University Times

What does the information super- highway mean for southwestern Pennsylvania? To help answer that question, Pitt will host a conference Oct. 9 that will examine the National Information Infra-structure's (NII) implications and potential applications for the region. The conference will provide practical examples of how information technologies can be used to improve learning, business, health care and the quality of life here.

Conference speakers will include Delano Lewis, CEO of National Public Radio and co-chair of the U.S. Advisory Council on the National Information Infrastructure; Thomas Richards, vice president operations of Bell Atlantic's Keystone Region; Frank Lucchino, Allegheny County controller and member of the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science; and a panel of community members who have benefited from access to the information superhighway.

Leaders from business, education, government and community organizations in southwestern Pennsylvania have been invited by Interim Chancellor Mark Nordenberg to attend the conference.

Pitt's conference will complement the Oct. 10 and 11 meeting here of the U.S. Advisory Council on NII. One of the council's 37 members is Toni Carbo Bearman, dean of Pitt's School of Library and Information Science. She is the only member from higher education and library/information science.

The council's meetings, to be held both days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., are open to the public.

Both the University meeting on Oct. 9 and the advisory council meetings on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11 will be held in the Assembly Room of the William Pitt Union.