n e w s l e t t e r o f B o y e r s c h o o l o f n a t u r a l s c i e n c e s , M a t h e M a t i c s , a n d c o M p u t i n g

I N S I D E

Dean’s Message

Science Pavilion to Feature Taiani Planetarium and Astronaut Exhibit

Student Research Studies How Galaxies Have Changed

Science Pavilion Project Update

Noted Astronomer to Speak Oct. 7

Architectural concept of the Angelo J. Taiani Planetarium and Astronaut Exhibit

BOYERBULLETINa p u B l i c a t i o n o f s a i n t v i n c e n t c o l l e g ev o l . 1 , n o . 3 • j u n e 2 0 1 0

Dear Fellow Alumni and Friends,

I am so pleased that this third issue of the Boyer Bulletin highlights the Angelo J. Taiani Planetarium and Astronaut Exhibit of the Dupré Science Pavilion. For the past couple of years Mr. Taiani has been regularly sending me copies of NASA press kits, filled with

details including astronauts’ biographies and specifics on repairs being made to the space station. Dr. Vanden Berk has shared those press kits with our students. Dr. John Smetanka and Dr. Daniel Vanden Berk, professors in our Physics Department, are excited to begin utilizing the state-of-the-art digital technology planetarium with our students and the local community. When Dr. Smetanka was appointed Vice President of Academic Affairs, I was rather anxious that we would be able to “fill his shoes” with a qualified professor. I was delighted when Dr. Vanden Berk accepted our offer to join the Boyer School faculty. He has a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the University of Chicago (like John) and was Senior Research Associate in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Penn State before coming to Saint Vincent. His NASA-funded research project utilizes data transmitted from the Hubble Space Telescope to study the composition of the Andromeda Galaxy, which is similar to the Milky Way, in order to answer questions about its origins and development that will enhance understanding of our galaxy. He is now working with our Student Spotlight in this issue, Sarah Wesolowski, to produce a catalog of quasars with x-ray and ultraviolet data. This is my last message as Boyer School Dean, and I am happy to report that Dr. Smetanka will serve as the Interim Dean when I begin my tenure as President. I have delayed the position search until the fall in order to attract the strongest pool of candidates. It is exciting to see the new building take shape. We had a great “topping off” ceremony in the middle of March. We have sufficient funds to move forward with the biology building renovation, which will begin immediately after the fall semester. Biology operations will be conducted in the new facility and portions of the chemistry building for the spring semester. Since the last Boyer Bulletin, we have secured $3.8 million and are making good progress toward our goal. The completion of this project will be my number one priority as President. Please do come back and visit. It would be great to see you at the October 7 Threshold Lecture when we will welcome Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City.

Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B. Dean, Herbert W. boyer ScHool of natural ScienceS, MatHeMaticS, anD coMputing

preSiDent-elect, Saint Vincent college

The Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computing

Advisory Council Members

Mr. James F. Will, L.H.D., C’60, D’94 ChairPresident EmeritusSaint Vincent College

Dr. William E. Amatucci, C’86Section Head, Space ExperimentsSection/Plasma PhysicsNaval Research Laboratory

Mr. Thomas AndersonChief Technology OfficerTower Systems, Inc.

Dr. Herbert W. Boyer, Sc.D., C’58, D’81 Co-FounderGenentech, Inc.

Dr. Umberto A. DeRienzo, C’88 Physician

Dr. William A. DiCuccio, C’70Physician

Dr. David A. Dzombak, C’79 Walter J. Blenko, Sr. Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University

Dr. Thomas P. Gessner, C’64Physician

Mr. Donald A. Haile, C’63 Venture Partner/Site General ManagerFidelity Investments

Ms. Cheryl A. Harper, C’88Physics and Mathematics TeacherGreensburg Salem High School

Mr. Michael L. Keslar, C’80Executive Vice PresidentThe Bank of New York Mellon

Mr. Francis A. Marasco, C’64 Former PresidentEckerd Pharmacy Services

Mr. Mark J. Pincus, C’96Scientist/Biochemistry/Cell BiologyInternal Medicine Therapeutic Dept.sanofi-aventis Pharmaceuticals

Dr. Fred L. Soisson, Jr., L.H.D., P’47, C’51, D’82Former Physician

Dr. Philip E. Stukus, C’64 Former Chair of BiologyDenison University

Ms. Shelley D. Sturdevant, C’88Manager, Color ServicesPPG Industries, Inc.

Mr. Stephen P. Yanek, C’68Program ManagerApplied Physics LaboratoryThe Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Daniel J. Yaniro, C’79Senior Technical DirectorVolP and TDM Operations PlanningAT&T

MESSAGE

When the first phase of the $39 million Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion opens at Saint Vincent College this fall,

the centerpiece of the glass-walled atrium will be a state-of-the-art planetarium—the Angelo J. Taiani Planetarium and Astronaut Exhibit—made possible by a gift from the 1948 graduate, who enjoyed a successful career as an aerospace engineer with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. “I think this new planetarium and exhibit will bring recognition to the nation’s space program and serve

Saint Vincent students as well as the western Pennsylvania area and beyond,” Mr. Taiani said. “Space exploration will dominate our nation’s future, since we can’t be satisfied with a lunar landing. The goal is to go to Mars as soon as a new launch vehicle can be developed, perhaps as early as 2020. I hope this new facility will help students get excited about the importance of interplanetary space exploration and the career opportunities available in this field.” Mr. Taiani believes that one of the objectives of space exploration is the search for extraterrestrial life and that exploration will eventually discover planets like the Earth light years away where life exists. “I think it’s very interesting.” Mr. Taiani, 85, a native of Latrobe and a graduate of Latrobe High School, served three years in the Navy during World War II and retired as a Navy Commander with 41 years of reserve service. He first became interested in aerospace when he was assigned to work with early guided missiles and space ordinance

as a project officer for the first ten Jupiter launches. He returned to Saint Vincent and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry from SVC in 1948. Some of his fondest memories include discussing baseball with chemistry professor Dr. Daniel Nolan; his work as a student with the late Fr. Aiden Pfiester, O.S.B., in the Registrar’s Office; and Bearcat football games in the stadium, which occupied the site of the current science center. He also did graduate study at George Washington University. He worked on numerous projects at NASA as a general space engineer, in test support at Cape

angelo j. taiani planetarium and astronaut exhibit centerpiece of dupré science pavilion

by D O N O R L A N D O

FEATURE

Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., with Angelo J. Taiani, C’48

Canaveral and later the Kennedy Space Center on the Juno project. He also worked in support of the Space Shuttle program. He retired in 1984 after a 34-year career with the space agency. He still lives in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and enjoys volunteering to give tours of NASA facilities to journalists. He has known many of the astronauts, from Buzz Aldrin to Alan Poindexter, and has been an avid collector of photographs of the astronauts and launchings. Many of these have been given to Saint Vincent for display in the planetarium. He also collects space memorabilia and commemorative postal covers that honor manned space missions. The planetarium projector system was purchased from the Spitz Corporation, based in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. “They are a leader in planetarium technology,” noted Dr. John Smetanka, vice president for academic affairs and academic dean. “The capabilities of the facility will be stunning.” The planetarium will feature the latest digital technology that can not only project the nighttime sky but can also take viewers on a tour of the solar system. “We will be able to move—at a moment’s notice—to any place that we can imagine and see what the sky would look like from any vantage point—from the Earth as well as the moon and the planets.” Dr. Smetanka explained. “We will be able to show spectacular views that would be impossible with a classic projector.” In addition to the classroom use of the planetarium, the Boyer School will present public shows with full dome (360 degree vision) and surround sound. “Viewers will be immersed in the experience,” Dr. Smetanka said. “A couple of the shows we are planning are Voyage to the Edge of the Solar System, which will track some of the most recent NASA missions that travel to

areas where the Sun’s influence ends in interstellar space, and Oasis in Space, that highlights the unique characteristics of Earth. Another show, Two Small Pieces of Glass, will feature highlights of the history of space exploration.” The projector that Saint Vincent will install is called SciDome and is powered by Starry Night software. The new high resolution system displays 1.5 million pixels with a 1400 x 1050 digital projector with fisheye lens. Over 16 million stars and one million galaxies can be displayed along with the Earth, moon and the planets. The 24-foot dome of the planetarium will accommodate 22 students in classroom configuration with high back desks and recliner chairs so viewers can comfortably look up and around without neck strain. A flexible plan will seat 25 to 35 for public shows or, for larger groups of younger children, the carpeted floor will invite them to literally lie down under the stars. The construction and equipment costs were nearly a quarter million dollars. Installation is expected to be completed for the fall

semester. “We’re really looking forward to having the planetarium open for business,” Dr. Smetanka said, “as well as a new observatory nearby that will feature a 14” glass telescope with multicolor CCD capability.” While other colleges and universities have planetariums, Saint Vin-cent will be among the first to install this cutting-edge digital full dome technology. “Because we have the benefit of new construction, we can take

advantage of the latest in dome manufacturing and projector technology,” Dr. Smetanka remarked. “My hope is that this popularizes the study of space exploration and science in general and lights a spark of interest in young minds, whether they are college students or high school or elementary students who come for a field trip.”

A space shuttle departs on a mission.

Student’s Research Studies How Galaxies Have Changed

by D O N O R L A N D O

Sarah Wesolowski, a junior physics major in the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computing, is doing student research under the direction of assistant professor of physics Dr. Daniel Vanden Berk that is utilizing data from NASA’s Swift Satellite to produce the largest catalog of quasars with X-ray and

ultraviolet data ever assembled. “We are part of a larger project that is helping researchers at Penn State identify and catalog quasars,” Ms. Wesolowski explained. “The Swift Satellite has an X-ray telescope, a gamma ray telescope and an ultraviolet/optical telescope. We’re using combined data to construct our catalog.” “We want to see how the universe has evolved over time,” she continued. “Since the quasars are so far away, we are actually looking back in time and can see how the galaxies have developed. When the catalog is completed at the end of this year, we are going to analyze data we have been receiving and should be able to draw some conclusions from it.” Why catalog quasars? “Mainly, I am doing this to learn how to do research, to study how the process works,” she said, “so that I can start doing my own research later. We can use this to help us begin other projects this summer and in the next couple of years. The Boyer School has given me the opportunity as a sophomore to begin forming ideas for my own senior research project.” “The project involves developing an understanding of how active galaxies have evolved over the history of the universe,” Dr. Vanden Berk noted. “The particular type of galaxy we are interested in studying is called quasars. We think they are powered by supermassive black holes that are drawing in enormous amounts of material and shining very, very brightly. And, because they are so bright, we can see them at great distances away from Earth. As we look further out in space, we are really looking further back in time because light takes time to travel. We compare distant quasars with nearby galaxies to see how things have changed in the history of the universe – that’s one of the main goals of the project.” “Sarah started this project during the spring semester and so far has done very well,” Dr. Vanden Berk commented. “It is a learning process at this stage. We try to find projects that a bright student can do even with the knowledge they come to us with. Sarah is helping with a complex project and no matter what comes out of it we will learn more about the evolution of the universe and about these things called quasars. Sarah’s work has been very helpful so far and as she learns and does the project we will find a new project for her to do. When she becomes a senior, she will have her own project and write a publication as an undergraduate.” “The computer labs in the new Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion will certainly help in our research,” Dr. Vanden Berk predicted. “It will allow undergraduates to do research much more easily than they can now.” “One of the things we can do with the new planetarium is to display data in ways we haven’t before,” he concluded.

STUdEnT SpoTlIGhT

Sarah Wesolowski, a junior physics major, is conducting student research under the direction of Dr. Daniel Vanden Berk.

300 Fraser Purchase RoadLatrobe, PA 15650-2690

www.stvincent.edu

Mailed from Zip Code 15650

Non-Profit Organization

u.s. postage paid

Permit No. 110

director of new york’s hayden planetariuM threshold speaker at svc octoBer 7

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium

in New York City, will speak at Saint Vincent College at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 7, 2010 in the Performing Arts Center of the Robert S. Carey Student Center in celebration of the completion of the first phase of the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion and the inauguration of Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B. as the 17th President of Saint Vincent College. His talk is entitled, “The Sky Is Not the Limit.” Admission is free of charge for Dr. Tyson’s presentation at Saint Vincent College. However, all seats in the Robert S. Carey Student Center’s Performing Arts Center are reserved and admission will be by ticket only. Requests for reservations may be made by email to threshold@stvincent.edu beginning September 13.