Cybersecurity talk: challenges in combating terrorism

Peter A. Freeman, a leading computer scientist and a key National Science Foundation administrator, will present a talk titled "Research for Homeland Security" on Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Homewood campus. The event, sponsored by the university's Information Security Institute, will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in room 101 of the Mattin Center.

Freeman, who is assistant director for the NSF's Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate, will provide an overview of the recent federal report titled "The Role of Science and Technology in Countering Terrorism." He also will discuss the challenges the nation faces in protecting its critical information technology infrastructure, in improving its justice system and in providing a responsive and effective health care system. He will talk about the role of cybersecurity in all these areas. Freeman was founding dean of the College of Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The author of books on information technology workers and software systems, he is a fellow of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association for Computing Machinery.

His lecture is part of a series organized by the university's new Information Security Institute, established to tackle the complex technological, legal, ethical and public policy challenges of keeping information private and computer systems secure in an increasingly electronic world.

Historian/landscape architect looks at Homewood's past

Historian and landscape architect M. Edward Shull will give a lecture, "Homewood: A New World Arcadia," at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 16, in Shriver Hall Auditorium on the Homewood campus.

After his slide presentation, Shull will lead a walk to Homewood House for a tour of the exhibition Building Homewood: Vision for a Villa, intended to reveal how the house was built, used and integrated into its landscape. The exhibit celebrates the 200th anniversary of the former Carroll mansion and the 100th anniversary of the university's presence on the Homewood property. A dessert reception will follow the tour.

Shull is a landscape historian and architect specializing in small-scale and historical landscape design and restoration. He serves on the American Society of Landscape Architects' Historic Preservation, International Practice, and Recreation and Parks committees. He is a founding board member of the Southern Garden History Society and is president emeritus of the Friends of Maryland's Olmstead Parks and Landscapes.

The lecture is part of the Wednesday Noon Series presented by the university's Office of Special Events. This event is co-sponsored with the Johns Hopkins University Press and admission is free. For more information, call 410-516-7157.

Open house at Homewood to showcase primary vendors

The Office of Purchasing Services will hold an open house to showcase the university's primary vendors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, in the Glass Pavilion at Homewood.

Representatives from Purchasing Services and the JHU Supply Store, along with select vendor account executives from Advance Business Systems, Airgas, American Office, Dell, Fisher Scientific, Ikon Office Solutions, Kelly Services, Manchester Technologies and Office Depot.

Among the manufacturers to be represented are Acco, Adma, At-A-Glance, Avery, Canon, Eldon, Eppendorf, Epson, Esselte, Herman Miller, Hewlett Packard, Highland GRP, Imation, Meridian, Millipore, Minolta, Nalge/Nunc, Nukote, Sanford, Sit-On-It, Smead, 3 M and Tops.

The event will provide staff and faculty with an opportunity to sign up for a procurement card, pick up new catalogs and try product samples. There will be free refreshments and door prizes. For more information, call Purchasing at 410-516-8383.

Record number participate in Homewood blood drive

Responding to a regional and national blood shortage, the Hopkins community arrived in record numbers to give blood at the recent drive in the Glass Pavilion. As the largest college or university drives in the region, and one of the largest of all regional drives, the five annual Homewood drives are very important in maintaining the region's blood supply.

The two-day drive drew 492 participants who signed in for screening, more than during September 2001. The Red Cross was able to collect 390 units of blood, the third-highest amount ever collected here.

The drive was successful despite several factors that have lowered the rate of donation. Tightened restrictions have eliminated many potential donors. In addition, many former donors whose offices have moved from Homewood to Johns Hopkins at Eastern no longer donate at the Homewood drive. A separate drive is planned for the Eastern campus, and could occur as soon as November. The next Homewood drive is scheduled for Nov. 20 and 21. For information on donating, go to www.jhu.edu/~outreach/blooddrive or call 410-516-0138.

Odyssey leads nonphysicians through eight-session 'Mini-Med School'

Leading physicians and researchers from the School of Medicine will present and discuss the latest advancements in transplant surgery, medical imaging, plastic surgery, arthritis and other high-profile health issues in an eight-part lecture series called "Mini-Med School: Exploring Medical Science."

The series is being offered through the noncredit Odyssey program and will take place at the Homewood campus from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings from Oct. 15 through Dec. 3. For costs and other information, call 410-516-8516.

Correction

An article in the Oct. 7 Gazette regarding a conference about the Maryland workforce on Nov. 22 at APL incorrectly stated the invited speakers. They are Sen. Barbara Mikulski and the governor-elect.