Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft Corp., will present “”The Magic of Software in the Digital Decade”” at 12:45 p.m. on May 27 in Price Center Ballroom.

Gates will also hold an informal conversation with Chancellor Robert C. Dynes and Larry Smarr, the Harry E. Gruber professor of computer science and engineering at the UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering and founding director of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology. A question and answer session will follow.

In his remarks, Gates will predict that by the end of this decade — a time he calls the Digital Decade — computing technology will become so inexpensive, powerful and ubiquitous that it will be seamlessly woven into the fabric of our society. Gates also will describe the ongoing role of research as it drives innovation in academia and industry.

In addition to his involvement with computers and software, Gates is interested in biotechnology. He sits on the board of ICOS, a company that specializes in protein-based and small-molecule therapeutics, and he is an investor in a number of other biotechnology companies.

Dynes, a physicist and an expert on semiconductors and superconductors, is active in the national scientific arena and chairs the National Research Council’s Board of Physics and Astronomy.

As director of Cal-(IT)2, Smarr brings together more than 200 UCSD and UC Irvine faculty with over 50 industrial partners to research the future development of the Internet. Prior to joining UCSD in 2000, Smarr served as founding director of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois.

Atkinson recommends Nanos as LANL director

University of California President Richard C. Atkinson announced at the May 15 meeting of the UC Board of Regents his intention to appoint current interim director of Los Alamos National Laboratory George P. “”Pete”” Nanos to the position of permanent director of the laboratory.

Nanos has served as interim director since January, when Atkinson made sweeping reforms to the laboratory’s administration, following findings of mismanagement that have led to the recent announcement by the Department of Energy to put the national laboratory, which has been under the University of California’s control for 60 years, up for bid.

Nanos has formerly served as commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command and of the Navy’s strategic nuclear program before serving as principal deputy associate director for Los Alamos Threat Reduction Directorate.

Nanos spent nearly a decade in the Navy’s strategic weapons program, in which he was responsible for all U.S. and U.K. submarine-launched ballistic missiles and re-entry systems. Then, as commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command, he spent the past four years being responsible for the design, development, repair and support of all Navy ships and their weapons systems.

Atkinson plans to present to the board an item approving Nanos’ appointment at the earliest possible date. Nanos’ appointment will be subject to approval by the Board of Regents and the Department of Energy.

Administrators lined up for dunk tank fundraiser

Students will have a chance to dunk UCSD administrators as part of a fund-raiser for student scholarships sponsored by the UCSD Student Foundation. The event, “”Make a Splash for Scholarships,”” will feature a dunk tank on Library Walk on May 21 with Vice Chancellors Joseph W. Watson and James Langley alongside deans, provosts and Residential Life staff from all six colleges. An appearance from Chancellor Robert C. Dynes is also scheduled.

Raised funds will go towards student scholarships for the 2003-04 academic year.

For a complete schedule of administrators visit http://studentfoundation.ucsd.edu or contact Brandon Freeman at [email protected].

CCC presents All-People’s Recognition Ceremony

The UCSD Cross-Cultural Center will hold an All-People’s Recognition Ceremony on May 22 at 5 p.m. to recognize students, staff, faculty and community members that have helped promote diversity at UCSD, as well as feature various entertainment. A screening of a CCC documentary created by current interns will also be featured.