ECpE faculty member's research featured on journal cover

Electrical and computer engineering Assistant Professor Liang Dong's paper titled "Multichannel Detection Using Transmissive Diffraction Grating Sensor" is featured on the December 2011 cover of the Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics. In the paper, Dong and electrical engineering PhD students Peng Liu and Depeng Mao present a new transmissive diffraction grating pH sensor made of hydrogel that inherently detects range options and is highly sensitive. (Polymer Physics release)

Agricultural engineer grad secures job with master's degree and internship experience

James Bosserd gained valuable experience in his field even before graduating from Iowa State in 2007 with a master's degree in agricultural engineering. He was able to secure a full-time job at John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa, thanks to networking through his work with Boese Engineering and during an internship with John Deere. (Bosserd release)

CoE course hosts nuclear energy group

Clean EnergyAmerica, a national speakers program designed to establish a dialogue with American citizens about the benefits of nuclear energy as a clean, reliable, and affordable source of energy, was on Iowa State's campus Wednesday, October 19. Chuck Conlen, director of strategy, mergers, and acquisitions for DTE Energy, discussed the role of nuclear power within the future of U.S. energy as well as industry needs more students with knowledge of nuclear engineering. (Nuclear energy group release)

USDA awards Iowa State grant to develop biorenewable plant containers

Iowa State University has been awarded a grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop biorenewable and biodegradable containers for the specialty crop industry. The $1.9 million grant will be used to develop bioplastic containers as an alternative to petroleum-based pots. (USDA grant release)

Bruce Thompson Symposium: November 3

R. Bruce Thompson, Distinguished Professor of Engineering, director of the Center for NDE, and member of the National Academy of Engineering, had many talents and positive attributes. On November 3, 2011, his colleagues, friends, and family will join to remember his contributions and pay tribute to his accomplishments in research and education. The event will be in the Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium in Howe Hall, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it will feature a series of presentations that highlight advances in ultrasonics, reliability, and inspection applications.

In honor of Thompson's commitment to education, his family has established a Graduate Fellowship, continuing impact on the future of generations of nondestructive evaluation engineers and scientists. If you have questions regarding the symposium or the Graduate Fellowship, please send an email to cnde@cnde.iastate.edu or call 515 294-8152.

Presentation and Q&A: Ballistic missile defense and the Missile Defense Agency

On October 25 from 11 a.m. to noon, Lt. Gen. Patrick J. O'Reilly will present the vision of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and focus on opportunities for research funding and collaboration. Lt. Gen. O'Reilly is the director for the MDA. In this capacity, he oversees MDA's worldwide mission to develop a capability to defend deployed forces, the United States, allies, and friends against ballistic missile attacks. He will present the vision of the MDA and focus on opportunities for research funding and collaboration. The presentation will take place in the Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium of Howe Hall. (Missile defense talk)

Computer hackers take over Iowa State for competition

Hackers converged on Iowa State's campus on October 15 for the annual Cyber Defense Competition (CDC), which pitted Iowa State students against industry professionals in a game of virtual capture the flag. The CDC was made up of teams of Iowa State students who worked as defenders of cyber networks and fought malicious attacks from outside users. The situation was aimed to simulate companiestrying to allow user traffic through their website while keeping out unwanted visitors. (Cyber defense release)

New Leadership Certificate in Engineering

In collaboration with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS), the College of Engineering has created a new opportunity for engineering students: the Leadership Certificate in Engineering. The certificate is an engineering-focused track in the existing Leadership Certificate Program in LAS. (Leadership certificate release)

Funds offered to faculty and faculty-advised grad student groups for biotech events

The Office of Biotechnology is providing funds for biotechnology-related conferences, symposia, and workshops that are held on campus, and are organized by faculty members or jointly by a faculty sponsor and graduate students. Applications are due by November 1, 2011, for proposed events for the remainder of 2011 and the 2012 calendar year. (Biotechnology conference funds release)

Student's company wins Dream Big Grow Here

Go Topless Glassware, a company started by Cody Henke, senior in electrical engineering, and Chris Perkins, recently won the Dream Big Grow Here regional competition. Go Topless creates drinking glasses from recycled bottles. With the $5,000 Dream Big Grow Here grant, they will be able to purchase equipment to customize their glasses. (Go Topless release)

E-News schedule

E-News is published twice a month during the academic year. The next issue will be published on November 3. If you have news items or event dates to include, please send them to Jessi Strawn by November 8.

Mark your calendars!

October 25 – Ballistic Missile Defense and the Missile Defense Agency

October 25 – How Agricultural Economics Saved Futures Markets: An Untold Story of Leadership

October 29 and 30 – VRAC Haunted House

November 1 – Genetically Engineered Foods: The Naked Truth

November 3 – Symposium to honor R. Bruce Thompson

November 3 – Astronaut Clay Anderson returns to campus

November 3 – EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want