Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute recently announced that Robert Metcalfe, founder of 3Com Corporation and the inventor of Ethernet, will speak at Commencement 2004. The ceremonies will begin on Saturday, May 15, at 9:30 a.m., and will take place at the Harkness Field.

Dr. Metcalfe will be awarded an honorary doctorate. Here is the list of distinguished people joining Dr. Metcalfe in receiving honorary doctorates from Rensselaer on May 15:

• George Bugliarello, former leader of Polytechnic University, currently serving as foreign secretary of the National Academy of Engineering.
• Donald Keck, member of the team at Corning that developed fiber optic cable technology. Currently CTO of Infotonics.
• Charles Thornton, structural engineer who worked on the Petronas Twin Towers, Chicago Stadium, Comiskey Park, and the Americas Tower.