FACULTY
LIFEon the
helley Payne, a member of the university’s Academy of
Awards
Distinguished Teachers, started weaving not long after she
arrived in Austin as an assistant professor.
“I wanted something that I could easily do as a way to relax,” she
says, “and I was fascinated with weaving and cloth and how you use
a single material and yet get these intricate patterns to emerge. I like
the mathematical aspects of it. It’s a creative process but driven by very
Rick Aldrich (Neurobiology) and Doug
basic principles.”
Burger (Computer Sciences) were appointed
Payne, who studies the genetic and molecular systems of the bac- to a university-wide council that will advise
teria that cause diseases such as cholera and dysentery, got started by
President Powers and develop a strategic and
business plan for the university.
taking a class at Hill Country Weavers. She’s still weaving 25 years
later, though she’s graduated from a small table loom to a large fl oor
Christopher Bielawski (Chemistry and
christopher
loom that “occupies a large chunk of our bedroom.” bielawski Biochemistry), Graeme Henkelman (Chem-
For Payne, weaving serves a few purposes. It fi ts well into her sched-
istry and Biochemistry), Adam Klivans
(Computer Sciences), Lara Mahal (Chemis-
ule. “I have very little free time,” she says, “so I like to have something
try and Biochemistry), Maxim Tsoi (Physics)
that I can put on the loom and then work a little bit in the evenings
and Emmett Witchel (Computer Sciences)
when I have a few minutes.” She works mostly on scarves in part received National Science Foundation CAREER
because she can fi nish them, even weaving only a few minutes a day,
Awards, given in support of early career-devel-
opment activities of teacher-scholars who inte-
in a relatively short amount of time. fred chang
grate research and education.
Weaving is also, for Payne, a kind of meditative activity. “You get
very much in the zone,” she says. “You get the pattern in your mind Along with his NSF CAREER award (see above),
as you’re doing the pedals and throwing the shuttle, and it becomes a
Christopher Bielawski (Chemistry and
Biochemistry) received a 2007 DuPont Young
very rhythmic process. It’s a great way to get my mind off of work. And
Professor Grant, which is given to young fac-
I have complete control of it.”
ulty members worldwide to encourage highly
Payne’s style as a weaver is understated. She uses simple colors and original and outstanding research, is one of
alan cowley
soft fi bers—mostly silk and fi ne wools. Her fascination is with subtle
ten scientists to has be named a 2007 Cottrell
Scholar, and received a 2007 Beckman Young
variations, with how patterns refl ect the light and how colors blend,
Investigator Award.
and with the feel of the fabrics. The starting place for her designs is
often a yarn that she happens upon in the store. “I’m not a shopper by Fred Chang (Computer Sciences) was appointed
any means,” she says, “but yarns I can get carried away with.”
to the National Academies Computer Science
and Telecommunications Board, which moni-
The element of chance in the process also appeals to her scientifi c
tors and promotes the health of the computer
side. “You plan something out,” she says, “you analyze the structure
arturo de lozanne
science, computing technology and telecom-
or the data and then you do the actual experiment—in this case the munications fi elds as critical resources and
weaving—and it may come out exactly as you predicted, or you may
sources of national economic strength.
see something new that takes you off in a different direction.”
Alan Cowley (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Payne’s scarves and blankets are mostly in her closet—she gets cold
was elected a member of the European Academy
easily in the winter—but she’s made many over the years as gifts. One of Sciences and Arts, with formal admission to
of her favorite creations is the off-white and peach cotton and linen
take place in Salzburg, Austria in March 2008.
rasika harshey
blanket she made for her son as a newborn. “It had a nice feel to it,” she
James Daniel and Leslie Vaaler (Mathemat-
says, “very soft. Probably the reason I like that one is more just the idea
ics) shared in a Hamilton Book Prize for their
of it, of making it for my child.” do book “Mathematical Interest Theory.”
winter 2008
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