ISU College of Engineering E-News

College of Engineering E-News

July 10, 2008

Ethanol project led by CCEE professor wins R&D 100 award

A research team led by Hans van Leeuwen, CCEE professor, has been awarded a 2008 R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine for its work using microscopic fungi to clean up and improve the dry-grind ethanol production process. The team includes Anthony L. Pometto, professor of food science and human nutrition; Mary Rasmussen, CCEE graduate student; and Samir Khanal, a former Iowa State CCEE assistant professor who is now an assistant professor of molecular biosciences and bioengineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The award winners will be featured in the September issue of R&D Magazine and will be honored at an October 16 banquet at Chicago’s Navy Pier. (News release)

New student programs and services director arrives July 16

Joel Johnson will join the college July 16 as the director of engineering student programs and services (SPS). As SPS director, Johnson will manage three major areas in the college: enrollment services and precollegiate programs, engineering student services, and scholarships. Johnson comes to Iowa State from Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he has served as director of the Office of First Year Experience since 2000.

“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to join the College of Engineering,” Johnson says. “Throughout my interview process and interactions with faculty and staff, I have been very impressed with the commitment to student development and success. Having worked in collaboration with both student and academic affairs on first-year retention and enrollment for the past eight years, this position is an intriguing and exciting opportunity.”

Engineering & Beyond ready to begin

Students at a 2007 Engineering & Beyond session learn firsthand about the behind-the-scenes world of electronics.

During the next few weeks, 150 high school seniors will come to campus to participate in Engineering & Beyond. Three sessions--July 13-16, 20-23, and 27-30--are filled to capacity with 50 students each. This year’s attendees include 40 women, 89 in-state students, and 9 students from underrepresented minorities.

Fifty engineering faculty and staff and five student counselors--Nick Davidson, AerE3; Harsh Goel, ECpE2; James Magill, IMSE1; Abby Roberts, ME3; and Amy Selvik, ME3--will help the students explore the breadth of opportunities offered in engineering. Program coordinator Sadie Kohlhaas runs the camp for the office of Enrollment Services and Precollegiate Programs. Over the last five years, more than half of the participants in Engineering & Beyond have subsequently enrolled at Iowa State.

College hosts admissions recruiters

On Friday, July 11, 20 Iowa State admissions recruiters will visit the college to gain a firsthand look at some of the exciting areas covered in the engineering curricula. Departmental representatives will give brief presentations and demonstrations highlighting such things as the tornado simulator, a lumbar motion monitor, and how biodiesel is made. The goal, according to Sadie Kohlhaas, who is coordinating the event for the college, is to feature topics related to the 2050 Challenge that will appeal to the prospective students the recruiters will visit across the U.S. and the world.

College hosts Project Lead The Way institute

Fifty middle school and high school teachers (39 from Iowa and the rest from across the country) arrived at Iowa State on July 6 for a two-week Project Lead The Way (PLTW) training institute led by the College of Engineering.

PLTW is a national organization that has developed a pre-engineering curriculum for secondary students that emphasizes hands-on experiences in engineering, design, and technology. It is aimed at attracting students to these professional fields. Teachers must complete a PLTW training institute to teach these courses.

This is the second year Iowa State has hosted a teaching institute. Jim Shahan, ABE adjunct assistant professor, and Loren Zachary, assistant dean for engineering education and AerE professor, are leading the training with assistance from four PLTW master teachers. Larry Genalo, MSE professor, and Mani Mina, ECpE senior lecturer, are taking the training alongside the teachers to enable them to conduct training next year. Camille Sloan Schroeder, director of precollegiate programs for the college, coordinates the institute. (News release)

Spring 2008 research and teaching excellence winners

Twenty-four Iowa State graduate students, including six from the College of Engineering, were selected for Research Excellence Awards for the spring 2008 semester. Congratulations to Michael Frederick, ECpE; John Kevern, CCEE; Feng Mao, CCEE; Douglas McCorkle, ME; Mohammad Rahman, CCEE; and Nicholas Suek, CBE.

Three engineering students were selected to receive Teaching Excellence Awards. Congratulations to Stephen Gent, ME; Ryan Gerdes, ECpE; and Alan Sidlinger, AerE.

Solar car race begins July 13 in Texas

From left, Team PrISUm members Matt Martin, AerE4; Wade Johanns, AerE4; Sarah Kelly, ME4; and Michael Steffen, ECpE2. Photo by Bob Elbert.

Team PrISUm is ready to race, and not a minute too soon. The Iowa State solar car team left July 5 with its just-completed vehicle, Sol Invictus, to compete with 23 other university teams in the 2008 North American Solar Challenge, July 13-22. The race route, covering 2,400 miles, begins in Plano, Texas, and finishes in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Thirteen students, along with team adviser and ME Professor Don Nelson, will participate. Reports on the team’s progress will be posted on the Iowa State and College of Engineering Web sites. (News release) (Watch Team PrISUm work)

Mark your calendars!

Saturday, August 9--Summer 2008 Iowa State University graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremony, 9:30 a.m., Hilton Coliseum

Monday, August 25--Fall semester classes start

Wednesday, August 27--College of Engineering fall convocation, 3:10 p.m., Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium, Howe Hall

Saturday, September 6--Annual College of Engineering tailgater prior to the Iowa State versus Kent State football game


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