Welcome from the Dean

June 10, 2011

Dear Idaho Engineering and
Computer Science Alumni and Friends,

As you may know, I have accepted the position as Chancellor of Montana Tech in Butte, Montana beginning June 27. As I write this last letter as Dean to the alumni, friends, and supporters of the College of Engineering, I am reminded again of the great heritage that belongs to this college. Even though my tenure as dean has coincided with a time of financial challenge, we have been able to continue to build on the strengths of the faculty, staff and students within the college. We have asked new and past supporters, advisory board members, students, staff and faculty to help guide this transformation and together we have been able to continue to provide exceptional learning experiences for our students and promote our world-class research programs.

After 22 years at the UI, I have come to understand the remarkable opportunities the college offers its students. Our faculty and staff members provide one of the best engineering education experiences in the world. We continue to be especially proud of our learning philosophy that incorporates hands-on laboratories, design throughout the curriculum, a large number of individual and team-based projects, and an outstanding capstone senior design program.

Alumni, development, recruitment and financial aid programs are now in place to assure the college attracts outstanding undergraduate and graduate students. The revolutionary new student service center, the John C. Wahl Think Tank, is under construction this summer in the Janssen Engineering Building as we build a state-of-the-art physical space for our students with cutting-edge pedagogical features. The JCW Think Tank will allow us to maintain our competitive edge and ensure that industry and academia continue to pursue our graduates.

With confidence I believe the College of Engineering will attract a first-rate leader that will build upon the committed departmental leadership, the dedicated senior faculty, and junior faculty throughout the disciplines. The college is poised to move strategically forward.

Sr. Associate Dean Larry Stauffer has been named acting dean of the College of Engineering and will continue to lead the college forward until an interim dean is chosen in the next few weeks. A national search for a new dean is expected to take six months to a year.

A heartfelt thank you is sent with this letter to each of you for your support, loyalty and commitment. I have sincerely enjoyed the experience of meeting each one of you and Vicki and I are grateful to have made life-long friends with many of you.

Sincerely,

Donald M. Blackketter
Dean, College of Engineering

June 2011 Dean’s E-Letter Highlights:

Alumni News:

• The College of Engineering inducted twelve distinguished alumni this spring into the newly formed University of Idaho Academy of Engineers during a ceremony at the Borah Theatre in the Student Union Building, Moscow. The college recognized inductees for their personal contributions to engineering achievement, leadership, engineering education and service to the profession and society. U-Idaho salutes engineering leaders for their lifetime commitment to advancing the quality of life through achievement, high ethical standards and innovation.
  
  We congratulate each member of the 2011 Inaugural Academy of Engineers: Tommy W. Ambrose, BS ChE 1950, MS ChE 1951, PhD ChE 1957, Honorary Doctorate, Idaho 1981; Thomas L. Anderson, BS CE 1958, MS CE 1961, PhD Structural Dynamics 1967; Clayton D. Boyce, BS ME 1953; R. James Coleman, BS CE 1975, MS CE 1977; Stanley P. Desjardins, BS ME 1958, Honorary Doctorate, Idaho 2010; Robert R. Furgason, BS ChE 1956, MS ChE 1958, PhD ChE; Jack K. Lemley, B Arch 1960, Honorary Doctorate, Idaho 1998; John R. Marks, BS MinE 1973, MS MinE 1990; Zimri E. Mills, BS AgE 1950; Albert F. Myers, BS ME 1969, MS ME 1971; Ronald C. Olson, BS EE 1958; and Bess L. Vance, BS ChE 1955. For bios and more information please visit www.uidaho.edu/engr/about/academyofengineers.

Student News:

• This year’s Engineering Design EXPO was a tremendous success! Thank you to our 60 judges and EXPO sponsors Micron, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Avista Foundation, Boeing, POWER Engineers, Engineering Outreach, Wagstaff Engineering, CAES and Lochsa Engineering for their tremendous support. We couldn’t do it without you!
  
  Each year our engineering students experience the design process first-hand by working with real world clients to create solutions for a better future. Whether it’s removing bacteria from cantaloupe or designing a new hydraulic turbine system for a monastery, these students are forced to find answers outside of their textbooks to solve everyday problems.
  
  If you missed the 18th Annual Engineering Design EXPO - check out student interviews to find out what kind of projects students worked on this year. You can also learn about the award-winning projects, the $200 for Teachers results, and featured capstone projects. Recorded live at the University of Idaho Engineering Design EXPO on Friday, April 29, 2011, please visit the web cast at: www.uidaho.edu/engr/expo/about/2011webcast.
• Mapping out a successful future often depends on the ability to understand the past. But a look into the past requires ready access to historical data. In the computer age, that can be a challenge if you can’t recall the key words that retrieve it.
  
  University of Idaho computer science students are providing unprecedented access to historical documents for the Idaho State Board of Education. A 2011 capstone engineering design project that spanned two semesters included first semester team Dallas Stinger, Aaron Phillips and Wenlong Huang, and second semester team Kaleb Houck, Zack Kimball and Seth Thompson. The result of their combined efforts is a software tool that enables SBOE staff to find and retrieve documents based on incomplete search specifications. To learn more, please go to: www.uidaho.edu/engr/newsevents/viewpost?name=student-expo-project-allows-state-board-of-education-to-mine-vital-data.
• Idaho elementary school student teams went head to head at the North Idaho TECH: Mars Rover Challenge in Idaho Moscow this spring. After competing in the seven categories of competition, it was the 4 Marsketteers from Genesee School in Genesee who took first place. In second place was the A Team, from Leadore School in Leadore. Taking home third place was the Mega Minds, also a team from Leadore School.
  
  To place at Idaho TECH, students had to design a motorized Mars rover out of LEGOs that could maneuver between obstacles, climb steep hills and pick up small objects, among other things. Almost 200 students competed in the competitions this year.
  
  Students begin to construct their rovers in January each year. They use motors and pneumatic systems to make the rovers move, and pick objects up with a mechanized arm or a scoop. Idaho TECH is a program for fourth, fifth and sixth grade students held each year by the NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium. The goal of the program is to provide a hands-on science and engineering opportunity for Idaho students. For more information, please visit: www.uidaho.edu/engr/newsevents/viewpost?name=northern-idaho-teams-faced-off-in-mars-rover-challenge.
• Ten students from Idaho universities will intern at NASA institutions across the country this summer, working with NASA scientists and participating in research and hands on projects. NASA internships give students the chance to apply the knowledge they gain in the classroom in a very tangible, real-world environment. It is an excellent learning opportunity. The NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium submits student applications and assists the students financially in their endeavors, aiding them in travel and other expenses. Internships at NASA institutions have been known to lead to jobs with NASA after graduation. Idaho interns have an opportunity to work on a variety of NASA research programs that align with NASA’s current vision. The students are dispersed at different locations throughout the nation. Four students are interning at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, CA. The other six students have received internships to work at NASA Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley.
  
  NASA interns from the University of Idaho include: Kim Baird, Boise; David Gardner, Priest River; Carlos Gonzalez, Firth; Brent Kisling, Pocatello; George Korbel, Orofino; Kevin Ramus, Rathdrum; Michael Schrader, Idaho Falls; Walter Taresh, Pocatello; and Lee Van Gundy, Vancouver, Wash. Boise State University also has one NASA intern, Craig Cornwall, Boise. The interns will post pictures and updates of their experiences on the NASA ISGC Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/NASA-Idaho-Space-Grant-Consortium/91682706503, which is open to the public for viewing.
• University of Idaho’s mechanical engineering doctoral candidate Maziar Rostamian recently was named 2011 Graduate Student of the Year at the 14th Annual Golden Torch Awards at the 37th National Society of Black Engineers’ annual National Convention.
  
  The award is based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal accomplishments and demonstrated leadership in engineering or other technical fields. The core of Rostamian’s research is creating simulated models of the solid mechanics and the interaction with fluid mechanics and heat transfer to predict the amount of dust created in this new leading concept of nuclear plant design. The research could be crucial to design safety in the future generation of nuclear reactors.
  
  Rostamian joins a long line of achievements by this dynamic group of Idaho engineering students. Despite being the smallest NSBE chapter in Region IV, the group received the 2010 award for most verified GPAs for the region, further showing their initiative and group unity.
  
  In 2009, two students captured top honors at the national convention. Rachel M. Bonas, computer science doctoral student and former NSBE-Idaho chapter president, won a Board of Corporate Affiliates (BCA) scholarship. Edward James William II took home the 2009 Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year trophy and scholarship, and received NSBE's 2007 Alumni Extension Technical Scholars award.
  
  Eight students, Shams Arifeen, Blaise Alexis Fouetio Kengne, Aaron Kitchen, Mouhamadou Diop, Rachel Bonas, Maziar Rostamian, Akhgar Rostamian, Toluwani Adekunle and Dennis Oriero participated in this year’s events; three took part in oral presentations and one competed in the research poster competition.
  
  For information about the NSBE-Idaho Chapter, visit www.nsbe-uidaho.org/aboutus.aspx.
• Chemical engineering student teams walked away with a quarter of the awards from the 21st International Environmental Design Contest. The teams won awards for Best Oral Presentation, Best Engineering Analysis, and first place for their solution to Task 7. UI had three teams in the competition, which was hosted by New Mexico State University's Institute for Energy and the Environment. Altogether, the three teams received more than $3,000 in awards on April 6 at the contest's closing banquet.
  
  The design contest challenged students to solve technical problems ranging from CO2 emissions to disinfecting rural water sources. The proposed solutions addressed global concerns about industrial pollution, water demand, and post-crisis pressures. More information is available online at: http://iee.nmsu.edu or visit chemical engineering and microbiology student Karina Intan’s video at: www.youtube.com/user/UIdahoENGR#p/c/281B626C39D1BA85/1/kppYcO8gkqo.

Faculty News:

• Most people don’t think much about crossing the street. Even at a busy intersection, the "walk" or flashing "don’t walk" signs tell them when it is safe to cross. However, for the vision impaired, it can be challenging as they can’t see the sign or the traffic, or struggle with noise issues created by heavy traffic. Research done at the University of Idaho now is helping the vision impaired safely cross intersections. “The system was in development for six years,” said Richard Wall, professor of computer science and electrical engineering, who led the faculty and student team.
  
  The Advanced Accessible Pedestrian System currently is in commercial production at Campbell Company of Boise and being installed in cities throughout the United States. Wall led the research and development of the AAPS. For the entire story, go to: www.uidaho.edu/newsevents/item?name=crosswalk-insights-for-the-vision-impaired.
• Congratulations to the College of Engineering’s Outstanding Faculty, Staff, Graduate Student and Senior Student Awards who were recognized for their outstanding efforts this year. Dr. Abdel-Rahim received the Outstanding Faculty Awardthis year because of his excellent record in teaching, research and service. His strong work ethic and commitment to his department shows in his daily work and the extra effort he puts into teaching and taking on additional projects. Please visit the web site to learn about other honorees who earned awards this year: www.uidaho.edu/engr/newsevents/collegeawards.

Save-the-Dates:

• Thursday, July 7, 2011, 11:00 a.m. Social and Hors d’oeuvres Reception, 12:00 Noon Lunch
  Legal Sea Foods – Kendall Square, 5 Cambridge Center – Cambridge, MA. (Near Memorial Dr. & Main St.)
  The College of Engineering invites you to join us for lunch in Cambridge, Massachusetts with Engineering Acting Dean Larry Stauffer and host Arthur Humphrey UI ChE ’48. Hosted by the College of Engineering,-includes New England clam chowder, choice of 4 entrees and dessert! RSVP by Tuesday, July 5 at www.uirsvp.com, by phone at (208) 755-4916 or mryba@uidaho.edu to Mary Lee Ryba, Assistant Dean College of Engineering.
• The Idaho Junior Engineering, Math and Science (JEMS) Summer Program will take place on campus Sunday, July 10 to Friday, July 22 and provide an introduction to engineering through study of real-world problems within their technical and social contexts. Participants will experience life as a college student for two weeks through coursework, teamwork, and living in campus housing with current engineering student mentors. Students also have barbeques, pizza parties, field trips, and access to several UI recreational facilities.
  
  Idaho JEMS is open to students who have completed their junior year in high school and are at least 16 years of age. Students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average and have completed three years of high school mathematics and science. For more information, go to: www.uidaho.edu/engr/newsevents/viewpost?name=junior-engineering-math-and-science-jems-summer-program.
• Corporate Recruiters Save-the-Date October 3rd: The College of Engineering Career Fair will offer Idaho students and alumni the opportunity to connect with employers in the science, technology, engineering and math industries on October 3 at 3 - 7 p.m. in the SUB Ballroom. A College of Engineering reception with the interim dean will immediately follow the fair. Employers will hire for full-time, internship and summer positions. This event is free to job seekers. Employers interested in recruiting must register in advance. Registration and additional information can be found at www.uidaho.edu/careercenter.

Thank you!