Welcome from Dean Blackketter
Dear Idaho Engineering and
Computer Science Alumni and Friends,
The 15th annual Women in Engineering Day (WIE) took place on November 6. The College of Engineering was excited to welcome 50 students from Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington. The event is held every November for high school female students in grades 9 -12 chosen by their teachers. Teachers are encouraged to select girls who demonstrate an interest and aptitude in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. WIE is designed to challenge and motivate girls to continue to take advanced math and science courses in high school so that they can pursue exciting and fulfilling careers in the STEM disciplines. A hands-on design competition and interaction with a panel of engineering and computer science professionals in the STEM fields, tours and career exploration made for an exciting, fun day for the girls, faculty and volunteers. We would like to thank panelists Krista Brown, Central Pre-Mix Prestress Co., Spokane, Susan Firor, TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering, Moscow, Erin Jessup, electrical engineering graduate student and Russell Strong, CEO Integrated Vision & 3D Agile, Washington D.C for their time and contributions that made this event such a success. Thanks also to College of Engineering staff members Sue Branting and Amanda Rehder for their exceptional efforts in organizing and running this event.
This year we also extended an invitation to our future engineers to arrive the Thursday evening prior to WIE and attend the Society of Women Engineers (our current engineering students) annual Dinner with the Dean. The keynote speaker was alumnae Michelle Johnson a Professional Engineer at J-U-B- Engineers in Coeur d’Alene. Michelle is a wonderful role model as a new mom and wife, and as a successful professional chemical engineer working in the design and planning of drinking water and wastewater management for our Northwest communities. Thanks so much Michelle for taking time out of your busy life to join us.
When engineering education began in the United States, including Idaho, the profession was almost entirely made of men. While this has significantly changed over the last 120 years, today the ratio of women is still only around 20-30% depending on the engineering major. This is not just an Idaho concern, but a national alarm that is prompting many studies to determine why women do not go into the field of engineering. The studies have made the following observations. Women, more than men, want to know that their profession of choice and investment is not just about making income, but also about contributing positively to society. Further, as young women are making career choices, they may not have connections with women role models. In response to these issues, SWE and the WIE activities in the College of Engineering are intended to show female students that professions in engineering and computer science have wonderful and rewarding opportunities. The 130 attendees learned that engineers and computer scientists working together are critical to solving problems that include, but are not limited to, climate change, stream and river quality, sustainable buildings, roads and bridges, secure communications, clean energy productions, and sustainable community development. Our engineering education in the College of Engineering promotes strong interdisciplinary teams with social, ethnic and gender diversity.
Regarding an outstanding female role model, we had the privilege to honor and acknowledge Janet DeVlieg Pope and the DeVlieg Foundation with the College of Engineering Donor Innovation Award for contributions to engineering scholarship and STEM activities and the promotion of innovative research and stewardship for a sustainable and renewable environment. Congratulations to Janet who is a long-time and loyal supporter of the college and the university as well as a pacesetter for renewable energy research.
We need to make room in the trophy case for this one or build a new one... the UI team took the award for "Best Biological Powered Car" at AIChE (American Institute for Chemical Engineering) National Conference in Nashville, TN on Sunday, November 8, 2009. With more than 4,000 attendees at this year’s meeting the focus was on the latest developments in areas ranging from core chemical engineering fundamentals to emerging technologies in energy, sustainability and nanotechnology. The executive director of Society for Biological Engineering presented the award, including a $1,000 prize to the student chapter and this was the first national award in the 11 year history of the Chem-E-Car competition won by a school from the Pacific Northwest Region. Congratulations to the team and faculty advisor Dr. David Drown!
The Computer Science Department hosted one of the Pacific Northwest Regional sites of the ACM (Association of Computing Machinery) International Collegiate Programming Contests (ICPC) on Saturday Nov 7. Fourteen three-person teams from several of the Spokane and Palouse area colleges and universities came to the Moscow campus, and a total of 80 teams participated electronically from as far away as Hawaii. All sites in the region are linked together via the internet, with the main contest judging done on computers by judges located on the Idaho campus. Students worked in teams writing programs to solve eleven problems with a Star Wars theme. Each problem was color-coded. When a team solved a problem, they raised a helium-filled balloon of that color, so anyone could tell at a glance how the teams were doing. Of the three Idaho teams, one came in 3rd for the Moscow site and 20th in the overall competition.
Thanks to Professor Bob Rinker, who organized the contest, and to the IT staff, Larry Hughes and Trevor Davenport, who worked long hours making the computer labs competition-ready. Professor Clint Jeffery served as a judge, and several students volunteered their Saturday to help the event run smoothly as well.
This past week in San Jose at the IMAPS (International Microelectronics and Packaging Society) International Symposium, the UI newly formed student chapter of IMAPS won the Technical Booth Competition Award, a major recognition in North America. These booths allow students to demonstrate their activities to the microelectronics industry and are evaluated by a panel of judges on various criteria such as awareness of economic, environmental and society issues, and technical innovations. Congratulations to the team and faculty advisor Dr. Aicha Elshabini, IMAPS Educational Core Committee Chair and Northwest IMAPS Director.
University of Idaho scientists and engineering graduates were honored with the top award in their field, the Eddy Wastewater Principles and Processes Medal, on October 13 in Orlando, Florida at the Water Environment Federation’s annual technical conference. Idaho environmental chemist Greg Moller and Blue Water Technologies Chief Technology Officer Remy Newcombe developed the pioneering system to remove phosphorus from wastewater before it enters lakes and streams. Remy earned her doctorate in civil engineering from Idaho in 2003.
Blue Water Technologies in Hayden, Idaho, was founded in 2003 to commercialize the patented process. The company now employs 23. "The close relationship with the university helped us early on as we developed," said Blue Water Technologies President Tom Daugherty. "This award is going to really add credibility to the phosphorus removal process and the science behind it."
Congratulations to the University of Idaho Foundation for reaching two remarkable milestones this month. On October 30, the Foundation celebrated 50 years since the establishment of the Consolidated Investment Trust, which is the pooled investment vehicle for the University’s 1,314 endowments. The Foundation also celebrated the distribution of more than $106 million in endowment earnings back to the University to fund scholarships and programs since 1959.
Don't miss your chance to see the 2010 Engineering Design EXPO Snapshot where senior design projects designed for NASA, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratory, the Boeing Company, the Office of Naval Research, and other government agencies, non-profit organizations, and regional industries will be highlighted . Open house is December 4 in the Gauss Johnson Building on the UI campus between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. It is a great way to see what students are working on while developing teamwork, communication and project management skills. I hope to see many of you at this traditional engineering activity!
Sincerely,
Donald M. Blackketter
Dean, College of Engineering