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January 2011, Vol. 8 No. 1
Cover Story: Ridiculous
Xochina El Hilali is ridiculous. I mean that in a good way. In fact, I'm stealing a page from her playbook. I've heard her use the word "ridiculous" to describe a favorite piece of music, a scientist she heard speak, and the amount of money she was awarded when selected as a United Negro College Fund/Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholar.
Like many ridiculously smart and talented people, El Hilali stands on the shoulders of giants-starting with her maternal grandfather, Cambell Gonzalez, who recently died at the age of 92. El Hilali's family doesn't just remember him fondly. He remains an iconic figure....
In This Issue
January 2011, Vol. 8 No. 1
For those of us not living in Qatar, Silicon Valley, or some other snowless locale, winter can be quite a day-to-day challenge. That’s why it’s always nice to take a break from the shivering routine for a cup of hot chocolate and something entertaining to read, such as the Carnegie Mellon Today January issue. It’s packed with inspiring articles—including the cover subject, CMU student Xochina El Hilali, whose story is “ridiculous.” Her profile will leave you with a warm feeling.
Butterfly Effect
Carnegie Mellon's Ralph Hollis didn't set out to create a computer that could reproduce a sense of touch far more realistic than any other device in the world's marketplace. He was just trying to solve a problem with a solution that initially subjected him more to barbs than to praise.
The Bucks Stop Here
Joshua Reich was contemplating his next professional challenge. When the Tepper alumnus had difficulty getting his bank account information, he figured it out. Why not start a bank with a Tepper buddy and another partner? A challenge to be sure, but what would his two potential cohorts think of such an enormous undertaking?
On the Waterfront
Every day nearly all of us drink a glass of water. But water does much more than fill our glasses. It's as important to our economy as it is to our own well being, which makes the findings of a study led by Carnegie Mellon's Chris Hendrickson all the more alarming.
