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News
eThe Story's Not Over'
Sunday, August 26, 2007 1:37 PM CDT
The ereinvention' of Rod Van Meter an ongoing saga
By BRAD DAVIS
Staff Writer
Anyone who says Dr. Rod Van Meter has lived an adventurous 41 years on
planet earth knows what they're talking about. Trust them.
From graduating high school at the age of 16 to working in such
far-flung exotic locales as Japan and Finland, already he's experienced
more than most would ever hope to in a lifetime.
And the adventure is far from over.
It seems just now to be kicking into high gear.
In April of this year, Van Meter started writing a new chapter in his
life saga, accepting a faculty position at one of Japan's premier
research universities.
It's been a long and winding road leading from the little boy who
wandered the halls of West End Grade School daydreaming of one day
becoming an astronomer, or perhaps even a paleontologist, to the man who
now teaches at a renowned university as an assistant professor under the
scholar who introduced the internet to Japan.
gI never would have predicted winding up in Japan,h said Van Meter
during a recent visit home. gIf you had asked me at the age of eight
where I would be living at 41, I would have said Houston (the home of
NASA).h
But his pattern of renewal has remained the same. Van Meter has
continually adapted to his surroundings and circumstances, allowing
himself to become what one must be in his chosen career field: Versatile.
gI would say I'm always looking for a new experience,h he says. hLooking
back at my career, I've reinvented myself frequently.h
It's a cycle that started almost from Day 1. And it's one that looks to
be ongoing.
In the 24 years since leaving Williamson for the sun-drenched campus of
Cal Tech in Pasadena, Cal., where he earned a bachelors degree in
engineering and applied science in 1986, Van Meter has held a plethora
of positions with varied institutions and corporations.
His first job after college was at the Information Science Institute of
the University of Southern California (USC/ISI), where some of the
fundamental work in developing the internet was done. While there he
picked up his master's degree in computer engineering, but eventually
became dissatisfied with his work and ended up, of all places, in
suburban Tokyo, working for the Asaca Corporation, which develops
television and radio equipment.
gI never expected that it would be permanent,h the 1982 Williamson High
School graduate says of his move to the other side of the world. gI
figured I would go and I would try it, and if it didn't work out I would
try something else. It seemed like living in Japan would be a
challenging and interesting experience.h
Van Meter was right. The move was challenging. It wasn't permanent, either.
Three years and two research projects later, Van Meter began to feel
professionally gburned outh and personally ready to come back home to
the states. At the beginning of 1995, he came back to USC/ISI, then two
years later went to work for the Quantum Corporation of northern
California. It was a move he felt he had to make.
gThey called and said they liked some of the research I was doing and
wanted to turn it into a product,h says Van Meter. gUnfortunately that
project didn't work out. It doesn't always work throwing 40 smart people
in a room and telling them to build something. Looking back we all make
mistakes, but it's water under the bridge.h
Despite the setback, Van Meter, as always, landed on his feet running.
The Dotcom craze was in full bloom at that time, and job opportunities
were prevalent. Van Meter latched on with a company that eventually was
bought by Finish cell phone giant Nokia, where he worked on technology
connecting cell phones to the internet.
But it was around this time that the internal bug which has bitten so
many in his family began to gnaw on Van Meter's spirit. He had taught a
class during one of his stints at USC/ISI and had learned the rhythm of
the life of a professor. He understood the measure of freedom it
entailed, as well as the opportunity to go back to his passion - research.
gMy family has a long history of teachers,h he says. gIt's considered a
good thing to do. For a long time that had been something I wanted to
get into.h
So he did. Van Meter, along with wife Mayumi - whom he met while working
for Asaca - and their two daughters, 8-year-old Sophia and 4-year-old
Esther, went back to the Far East in 2003 so he could pursue his doctorate.
After receiving his Ph.D. from Keio University's faculty of science and
technology last year, he was asked to come on board with the faculty of
the well-respected school. In April Van Meter accepted the position, and
now is an assistant professor of environment and information studies,
teaching and doing research work in the field of quantum computer
architecture at Japan's oldest and one of it's best private institutions
of higher learning.
At least two Japanese prime ministers, one astronaut and numerous
prominent businessman claim that country's equivalent of Yale as their
alma mater. There Van Meter is working to push the envelope of computer
technology as we know it.
The goal? Build a machine that would be the difference in speed between
writing the number 1,000,000 and counting to it. The challenge is daunting.
gIf you're teaching first graders how to add, you already know how to
add,h he says. gThe problem is that I'm trying to teach my students
cutting edge research and I don't even know all the answers.h
Nobody does.
But it's that challenge that's the lure for a man who continues the
reinvention of self. Which leads to the inevitable question: What, if
anything, is next?
gI haven't figured that out yet,h Van Meter says with a laugh. gI do
like it in Japan, but at some point I would like to go back to the U.S.,
or find some way to go back and forth.h
But for now, Van Meter and his family are satisfied right where they
are. They are in the process of moving closer to the Keio campus where
he works, which currently is a three-hour commute one way. He says he
always looks to be in a situation where he can achieve his maximum
potential, and although Van Meter has only been at Keio for a few
months, he believes that's exactly the scenario he finds himself in.
But as has always been the case, with Van Meter there's always a gBut.h
gI'm happy with where I am and what I'm doing,h says Van Meter with a
long pause afterwards. gThe story's not over yet.h
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