For more than a year, third-year interior design student Emma Canny has been working with a multi­­­­disci­plinary team on a universally designed kitchen that meets the needs of people with disabilities. Canny’s project is more than a classroom assignment. It is one of several working prototypes that is being tested in RIT’s LiveAbility Lab so end users can provide students with immediate feedback. The LiveAbility Lab is a partnership between RIT and the Al Sigl Community of Agencies, a collaborative network of organizations in Rochester that serves children and adults with special needs. The lab, which is located on Al Sigl’s Wolk Campus, opened in 2018. ‌ Elizabeth Lamark Projects that are selected for the LiveAbility Lab and have reached the prototype stage are tested by volunteers working through the Al Sigl Community of Agencies. Here, Andrea Gonzalez, an MFA student in industrial design and the LiveAbility Lab manager, explains the accessible bathroom to volunteer Frank Seilier. Seilier’s role is to provide feedback to the students on this particular space in the lab that has been designed for people who use walkers and wheelchairs. The goal is to develop a pipeline of accessible technology projects that are conceived at RIT and take root at the LiveAbility Lab on their way to development in the marketplace.  Data gathered from the World Health Organization and the World Bank estimates that more than 1 billion people in the world live with some form of disability, of whom nearly 200 million experience considerable difficulty in their daily lives. Along with the mobile kitchen, current projects in the lab include an accessible bathroom, 3D-printed prosthetic devices, and a functional car door that enables individuals with mobility challenges to safely enter and exit a vehicle. Dan Phillips, an associate professor in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering and faculty associate for the Partnership for Effective Access Technology Research and Development at RIT, leads the lab, which is a collaboration across colleges. He said the unique space is designed to incorporate teaching and experiential learning. The goal is to develop projects that will positively impact the lives of people with different abilities. “Not only are our students designing and revising prototypes based on the feedback of the end users, they are engaged in hands-on learning about universal design, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, and the daily challenges faced by individuals with special needs to fully participate in life’s opportunities,” he said. “When that happens, the entire community benefits.” Real challenges Canny, from Rochester, N.Y., is working with industrial design students to refine the mobile kitchen, called MO:KI. The kitchen is a collection of modular units that highlight work zones for cooking, cleaning, and food preparation. The free-standing, multifunctional MO:KI system is interchangeable and uses a plug-and-play approach, a grid with custom pegs, and hard and soft storage solutions with varied height work surfaces. Set on casters, the units mobilize to fluidly reset the cooking environment based on changing needs.  “In the past, we would try to test our projects with us sitting in wheelchairs, but it’s not the same,” Canny said. “Seeing our partners from Al Sigl use the kitchen, push around the movable components, use them as they would in their lives and homes is invaluable.” Because of this experience, Canny said, she plans to implement universal design into all of her projects. And after RIT, she wants to work in medical design, designing for people with disabilities. The MO:KI system began with RIT Assistant Professor Mary Golden, who brought the discussion of universality and aging in place for the cooking experience into her interior design studio at RIT. A select team of students, including Canny, furthered the premise. LiveAbility Lab projects start in a variety of places on campus. RIT’s Albert J. Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an incubator where students from any major gather to work with coaches on idea generation and business development. Idea Lab employs multidisciplinary student teams to solve unique problems identified by organizations or institutions such as Al Sigl, Rochester Regional Health, and others. Each year, senior engineering students work on team-based projects as part of the multidisciplinary senior design program. This two-semester capstone experience builds upon earlier coursework by integrating engineering theory and practice within a structured, collaborative environment. Phillips said that if there is a definitive problem that can be solved and an engaged end user, chances are the project is a good fit for the LiveAbility Lab. For example, a mind-controlled wheelchair and a thought keyboard are being developed by RIT’s Neurotechnology Exploration Team, a student-run research group that builds assistive technologies that use electrical signals in the brain and muscles to help people with neuromuscular disorders move and communicate. The wheelchair and keyboard projects will eventually move to the LiveAbility Lab for a large human subject research trial to collect brain signal data—and the team will also conduct usability testing in the facility. “It is incredibly motivating and rewarding to know that the problems we are addressing within the Neurotechnology Exploration Team directly impact indiv­iduals in a significant way,” said Adam Del Rosso, a fourth-year software engineering student and team leader. Projects also come from Studio 930 Design Consultancy, led by Associate Professor Stan Rickel, who had the initial vision for the LiveAbility Lab. Studio 930 is a interdisciplinary studio focused on the design of access and health technology products. Rickel said the group is motivated equally by real-world learning and helping people with disabilities in the community. He added that it’s emotional when students understand that there is a person behind the product that they are designing. “As soon as the students meet the users, it’s no longer a school project, it’s real life,” Rickel said. “It brings a whole new level of empathy and the students are proud of the work they are doing.” Meaningful solutions Yueyue “Zoey” Zhang, an industrial design graduate student from China, is working on several projects within the LiveAbility Lab. ‌ Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito Yueyue “Zoey” Zhang, an industrial design graduate student, regularly brings a therapeutic toy she is developing to Rochester Hearing and Speech Center, a member of the Al Sigl Community of Agencies. As the children test the prototype, Zhang makes careful notes regarding necessary modifications. The toy is in the final stages of product development, which includes adding textures, colors, and lights. One of Zhang’s projects is an interactive toy for children with autism. The project started in Studio 930 about three years ago, but through the LiveAbility Lab, Zhang is now regularly working with children at Rochester Hearing and Speech Center, a member of the Al Sigl Community of Agencies, to refine the design.  It’s in the final stages of product development, which includes adding textures, colors, and lights. Another project, in conjunction with Rochester Regional Health, is a design for a hospital bedside table that will enhance the experience of patients with mobility issues. Zhang also will soon begin work on a device that encourages children with special needs to feed themselves.  “It’s been amazing to spend time with the children and observe how they play with toys they already have and how they interact with their physical therapists,” she said. “I take that information back to the lab and think about the toy we’re creating—the shape, the form, and how all of that impacts the interaction, their learning, and their development.” Zhang also enjoys connecting with an interdisciplinary group of engineers and researchers and the sense of fulfillment working in the field of access technology. “From the beginning of my academic career, I knew that I wanted to be an industrial designer, working to make the world better. Based on this experience showcasing my projects in the LiveAbility Lab, I feel like I’m prepared to do this in the real world.” RIT’s partnership with Al Sigl began in 2012 with conversations about how the university could study the barriers for people with disabilities and special needs and how RIT could contribute to solving these problems using technology and innovation. “We are so fortunate to be aligned with a world-class institution like RIT,” said Tom O’Connor, CEO of Al Sigl Community of Agencies. “When you look at the talent of the students, the professors, and the administrators, and knowing the innovative model that the Al Sigl community presents to the nation, it’s a perfect match. Together we’re trying to develop ideas and products that will advance people of varying abilities.” Phillips said the LiveAbility Lab will eventually reach a point where projects are staggered—some in the conceptual stage and others that are close to finalization and market launch. Ultimately, Phillips said, he hopes the LiveAbility Lab becomes a place where members of the community can go if they’re looking for distinct and meaningful solutions to accessibility problems. “The LiveAbility Lab is a real example of how our students are combining tech­nology, art, and design to create new solutions that can change the world.” LiveAbility Lab projects The LiveAbility Lab is home to inter­disciplinary projects that impact people living with different abilities. In addition to MO:KI, projects at the lab include: Upper-arm prosthetics: Jade Myers, a Ph.D. student in Kate Gleason College of Engineering, is developing low-cost, context sensitive, upper-arm prosthetics for people with limb abnormalities in under-developed countries. Accessible bathroom: Industrial design MFA students and students in the multi­disciplinary senior design program in Kate Gleason College of Engineering are developing an accessible lavatory designed for people who use walkers and wheelchairs. Assessment tools: Zhi Zheng, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, is working with a team to develop sensory abnormality assessment and intervention tools for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and a robot-mediated cognitive and physical exercise device for older adults with mild cognitive impairments. Brain imagery and brain-computer interface testing: This project is coordinated by students on RIT’s Neurotechnology Exploration Team, a student-run research group that builds assistive technologies that use electrical signals in the brain and muscles to help people with neuromuscular disorders move and communicate. Turn About: Multidisciplinary senior design program students have partnered with BZ Design to develop an automated device that uses swiveling and lifting technologies to allow a driver or passenger to easily enter and exit a vehicle. The device is designed for those who have mobility issues associated with disorders such as ALS. Therapeutic and sensory play devices: Students in the industrial design MFA program and electrical engineering students have continued to develop interactive modules that use textures, lights, and sounds to increase the attention spans of children with special needs. They are also developing a rock climbing wall and an interactive toy for children with autism. Accessible toilet: The project is being evaluated by multidisciplinary senior design students. Pediatric stander: This device, under the direction of Steven Day, chair of RIT’s biomedical engineering program, allows for upright maneuverability opportunities for children with certain mobility impairments.

RIT’s K-12 University Center is leveraging the university’s strength in experiential learning and career readiness in a new partnership with the Army Educational Outreach Program. RIT will receive $14 million to expand the Army’s apprenticeship programs and cultivate a STEM-literate workforce that reflects the nation’s demographics. The five-year grant is funded through the Department of Defense Army Materiel Command and administered through Battelle Memorial Institute. The competitive award is RIT’s single largest research grant to date and elevates the university’s scope, said Ryne Raffaelle, RIT vice president for research and associate provost. “RIT is partnering with the Army to engage, inspire, and attract the next generation and expose them to STEM careers,” Raffaelle said. “Enabling the STEM pipeline is something that the RIT community has long been passionate about.” High school and undergraduate students gain mentorship and authentic research experiences at university and Army research laboratories through the Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program, the High School Apprenticeship Program, Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program, Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program, and the College Qualified Leaders. “We’re soliciting new sites and contributing programmatically by developing resources for apprentices and mentors to make the experience more enriching,” said Donna Burnette, executive director of RIT’s K-12 University Center and project lead. “We are also aligning the programming with the Army’s career and workforce development initiatives. Now that we are part of the Army Educational Outreach Program, we’ve become part of the national conversation. We have a seat at the table in this kind of work at a level we haven’t had before.” None of the existing Army apprenticeships takes place at RIT. This represents a potential growth area for the university and a way to share the RIT brand, Burnette said. “We are now interfacing with every single one of these students who will be part of our future workforce, and we get to bring the RIT flavor to their experiences.” Burnette joined RIT in 2016 from Virginia Tech, where she led the first consortium in support of the Army Educational Outreach Program. Burnette has strengthened relationships between RIT and the K-12 community through increased grant-funded programming that draws upon the university’s subject matter experts. “I’m personally interested in the K-12-to-college-to-career pipeline,” Burnette said. “RIT is already great at preparing students for careers. Connecting the pipeline to high schools and further down to middle schools is the next step, I think, and a natural fit for RIT and our K-12 program.”

While he’ll soon step away from the day-to-day at the university to which he has dedicated nearly six decades, R. Roger Remington wants people to know, “I’m not going anywhere.” The Vignelli Distinguished Professor of Design and longest-serving faculty member at RIT will retire in May after 57 years at the university. In addition to building a nationally recognized graphic design program in RIT’s College of Art and Design, the 83-year-old Remington has transformed the university into an international archival resource for design, earning many of the industry’s most distinguished accolades along the way. ‌ A. Sue Weisler Remington enjoys working with students. From left are graduate students Emma Canfield, Marie Fabozzi, and Samantha Maida in an avant-garde typography workshop. “It doesn’t feel at all like I’m closing the door and walking away because I don’t intend to,” Remington said. “I’m planning to stay around and be as much help as I can to my successor and to others involved in the Vignelli Center for Design Studies and the college.” He leaves an indelible mark on the university—and the design industry at large. “Roger has been the face of design at RIT for nearly six decades, raising the profile of the college and the university in the design world to new heights,” said Ellen Granberg, RIT provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “He leaves a wonderful legacy that will benefit the university—and the design world—for years to come.” Todd Jokl, dean of the College of Art and Design, said Remington’s impact on RIT students has been immeasurable. “Roger Remington has been a titan in the field of design both at RIT—through his efforts that established design as a pillar at our university—and in the broader world of design, where he is known as a world-class historian, scholar, and designer, at large,” he said. “The impact Roger has had on the College of Art and Design as well as the field of design, overall, cannot be overstated.” From student to chair Remington, who grew up in Glens Falls, N.Y., was first introduced to RIT in the 1950s when he was an art and design student. The head of the School of Art and Design at the time, Stanley Witmeyer, began transitioning the program from a traditional Beaux Arts academy to a modern design program. As a result, Remington recalled, he graduated from RIT in 1958 with a strong foundation in both styles. ‌ In 1959, Remington, left, shared this house with other RIT students including Marvin Hardee Jr., Robert Brown, John Boyd, and Chris Mayer. He applied to several graduate schools and was attracted to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied printmaking and took advantage of the school’s art history program. After graduating, he returned to New York state and worked in packaging design for three years before the call to teaching grew stronger. Montana State University in Bozeman needed a design teacher and Remington took the job, “sight unseen,” he recalled, becoming the only graphic designer in the school’s small art department until 1963. “Then I got a call from Stan Witmeyer,” Remington said. “He said, ‘Would you like to come back to RIT to teach? We are building a new campus, and we would like to have you be part of our faculty.’” Remington said those early years at RIT were “both challenging and exciting at the same time.” The transition from an intimate downtown setting to the sprawling Henrietta campus was stressful, yet exhilarating. He had the opportunity to work on the branding program for the new school, which was used by RIT for two decades. He helped build the first graphic design department, which he chaired for seven years, while he began to make a significant impact on students in the classroom. Remington considers himself primarily a teacher who has critical interests in design studies and graphic design practice. He received the Eisenhart Annual Award for Outstanding Teaching—RIT’s highest recognition of teaching excellence—in 1978. Archives catalyst Remington is renowned worldwide for his critical interests in design studies, research, writing, and graphic design practice. Since 1982, he has been engaged in the research, interpretation, and preservation of the history of graphic design. He was the leading catalyst in establishing RIT’s Cary Graphic Design Archive, which now features 45 existing graphic design collections of Modernist American graphic design pioneers such as Lester Beall, Will Burtin, Cipe Pineles, William Golden, and Alvin Lustig. ‌ Elizabeth Lamark Remington has been called the soul of the Vignelli Center for Design Studies, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The crown jewel of his archival efforts, the Vignelli Center for Design Studies, houses the archive of the late renowned designers Massimo and Lella Vignelli, whose graphic and product designs are icons of international design. When Massimo Vignelli, whose friendship with Remington began in 1979, decided it was time to downsize his New York City business around 2005, there was only one place in the world where he wanted his archive housed. The problem was that the collection was too large to fit with the others at The Wallace Center. Following five years of planning and substantial institutional support, the Vignelli Center for Design Studies opened on campus in 2010 in a building designed by Vignelli himself. Inside, students have access to original source materials and examples of the late couple’s finished work, which includes corporate identity campaigns for Xerox, American Airlines, and Bloomingdale’s; street signage; jewelry; glassware; and furniture. The Vignelli Center is currently marking its 10th anniversary. At the time of the center’s dedication, Vignelli said the project would never have been built without Remington, whom the late designer called the center’s soul who made the archive a teaching instrument and a formidable legacy to RIT. “Roger was the driving force at bringing the Vignelli archive to RIT, establishing and growing the world-class collection now housed in the Vignelli Center, and in realizing the remarkable building that now houses this astounding archive,” Jokl said. “Due in large part to Roger’s tireless work, the Vignelli Center for Design Studies now serves as an invaluable resource to our students, our faculty, and design scholars around the globe.” Josh Owen, director of the industrial design program, said the Vignelli Center is a landmark gift to the world. Owen said the center’s archive is a uniquely valuable tool for RIT students. “The center is like an eternal flame for design education—Roger has provided the fuel,” Owen said. Remington said his ambition since opening the center was to make it even more valuable. He achieved that by expanding educational programming, including workshops and lecture series presented by modern-day design leaders. “It has been my major goal to help students achieve the highest possible level of visual aesthetics in their work,” Remington said. “Developing the Cary Graphic Design Archive and the Vignelli Center for Design Studies has been a major contribution to students, to RIT, and to the profession.” Design accolades Remington has won many of the design industry’s most prestigious awards. He received the Ladislav Sutnar Prize from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Czech Republic, in 2015. The Ladislav Sutnar faculty of Design and Art has awarded the prize to honor outstanding international designers, educators, artists, and institutions for their contributions to design and art. In 2012, he was asked to join Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI), an elite society of graphic design professionals worldwide. Widely considered the Academy Awards of the design industry, AGI only admits members who have achieved high professional standing in the field of graphic design in their native country or internationally. Nominated by Massimo Vignelli, his official induction in London came after he celebrated 50 years at RIT. The impressive list of inductees into the New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame throughout nearly 50 years includes such luminaries as Walt Disney, Andy Warhol, Ray Eames, and Paul Rand. Remington became a laureate for the Hall of Fame in 2008. He has published seven books on design history and “has another one in the pipeline,” he said. To that point, Remington said he doesn’t plan on slowing down in retirement. “I’m still going to be in Rochester… and I’d like to continue in an active role, but work on my own unique projects,” he said. “I’m not really seeing retirement as the end of my relationship to RIT at all.” Tributes We asked readers of RIT University Magazine to send us stories about R. Roger Remington’s impact on them. Read the remarks on the Roger Remington tribute page.

As the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) leads to secondary school closures and SAT/ACT cancellations, university officials at Rochester Institute of Technology have taken the conscientious step to help ease the stress of incoming students and their families making decisions about college. RIT is extending the deposit deadline for accepted students to June 1. Traditionally, May 1 has been designated as National College Decision Day, representing the date to submit acceptance and make deposits to attend four-year colleges or universities. “In the past few weeks, I have heard from many students and families that are concerned about not being able to visit campus, finalize financial aid plans, and connect with students and faculty,” said Marian Nicoletti, director of RIT Undergraduate Admissions, who also noted that with many high schools closed, final credentials and test scores may not be available. “Giving families more time to make these important decisions is the right thing to do, and we look forward to having them visit our campus when the time is appropriate.”  RIT will reschedule admitted student events when New York state and CDC guidelines allow for larger public gatherings. RIT is also launching online services for parents and students to schedule one-on-one phone consultations with admissions and financial aid representatives. Webinars on financial aid and admissions will also be scheduled.  “Deciding where to go to college is a major decision, and we all need to do what is best for families. This decision is what is best for families,” said Ian Mortimer, RIT vice president for Enrollment Management. “In addition to allowing families more time to make essential decisions, all of us in higher education need to recognize the financial hardship that many families will be experiencing. Forcing students and families to potentially make a less-informed decision and limiting time for financial planning does not make sense. While RIT excels at career preparation and return-on-investment, we feel strongly that families need more time to plan.” To date, RIT has its largest applicant pool in the university’s history, and more than 1,000 students have already committed for fall 2020. Students and families are encouraged to go to the RIT Freshman Admissions webpage to stay current on news related to the high school class of 2020.

Gears make the industrial world go ’round. And RIT engineering faculty and doctoral students are working to keep them moving efficiently. Gears transmit the motion necessary to operate the equipment assembling today’s consumer goods, among many other applications. But with increasing demands on equipment for more power, longer service life and lighter weight, companies can also expect gear-box failures due to wear and tear. RIT’s Gear Research Laboratory team is helping improve gear technology.  “We have long been aware of the significant economic impact of wear and friction between mechanical components as they result in energy losses and shortened part lifespan,” said Patricia Iglesias-Victoria, associate professor of mechanical engineering and part of the Gear Research Lab. “But there is also an environmental impact to consider, because most of the lubricants in use today are petroleum-based and contain toxic additives. We know they can reduce friction and wear efficiently, but we want to move into a more environmentally friendly direction.” The group’s direction is toward developing computational tools to achieve the best gear designs and increase the power density of gear transmissions, thereby decreasing the impact of wear on gears and making improvements to manufacturing processes. The work is being done through collaborations with Gleason Corp., one of the top gear and system manufacturers in the country. In 2016, the company, a long-time partner of RIT and the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, established the Gleason Doctoral Fellowships to further collaborations in gear design and manufacturing research. Results from the first group of fellows, Eloy Yague-Spaude, Achyuth Kothuru and Hong Guo, are providing solutions in multiple facets of gear development—from design and manufacturing processes to sustainable materials—that might change industry practices. Making Gears The RIT Gear Research Laboratory was established by Alfonso Fuentes-Aznar, associate professor of mechanical engineering, in collaboration with international partners from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (Spain). The partners developed Integrated Gear Design (IGD), a sophisticated software program used to design, analyze and optimize gear geometry—the structure and configuration—taking into account manufacturing processes and simulating actual performance. This information is integral to understanding gear lifecycles and provides a platform for how improvements can be made in gear design. “We try to improve the mechanical performance and power density of any kind of gear drive by studying and improving its geometry,” said Eloy Yague-Spaude, a doctoral candidate from Spain. Yague-Spaude’s work focuses on strain wave gear drives and tests the strength of gears prior to mass production, proposing improvements based on operation simulations. First patented in 1959, strain wave gear drives are reliable stalwarts of industry providing the gear reduction necessary to accurately convert motion in small and light-weight applications. “Which is what we are interested in,” said Yague-Spaude. “My aim is to better explain gear behavior by developing models and simulations to improve the behavior and to understand how to make better, more reliable joints. These gears are used for robots, in aerospace applications, machining tools, medical equipment – basically anything that has space and size constraints that require a huge conversion of motion.” Performing this type of stress analysis by modifying the geometry and increasing power density is a way to improve gear capabilities. Improving Operations In helping to move companies forward, doctoral student Achyuth Kothuru is incorporating artificial intelligence techniques into tool condition monitoring systems to improve manufacturing operational processes. ‌ A. Sue Weisler Much of doctoral student Achyuth Kothuru’s work is in the area of improving manufacturing processes and integrating more AI techniques into system. “The manufacturing industry is transforming to integrate computers and advanced processing systems so that they could build more automated factories. They could be more intelligent in higher production scenarios,” said Kothuru, who is from India. “My work comes under assisting this transformation by providing information about the systems that could actually have these intelligent capabilities, to better monitor processes and to optimize automation without the intervention of humans.” His work entails developing models which mimic human operators to some extent, essentially “teaching” the system to understand the manufacturing process so it can monitor itself. “We have a system that can monitor the ongoing manufacturing process and detect typical anomalies during that process,” he said. “Then the cutting parameters can be optimized with this information toward an uninterrupted manufacturing process.” One goal of this project is to help the machining field facilitate the implementation of Industry 4.0. Research and improvements have occurred in these areas in the past 10 years, but it is more in research than actual transformation in the field in practical applications. “Much of the terms today include smart manufacturing,” said Rui Liu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and part of the Gear Research Lab team. “Many systems are automated, in doing the process, but they are not necessarily self-aware, going through the process. The primary challenge would be coming up with a solution where you can actually integrate this into the practical scenario.” Understanding Tribology and Friction One of those applications is in the area of tribology—the science of understanding the intersection of wear, friction and lubrication. ‌ A. Sue Weisler Doctoral candidate Hong Guo is testing various alternative materials to be added to current gear lubricants to decrease the impact of wear on equipment. “Many people may not be aware of tribology—it involves friction, wear and lubrication. When two component surfaces rub together, it will lead to friction and wear. Use of lubricants will reduce friction and wear between the materials,” said Hong Guo, a doctoral candidate from China. “Our goal is to develop more efficient and more environmentally friendly lubricants and additives to be used in the mechanical elements, particularly in the gear box, the pistons and turbines.” The work is complex and involves understanding materials science as much as engineering principles. The search for alternatives to traditional gear lubricants is developing. Guo’s research into the use of Ionic liquids – a class of salts that are liquid at ambient temperature—has shown promise of being an alternative to commercial oils currently used as gear lubricants. Her work is in validating this option further and understanding, from the molecular level, how stable the materials are and how the ionic liquid films fully protect surfaces from high heat and wear over time. “The study of environmentally-friendly ionic liquids in lubrication is very recent,” Guo explained. “These liquids have a lot of unique properties, such as low melting point, high thermal stability— which means they can be used in very high temperature conditions without decomposition—and other properties such as high thermal conductivity and different polarity.” Work continues in keeping manufacturing equipment at optimal conditions. The Gleason Doctoral Fellowship program has been renewed, and the mechanical engineering department has added more courses in tribology and computational gear analysis to further prepare its students for careers in the evolving manufacturing industry.

UPDATE: March 11: The Thermal Analysis and Microfluidics Lab Anniversary symposium originally scheduled for March 20-21 is being postponed. As a new date is scheduled, information will be posted to the symposium website. Jacqui Sergi and Michael Daino’s research as graduate students in RIT’s Thermal Analysis and Microfluidics Lab was a key reason they were selected to attend the prestigious Fuel Cell Manhattan Project Conference sponsored by the Department of Defense. Alyssa Owens and Jose Luis Gonzalez Hernadez contributed a new infrared imaging process to Rochester Regional Health to assist in breast cancer detection. That life-saving research began in the lab, too. They are only a handful of the 300-plus current students and alumni that have worked on significant projects in Thermal Analysis and Microfluidics Lab in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering over its 30-year history. To celebrate the milestone, the lab team is hosting a daylong symposium and bringing back some of its most successful alumni to lead conference sessions about current work. The event takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 20, in RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability. Lab alumni will discuss topics related to automotive fuel cells, microfluidic systems and infrared imaging for breast cancer. They will be joined by corporate partners such as L3 Harris Technologies, General Motors and Carrier Co., long-time supporters of the college and various lab projects of the years. “There have been many important discoveries in the lab, and the students have worked to bring many of them about. They have been among some of our best students in the college and have gone on to companies around the country making a big difference in how new automotive systems are designed to how we treat breast care patients today,” said Satish Kandlikar, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Thermal Analysis and Microfluidics Lab. His research areas include fuel cells, flow boiling, critical heat flux, contact line heat transfer and advanced cooling techniques. Additional events during the symposium day include:4 p.m. March 20: The lab team will host a cake-cutting and networking event in the Gordon Atrium in the James Gleason Building. 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. March 20: Student posters presentations and networking for conference guests takes place at the Lobozzo Alumni House, followed by a banquet.  8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 21: Tours of the engineering labs will take place and open to the campus local communities. More information about the symposium and a history of the lab can be found online.

Statistical machine learning is at the core of modern-day advances in artificial intelligence, but a Rochester Institute of Technology professor argues that applying it correctly requires equal parts science and art. Professor Ernest Fokoué of RIT’s School of Mathematical Sciences emphasized the human element of statistical machine learning in his primer on the field that graced the cover of a recent edition of Notices of the American Mathematical Society. “One of the most important commodities in your life is common sense,” said Fokoué. “Mathematics is beautiful, but mathematics is your servant. When you sit down and design a model, data can be very stubborn. We design models with assumptions of what the data will show or look like, but the data never looks exactly like what you expect. You may have a nice central tenet, but there’s always something that’s going to require your human intervention. That’s where the art comes in. After you run all these statistical techniques, when it comes down to drawing the final conclusion, you need your common sense.” Statistical machine learning is a field that combines mathematics, probability, statistics, computer science, cognitive neuroscience and psychology to create models that learn from data and make predictions about the world. One of its earliest applications was when the United States Postal Service used it to accurately learn and recognize handwritten letters and digits to autonomously sort letters. Today, we see it applied in a variety of settings, from facial recognition technology on smartphones to self-driving cars. Researchers have developed many different learning machines and statistical models that can be applied to a given problem, but there is no one-size-fits-all method that works well for all situations. Fokoué said using selecting the appropriate method requires mathematical and statistical rigor along with practical knowledge. His paper explains the central concepts and approaches, which he hopes will get more people involved in the field and harvesting its potential. “Statistical machine learning is the main tool behind artificial intelligence,” said Fokoué. “It’s allowing us to construct extensions of the human being so our lives, transportation, agriculture, medicine and education can all be better. Thanks to statistical machine learning, you can understand the processes by which people learn and slowly and steadily help humanity access a higher level.” This year, Fokoué has been on sabbatical traveling the world exploring new frontiers in statistical machine learning. Fokoué’s full article is available on the AMS website.

A Rochester Institute of Technology professor is being honored as one of the first American Astronomical Society Fellows. Joel Kastner, a professor in RIT’s Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science and School of Physics and Astronomy, is part of an initial group of more than 200 Legacy Fellows recently named by the society. The AAS, the major organization of professional astronomers in North America, established the new accolade to honor members for extraordinary achievement and service. AAS Fellows are recognized for original research and publication, innovative contributions to astronomical techniques or instrumentation, significant contributions to education and public outreach, and noteworthy service to astronomy and to the Society itself. The initial group of Fellows was designated by the AAS Board of Trustees and includes past recipients of certain awards from the AAS or its topical divisions, distinguished AAS elected leaders and volunteer committee members, and previously unrecognized individuals with long histories of outstanding research, teaching, mentoring, and service. “It's a great honor and, frankly, very humbling and surprising to be included in this initial group of AAS Fellows,” said Kastner. “There are so many astronomers that I respect and admire— role models—on this list. This is wonderful inspiration to keep pressing on with my work.” Kastner has contributed extensive research on topics including stellar evolution, young stars and planetary nebulae. Since 2017, Kastner has served as the chair of the AAS committee on employment. Previously he has received prestigious fellowships from organizations including the Carnegie Institution for Science, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Study Abroad International and more. To learn more about the fellows program, visit the AAS website.

Rochester Institute of Technology’s 15th annual Creative Industry Day yesterday drew an impressive array of talent seekers from the likes of The Walt Disney Co., Forbes Media and Procter & Gamble anxiously looking to meet with RIT students in a career-fair setting inside Gordon Field House. ‌ A. Sue Weisler Rick Barrack '90, chief creative officer and partner of CBX in New York City, meets with Audrey Clements, a third-year graphic design student from Pittsford, N.Y. It also featured a growing number of companies who haven’t traditionally attended the yearly event, and that’s by design, according to Adam Smith, associate professor, undergraduate director of new media design and graduate director of visual communication design. “A number of these companies are here for the first time,” Smith observed. “The interesting thing about companies who attend now is—depending on the year and what they’re looking for—it changes. Disney is here but it’s really for UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) design for a lot of their products, not necessarily for the Disney brand as an animation house.” Smith also noted that professional services firm Ernst & Young and other financial institutions like M&T Bank are now attending Creative Industry Day. “You might ask why would a corporate, professional services firm be here?” he asked. “We’re seeing a growing number of financial and advisory firms looking for our students. It’s not just the apps and the ad agencies … it’s the financial side, it’s the product side shifting across different domains.” ‌ A. Sue Weisler Nat Deis, a fourth-year new media design student from Lansing, N.Y., meets with a representative from Paychex. Nat Deis, a fourth-year new media design student from Lansing, N.Y., stood on a long line of students seeking to meet with Paychex about UX and UI design positions at the Rochester, N.Y.-headquartered provider of human resource, payroll and benefits outsourcing services. “I’ve been looking at mostly local companies because I want to stay in Rochester,” Deis said. “A lot of people talk positively about Paychex, and UX and UI is what I’m looking for mostly. I feel really confident in this design area and it’s really interesting to me.” The annual event draws College of Art and Design students and alumni in areas such as art, design, film, photography and crafts along with related majors like game design and mobile computing from RIT’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences (GCCIS). Creative Industry Day, organized and sponsored each year by RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education, began with morning panel discussions followed by portfolio reviews and networking all afternoon. According to Gretchen Burruto, associate director and lead organizer, the event’s goal is “to offer career-related programming and the opportunity for RIT student talent to meet with professionals, get feedback on their portfolios, discuss job opportunities and make valuable connections that may benefit their career.” ‌ A. Sue Weisler Ashlyn Kelley, a medical illustration graduate student, shows her work to a representative from Roswell Park Cancer Institute. In all, Burruto said, more than 150 representatives from nearly 70 companies were on hand to meet with about 760 RIT students. She added that many of the professionals who travel to campus to attend the event each year include alumni returning to represent their companies or share their experiences and advice to current RIT students. Dan Caster ’89 (fine art/illustration), who is retired after a decorated career as a mission integrator supporting counter-terrorism operations with the CIA, enjoys attending Creative Industry Day to offer portfolio critiques and share his design experiences with students. “These students are so talented and I’m proud to see their creative work,” Caster said. “Creativity has served me so well throughout my career, and I’m happy to pass that along to today’s students.” For Smith, Creative Industry Day provides “a day of discovery for both students and companies.” “It puts everybody on this interesting discovery pathway: students are presenting their work to companies that are discovering who our students are, and at the same time a lot of our students are discovering the potential that these companies have to offer them as well.”