DONALD CHRISTIANSEN, former staff director for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, is a publishing consultant and president of Informatica. He is a Fellow of the IEEE, an Eminent Member of Eta Kappa Nu, and Editor Emeritus of IEEE Spectrum, where for many years he held the post of Editor and Publisher. Mr. Christiansen received his electrical engineering degree from Cornell University and worked for Philco Corporation and CBS Electronics, where he was an engineering group leader. He is a registered professional engineer. His interests include the history of science and technology, engineering education, and ethics in engineering and engineering management. He is a Fellow of the Radio Club of America and a member of the Society for the History of Technology. He served as a member of the National Research Council Commission on the Education and Utilization of the Engineer, and initiated the IEEE Spectrum Precollege Math/Science Education Award program to recognize innovative projects that stimulate young people s interest in technical careers. He was elected to membership in the New York Academy of Sciences and the Royal Institution (London), and is a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. He was a member of the IEEE Publications Board for several years and a member of the magazine policy committee of the American Institute of Physics. He is the editor of Engineering Excellence, published by the IEEE Press.

CHARLES K. ALEXANDER is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Dean of Fenn College of...