Whether it be the proper diction of Shakespeare or the colloquialisms of the Jersey Shore cast, language and the ability to communicate is one of the defining characteristics of the human species. Without it, humans would not have been able to develop as a civilized race.

The painful impact of arthritis caused by a lifetime of wear and tear eventually affects every human body. With no discernable cure, arthritis costs the American economy an estimated annual $128 billion, according to the National Arthritis Foundation. Prof.

The effects of autism can span a wide range of conditions. Children who have autism may be bright and talented but still struggle with making friends and fitting in with their peers. In their desire to make friends they can become frustrated with the complicated social rules, which can in some instances lead to social isolation.

During the 1980s, Prof. Monroe Weber-Shirk, civil and environmental engineering, volunteered in Latin American refugee camps. At the time, he was convinced that he would devote the rest of his life to development work in Latin America, but his plans were thwarted by a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s disease and his return to the U.S. for treatment. While pursuing a Ph.D. at Cornell, he placed his aspirations of improving the quality of life in Latin America on the back burner. A few years ago, he received a serendipitous phone call that put into motion an engineering project that would make his decades-long dream come true.