July 11, 2003
Students in this summer's Network Design and Evaluation capstone course, 18-544, saw the protocols of more than one type of network in action. Through hands-on projects and a Pittsburgh to Athens exchange, they learned not only about software networking protocols, but also about their network of classmates from across the seas. The program brought 21 students and two professors from Athens Information Technology (AIT) to Carnegie Mellon's Information Networking Institute (INI), and then flew six students and three professors back to Greece. In 16 months, the pupils will earn a Master of Science in Information Networking (MSIN).
Visiting Pittsburgh from May 24 to June 28, the participants were welcomed at a brunch with special guest John Rangos, Sr., CMU Trustee and one of the program's principal sponsors. While in the States, CMU's Athens INI students enjoyed a wine & cheese, outings to Kennywood, a Pirates game, a trip to D.C, and a tour of Marconi. Pradeep Khosla, Head, ECE and INI, hosted a farewell gala for the fellows, featuring traditional Greek folk dances by The Olympic Dancers of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. At the gala, Aikaterini Lamprou (MSIN - Athens) and Guillermo Ortiz (MSIN - Pittsburgh) presented a gift to honor Rangos.
Next, the Pittsburgh INI contingency accompanied their counterparts back to Athens with their instructor, Peter Steenkiste, Associate Professor of ECE and CS. The group explored the Acropolis and Sounio, cruised to 3 neighboring islands (Aegina, Hydra, Poros), and listened to a concert in the ancient theater of Herodio. Pradeep Khosla, Head, ECE and INI, and Dena Tsamitis, Associate Director of the INI, joined them for the last week. The course ended on July 11; network evaluations revealed all success criteria had been achieved.