In 1987, he was part of a grad student team that won an Apple Corp. prize for its prototype of a tablet computer

When Apple unveiled its tablet computer on Jan. 27, the proper response by Bartlett Mel of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering could have been a yawn. That’s because Mel, as a computer science Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois in 1987, was part of a team that won first place in a contest sponsored by Apple to design the personal computer of the year 2000. The winning concept from Mel’s team: a tablet computer.

The X Prize Foundation's Eileen Bartholomew challenges Viterbi and Marshall School students to create a high-stakes solar energy competition

The distinguished engineer-educator also has an appointment in the Rossier School.

Dean Yannis C. Yortsos will join diplomats and policy experts to discuss the role of scientists in international relations