Carnegie Mellon U. to Dedicate Bridge in Honor of Randy Pausch

On Friday, Carnegie Mellon University will dedicate a pedestrian bridge in honor of Randy Pausch, a computer-science professor whose lecture about achieving childhood dreams, given while he was terminally ill, inspired millions after it was posted on YouTube. Mr. Pausch succumbed to pancreatic cancer in July 2008.

The bridge connects a building that houses the university’s School of Drama with a new building for the School of Computer Science. University officials said the bridge mirrored Mr. Pausch’s support of collaboration between scientists and artists. He started a popular course at Carnegie Mellon called “Building Virtual Worlds,” in which students from several disciplines work together on virtual projects.

“What Randy did to connect computer science with the arts was remarkable,” the university’s president, Jared L. Cohon, said in a written statement. “His work had -- and continues to have -- an enormous influence on our faculty and on our students. This bridge will stand as a powerful symbol of that legacy, allowing generations of students and faculty who never met the man to nevertheless experience his impact.”

The event will include a ribbon-cutting and bridge-lighting ceremony.