold Regions," was published by the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab, U.S. Army, Hanover. This is a valuable text for those involved in bringing oil south from the Alaskan Coastal Plain — Charlie Hitchcock '39 and Joe Gilchrist '51 take note.

Ecological Research Corp., a Hanover firm founded in August 1968 by Professor of Engineering Robert Dean as a subsidiary of his primary company in Hanover, Creare, and of Ecological Science Corp. of Miami, has received a $43,100 research contract to study the effectiveness of a device and procedure for removal of oilspill residues from beaches. The method, developed at Ecological Research, would involve washing oilsoaked sand with water, and then separating the oil from the wash water by spinning at high speed. If successful, mobile units could be built to speed to the scene of such disasters as recently happened along the California and Gulf coasts. The research contract was awarded to Ecological Research by the Department of Interior's Water Pollution Control Administration.

Roy Cahoon '47 is Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Northeastern University. His teaching and research are in the field of structures. Nipper Lewis '49 visited Hanover in January. The General Electric strike allowed him to get away for a day from Lynn, Mass., where he directs activities in the Gyro Design Division. He reported that Jack McKeon '49 has recently been appointed vice president in the Air Brake Division of Westinghouse. Freshman Father's Weekend brought K. A. Kelly '48 to Hanover in February and we had a brief chat at the swimming meet. Ken is now located in New York with 1.8.M. after many years of travel in foreign countries. He is involved in the location and construction of major 1.8.M. buildings, and at the moment was traveling frequently to Chicago to keep track of the new IBM building there. Bob Daly '62 also visited Thayer School this past winter representing Honeywell. Bob is principal Engineer for Peripheral Processor System Design and was looking for new personnel.

A publication has been received from the University of New Mexico which includes a Paper by Yong Suk Chae '57 titled "The Material Constants of Soils as Determined worn Dynamic Testing." Yong, who is an Associate Professor at Rutgers University, presented this paper at the International Symposium on Wave Propagation and Dynamic Properties of Earth Materials, August 1967. On the family side, Ivars Bemberis '65 and Jeannette announce the birth of Kimberly Ann on November 4, 1969. The Bemberis family lives in Stamford, Conn. Gerald Petitt '68 is Marketing Manager for National Authorization Services Company, 770 Broadway, New York. He would welcome a visit from classmates who may be in New York. Gerry also was in Hanover on a recruiting trip this past winter.

On April 30 and May 1, 1970, the Thayer School is presenting a conference on "The Coming Impact of Inexpensive Digital Devices." This is one of a series of programs for the Partners and Associates of the Thayer School of Engineering. The technical director of the conference is Associate Professor of Engineering Tom Piatkowski who has put together the program. Professor Barney Smith, Thayer School liaison with Partners and Associates, and Allan LeBaron, Assistant to the Executive Officer, have been in charge of conference arrangements. The following listing of sessions, with session chairmen, indicates the objectives and emphasis: "Equipment Review and Technique Review," Professor Piatkowski; "Application Review," Professor Shannon; "The Fantastic Future of Digital Devices," Professor Smith; "Mini-computers vs Time-sharing," Professor Hayes.

It is early April in Hanover and much snow remains; but a robin was seen, and dorm windows are open to let loud, vibrant music out. Spring is coming!