A software tool developed by Iowa State and Ames Laboratory researchers displays velocity information from a data set about the formation of a star.

Mark Bryden, ME associate chair and associate professor; Gerrick Bivins (BSAerE’98, MSME’05), an assistant scientist at VRAC; and Doug McCorkle, an ME doctoral student, will receive a 2006 R&D 100 Award for the unique software tool they developed. The work was supported by nearly $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory. Their tool quickly converts large 3-D data sets into pictures that engineers can then analyze and work with. R&D magazine sponsors the awards, which the Chicago Tribune calls “the Oscars of applied science.” The 100 winning innovations are featured in the September issue of R&D, and the inventors are honored at a special banquet in Chicago in October. (Press release)

	Edwin C. Jones, Jr.

IEEE honors professor emeritus

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has named its meritorious service award in honor of Edwin C. Jones, Jr., university professor emeritus, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The Edwin C. Jones Jr. Meritorious Service Award recognizes pioneering contributions to the activities of the IEEE Education Society. The award honors members for their dedication, effort, and contributions to the organization. (Press release)

Engineering and Beyond
Over the last three weeks, 150 soon-to-be high school seniors participated in the Engineering and Beyond workshops coordinated by the Engineering Outreach and Recruitment Office. During the three-day workshops, the participants got a feel for university life and learned about the scope of engineering through a wide variety of workshop sessions and special activities. “Before I was unsure, but now I’m guaranteed to study engineering in college,” noted one participant. “This camp was great; thanks for pointing me in the right direction.” Forty faculty and staff along with five engineering students—Pranav Chopra, ABE 3; Alicia Davison, ConE 2; Mike Fritz, CBE 2; Kristin Staley, CBE 3; and Nick Wilson, EE 2—helped give the students a first-hand look at the College of Engineering and Iowa State University.

ConE students win national award
For the second consecutive year, and sixth time overall, Iowa State's student chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America has won first place in the annual Outstanding AGC Student Chapter Contest. The award, based on the quality and number of activities in which student chapters take part, places a particular emphasis on outreach activities to communities and schools. (Press release)

From a green to an ever-green revolution
M. S. Swaminathan, recipient of the first World Food Prize, will present a seminar, “From a green to an ever-green revolution,” at 1:30 p.m., August 3, in 1148 Gerdin Building. Swaminathan received the prize in 1987 for his work developing higher-yielding rice and wheat varieties that helped India grow enough to feed its own people. A reception will follow at 3 p.m.