The other day I mentioned how I was getting back in touch with people on a number of different things. One of those was reconnecting with the Communications department again this quarter to introduce another undergraduate class to the technology and research in the MVRL lab (if you recall, we presented on eye tracking in fall quarter to an undergraduate communications class). Since MVRL is gearing up for their big trip out west to do this year's major data collect, I was slated to give the presentation this time (and we would have to unfortunately miss out of the live demo part, since everything was getting packed up). Well, unfortunately this was scheduled for January 31 - and if you have been following my blog at all, you'll know that there was no way I'd be able to make good on my promise to present. Luckily, I was given permission by all the parties involved to share the Powerpoint and some example videos with the class's professor (which I still managed to do when I was out of the office), so that there could still be some kind of presentation made to the class. Today I heard back from the professor and apparently everything went really well! This collaboration has been beneficial because not only have more students heard about opportunities in Imaging Science, but the professor herself has now submitted a research proposal in collaboration with MVRL! It is great to be forming so many cross-campus connections.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Today I returned to RIT. It has not been easy (I now smell of everyone else's perfumes, because of all the hugging) (PS I don't wear perfume) but like my mom says, it gets harder the longer you wait. Besides, working helps take my mind off things. So I'm actually quite grateful for the small accumulation of things to do that built up while I was gone.
As I get back into the swing of things, my focus is on tying up all the loose ends on the things I did remotely while I was away (as mentioned a couple posts ago). I have spent today getting everything back up to date (seminars, website stuff, the screen downstairs, job postings) and checking in with the people and events I have had to miss (several prospective students, San Francisco alumni, inquiries into the intern program).
With regards to the San Francisco alumni event, it sounds as if the reception was a success! Fifteen alumni and one current graduate student attended, and several also brought along guests, which makes for a very nicely sized event. A true measure of the night's success is the fact that most everyone stayed for the full two hours, which is fantastic! I have since received some nice notes from alumni that said they missed me being there this year, so I made sure to reply and let them know that I was equally sorry to have missed out. I had a really great time when I was out there two years ago, so hopefully we will have another event that I can go to!
Also while I was out of the office, the science department at Palmyra Macedon sent me the group faculty picture I took of them with the FLIR when I was there. Enjoy...
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| This is one for the yearbooks! |
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Antares has gone supernova.
Antares G. Choate
Home:
Rush, NY
Date of Death:
January 30, 2012
Place of Birth:
Rochester, NY
Birthdate:
October 23, 1980
Age:
31
Biography
Antares G. Choate of Rush, NY, died Monday January 30, 2012 with his family by his side at the age 31. Antares was born October 23, 1980 in Rochester, NY the son of Albert and Julie Gayk Choate.Antares was a 1998 inductee into the Henrietta Youth Board Hall of Fame in recognition of overcoming many challenges faced as a pediatric brain tumor survivor. After volunteering through the Friends of Strong at Strong Memorial Hospital, he landed his dream job in Clinical Engineering in May 2006 and continued working during his illness until August 2011.
Antares is survived by his loving parents, Albert and Julie Choate; sister, Bethany (Matthew) Heimbueger Choate; many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Services will be held privately. Memorials may be made to the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, 601 Elmwood Ave. Rochester, NY 14642 or to VNS Hospice, 2180 Empire Blvd. Webster, NY 14580.
On a side note, here is some information on the red supergiant for which Antares was named. Savvy astronomers know that Antares is in the constellation Scorpius, while savvy astrologers will note that my brother was born under the sign of Scorpio.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
It's probably about time I let the cat out of the bag.
I normally try to refrain from posting anything too personal here, especially if it is not a positive or exciting story related to my work in at least some remote way. But it feels like I should make an exception here, to explain my absence over the past week or so and for the foreseeable future, as well. While I have been quietly dealing with a serious illness in my immediate family for quite some time, it now appears to be the beginning of the end - and not the end that we were hoping for. While we had learned last November that this was eventually going to be the case, things had been going quite well until last week when it became suddenly apparent that things would indeed be drawing to a close. Although there has been a sharp decline, there is no way to know how long this final descent will take... Each day is unpredictable, so we have to just take things as they come and try to all stay comfortable.
Meanwhile, this isn't to say I haven't been able to get any work done. Although a majority of my time has been spent with my family during this difficult time, I have made some brief stops in to the office and have been able to keep on top of many things remotely. I have continued to be hard at work with e-mail, alumni activities, seminars, the CIS Facebook page, job postings, connecting other departments with CIS labs for potential collaborations, website maintenance, intern questions, and other things.
I've mentioned several times before on my blog how I often "take my work with me" and drum up interest in Imaging Science in places where it's least expected. Well, this past week has been no exception: one of the visiting nurses who stopped in asked what I do as a job, and what do you know - she has a son thinking of going to RIT for something engineering-related, but he isn't sure what exactly he wants to do. I gave her my card, and after he checked out our website, he became interested in learning more. So I sent out one of our folders full of goodies, and what do you know - she and her son are scheduled to come in for a visit and to sit in on the freshmen class. It can be crazy sometimes how random circumstances seemingly fall into place.
That's all, for now. One of the pleasant things made apparent by all of this is what amazing friends, family, and co-workers surround me and my family. To all of you, thanks.
Monday, January 9, 2012
It's the most wonderful time of the year
Summer intern application packages are now available! Click here for more information on our summer internship opportunities, and to download the application package.
I can't wait to see those applications pouring in. We'll have sunshine, cookouts, and high schoolers running around before we know it... Exciting!
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| My life as a CIS intern |
Thursday, January 5, 2012
If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
Invitations for the San Francisco/SPIE alumni event are out!
Tuesday, January 24, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location:
Details:
The
Center for Imaging Science and the College of Science are coming to San
Francisco! Please join us for an informal alumni get together at Thirsty Bear Brewing Company
from 6-8pm on January 24th. Our event coincides with the SPIE Photonics
West and SPIE Electronic Imaging conferences, and faculty from the
Center for Imaging Science, including Jim Ferwerda and Susan Farnand,
will be there to greet you and chat about what’s new at RIT. Conference
attendance is not required and ALL College of Science, Imaging Science, Color Science, and Photo Science Alumni are invited.
Your registration fee covers appetizers and the first round of drinks.
COS doesn’t come to the west coast often, so come out and get together
while we’re here!
Cost $5.00
Please RSVP by January 18.
Cost $5.00
Please RSVP by January 18.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
2012! dun dun dunnnn
Happy New Year! I hope that everyone enjoyed their holidays and are off to a happy and healthy 2012. I had a wonderful time during my week off, spending most of my break with friends and family and the rest of the time relaxing and enjoying an open calendar. But, now it's back to the grind! This year is interesting though, because with New Years falling on a Sunday, students got a third week off for their winter break - meaning that, although staff are back on campus, the students don't come back until next Monday! Although it's quiet, and kind of sleepy, I'm enjoying having a bit of transition time to get over the laziness I became so accustomed to over break. (I'm also enjoying better parking and lots of space at the ice rink - oh yeah.)
You know how, in December, you see that things are coming up in the next year and think that's so far away, but then New Years passes and suddenly you realize those things are coming up much sooner than you thought? Now that I'm out of the holiday time warp, this week is all about preparing for those 2012 things that are suddenly right around the corner. I've been updating the summer interns website and getting the application package ready to post - turns out I am taking over many of the internship program duties this year, even more so than last year. I've also been working with Alumni Relations to hammer out the details of our upcoming event in San Francisco (the official announcement should be coming out tomorrow, so stay tuned). And other housekeeping here and there - updating the screen downstairs, uploading CIS news, adding seminars, the usual. And then before I know it, students will be back and things will be right back to normal - but this time with the addition of the post-holiday blues, WAH-waaaaahhhhhh.
I miss xmas cookies.
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