IN THIS EDITION
COVER STORIES
SOLVING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS
Right now, faculty and students in every Cal Poly college are undertaking real-world research, working to solve problems and make changes that will affect the day-to-day lives of people around the state, nation, and even the world.
A HOTBED OF RESEARCH
A wildfire that could have spelled disaster for Cal Poly’s Swanton Pacific Ranch instead is fueling an academic renaissance, as faculty and students prepare to take an unprecedented look at the aftermath of a major blaze.
CLEARING THE AIR -
ONE CITY AT A TIME
Glaciers melt, oceans sweep higher, temperatures rise and the future of city planning comes to Cal Poly – but not exactly in that order.
NOT JUST AN ACADEMIC EXERCISE
A Note from the Editors: We recently surveyed several hundred alumni at random about their experience at Cal Poly, and they expressed a nearly unanimous sentiment: Cal Poly’s “learn by doing” educational experience was crucial to their professional success.
Features
PEAK EXPERIENCE: ALUMNA ATOP THE WORLD
Megan Delehanty joined a small sisterhood May 23 when, fighting extreme conditions and physical and mental fatigue, she reached the top of Mt. Everest.
THE BEAUTY OF AGING WARRIORS
Cal Poly alumnus Tom Sanders has spent most of the last four years capturing the images of World War II veterans in an effort to honor not only these aging warriors but all men and women in uniform.
HELPING YOUTH FIND FUN IN FITNESS
When President Barack Obama lauded Redwood City nonprofit HopeLab this summer for its efforts to help children get fit, he shined a spotlight on the work of Cal Poly alumna Nicole Guthrie.
REVOLUTION IN GREEN
Future wars and conflict will not be about oil but about water, plants and food, predicts Horticulture and Crop Sciences Department Head John Peterson. In fact, the world is already in the midst of a “second green revolution,” driven this time by technology.
News
HOT SHOTS:
PROFESSOR
GOES TO THE END OF THE WORLD FOR DISCOVERY CHANNEL
If a nuclear holocaust doesn’t get us, global warming might. Or perhaps a stray comet. Regardless of the scenario, a post-apocalyptic world would certainly need engineers to recover. And that is how Mechanical Engineering Professor Tom Mackin landed a role on the reality television show "The Colony" on the Discovery Channel.
UNIVERSITY NEWS
A finance major from Vietnam is Cal Poly's 2009 Hearst Scholar, the Society of Women Engineers rakes in more gold, the Aircraft Design Team takes silver, and more
Alumni Features
HEADLINERS: ALUMNI IN THE NEWS
A business alum is heading for Hollywood after tackling "Dancing with the Stars," an Animal Science alumna receives a national nod for her environmental protection work, TIME Magazine features two alumni saving the rainforest with tea, and more
GET ON THE MAP
Ever wondered how many Cal Poly alumni live in your area, and if you know any of them? Now there’s an easy way to find out, thanks to PolyLink (www.calpolylink.com) and Google Maps.
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE
Alumna Lisa Marrone (B.S., Natural Resources Management, 1980) is the 2009 PolyLink Alumni Photo of the Year Winner for this shot of spring wildflowers on the Carrisa Plains northeast of San Luis Obispo.
CAL POLY'S 2009 HONORED ALUMNI
Grads who’ve gone on to successful careers in diverse industries such as California agriculture, education, publishing, architecture and recycling were recognized at Homecoming in October as this year's Honored Alumni Awards.
Support
AQUATICS CENTER: DEEP BLUE
Swim meets are almost poetic displays of churning limbs, spraying water and motion, a great way to spend a sunny afternoon whether you’re competing or watching from the stands. More of these events will be coming to the Cal Poly campus, thanks to the newly constructed Anderson Aquatics Center, which includes an Olympic-sized pool that will serve as the training facility for the Cal Poly swim team.
THE BIG PICTURE:
A NEW SKYLINE AT SPANOS STADIUM
There’s a new video scoreboard spicing up the games in Spanos Stadium, thanks to a generous donation from alum Al Moriarty and his wife, Patty.
MAKING YOUR DOLLARS MAKE SENSE
Despite the down economy, Cal Poly alumni and friends continue to find ways to support the university. This series will focus on creative ways our donors can benefit both the campus and themselves.
Interactive/Multimedia
PHOTOS: A Hotbed of Research
See images of Swanton Pacific Ranch during and after the Lockheed Fire
VIDEO: Alumna Atop the World
See video footage of alum Megan Delehanty during her Everest climb.
PHOTOS: Alumna Atop the World
See striking images from Delehanty’s climb on Mt. Everest.
AUDIO: Revolution In Green
Hear a podcast of a conversation between Cal Poly Horticulture and Crop Science Department Head John Peterson and alum Hoy Buell on Cal Poly’s fast-growing wine and viticulture degree program and the local wine industry.
PHOTOS: Deep Blue
See photos from the first meet at Cal Poly’s new Olympic-size pool
VIDEO: A New Skyline at Spanos Stadium
Hear alum and scoreboard donor Al Moriarty talk about his days on Cal Poly’s legendary, undefeated 1953 football team.
PHOTOS: A New Skyline at Spanos Stadium
See a slideshow of images from the construction of the new scoreboard at Spanos Stadium.
INTERACTIVE: Where’s Musty
