Supplier Diversity Initiative
Spending with firms owned by minorities, women rises

By Jessica Roberts

The University's efforts to increase the participation of minority- and women-owned firms in University projects continue, according to a recently released report.

The University has seen its biggest success this year in increasing the total spending with minority- and women-owned firms. In 2001, $22.2 million in direct payments were made to minority- and women-owned firms. This is a substantial increase over the totals of 1999 ($9.3 million) and 2000 ($8.6 million).

Construction represented 86 percent of the total spent with minority-owned firms and 73 percent spent with women-owned firms. The remaining percentages were paid to minority- and women-owned nonconstruction suppliers.

In the area of construction and capital projects, 24.3 percent of the total dollars paid out on capital projects were to minority- and women-owned firms. This is a decrease from last year's 25.3 percentage.

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Small-scale device can detect, analyze aerosols

By Tony Fitzpatrick

Remember mood rings? Those '70s gadgets that turned different colors as they gauged the mood of the wearer by measuring the vibes in the air or body?

Well, Da-Ren Chen, Ph.D., assistant professor of mechanical engineering, is working on a bracelet-sized device that monitors the air quality around the wearer. Conceivably, one could attach the device to a bracelet or belt and be assured that the air is good or warned if it's bad.

While that's pretty "far out," it's just in the working stage. But Chen recently received a U.S. patent on a larger device that does the same thing.

The device, which Chen designed and invented, is called the Nanometer Differential Mobility Analyzer (NanoDMA; U.S. patent: US 6,230,572 B1). At about 7 inches tall with a circumference of a soup bowl, Chen's analyzer is nine times smaller than the industry norm, making it more portable.

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Institute for Global Legal Studies to be named for Whitney Harris

By Barbara Rea

In recognition of Whitney R. Harris' lifelong achievements in the field of international justice and his support of legal education and research, the University will name its Institute for Global Legal Studies in his honor.

Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton announced the naming with a recent gift of $2 million from Harris to support the institute at the School of Law.

"The University has been strengthened by the wonderful generosity of Whitney Harris, his wife, Anna, and his family," Wrighton said. "We are very grateful for Whitney's interest in our law school, our libraries, and many other academic and artistic endeavors on our campus, which, over the years, have been greatly enhanced by his support.

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Happy Holidays

The Record will not publish again until the beginning of the spring semester. Look for the next issue Jan. 11.