Roberto Ballarini is James L. Record Professor and head of the Department of Civil Engineering@the University of Minnesota. He earned his bachelor's degree from City College of New York, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Northwestern University, all in civil engineering. His research focuses on the mechanics of fracture and fatigue of materials and structures. Address: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, 500 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455. Internet: broberto@umn.edu