BUSCH-VISHNIAC, Ilene, American noise-reduction engineer. Her advanced degrees were in mechanical engineering, a PhD from MIT in 1981. Initially she worked to quieten computer line printers, then on eliminating echoes from microphones and earphones. Later, at U. of Texas as Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Ilene specialised in reduction of transportation noise. Barriers next to freeways reduce noise pollution in city suburbs. From 1998 she has been Dean of Engineering at John Hopkins U. Ilene’s research indicates that barriers of mixed heights can break up the sound waves which constitute the noise. The holder of various patents, and also numerous awards from engineering organisations. And, although still early in her career, she is already an authority on electromechanical sensors and actuators.