REPORT OF SCIENCE
AT
WILLIAMS COLLEGE

1998 – 1999

A RECORD OF THE PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES OF
FACULTY AND STUDENTS IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES

Williamstown, Massachusetts
l999


As we enter the new millennium, circuitry for protecting privacy will become a standard feature of many communication devices. Our cover features the layout of a custom-designed encryption device. The integrated circuit—only 3.2 millimeters square—demonstrates the feasibility of using of four parallel, programmable logic units (visible in each quadrant) to encrypt streams of data. In this research prototype, the minimum feature size measures 1.2 microns. In a production version, using current technology, scores of units would fit on a chip the same size and could support high-speed encryption using keys with hundreds of bits. Multiple chips could be chained together to further improve performance or security. The chip was designed by Associate Professor Duane A. Bailey of the Department of Computer Science, and three students (Brendan English, Bob Faber, and Akira Mukasa) while he was on leave and visiting the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Students of Computer Science 373T, a tutorial on modern computer architecture, will begin designing custom chips in Spring 2000.




The Science Executive Committee wishes to express its gratitude to the extensive efforts of all the science departmental executive assistants in preparing contributions for this publication, and to Alice J. Seeley for assembling this material in its final form.


Editor: Dr. Bryce Babcock




Williams College admits men and women of any background to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the College. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, or national ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other college administered programs. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1973, or the regulations thereunder, in the education programs or activities which it operates, including employment therein. The College does not discriminate on the basis of handicap in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 1973, or the regulations thereunder, in admission or access to its programs and activities. Inquiries concerning the College’s non-discrimination policies may be referred to the Dean of The College, Hopkins Hall, Williamstown, MA 01267.

The Morley Science Laboratories and Schow Science Library
Nearing completion in August of 1999, the new Morley Science Laboratories have dramatically changed the appearance of the southern entrance to the Science Quad. The Schow Science Library occupies the ground floor of the building, with Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Neuroscience laboratories occupying the second and third floors. The new greenhouse facilities can be seen at the far end of the building. Renovations of the Thompson Laboratories are in progress, with completion of the entire project scheduled for Fall 2000. The approach from Bank Street, in the foreground of this photo, is flanked by Hardy and Rice Houses.