AMES, Iowa – Bruce Babcock is ready to focus on the bioeconomy as Iowa State University’s next Cargill Endowed Chair in Energy Economics and director of the university’s Biobased Industry Center. Babcock, an Iowa State professor of economics and current director of the university’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, assumes his new position Oct. 1. He succeeds James …Continue reading “Babcock named Iowa State’s Cargill Chair and leader of the Biobased Industry Center”
Iowa State alumna Daniela Faas has had an enthralling journey that began with a move from Germany to the US as a teen, beginning what she calls her own version of the “American Dream.” That dream has included excellent education and research opportunities that have taken her places she never envisioned, and ultimately landed her …Continue reading “Faas finds her fit at MIT”
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) are prestigious summer research opportunities that are hosted by universities and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The program was started as a way to support undergraduate students in active research with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Participants in six Iowa State REUs associated with the College of Engineering …Continue reading “Summer 2011 REU programs”
AMES, Iowa — The groundbreaking ceremony for phase two of Iowa State University’s Biorenewables Complex will be held Friday, Sept. 30, at 3:30 p.m. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad will be the featured speaker at the groundbreaking ceremony for Virgil B. Elings Hall and the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) Building #2. The ceremony will be …Continue reading “Groundbreaking ceremony for phase two of ABE building has been set”
More than 100 students, faculty and staff attended the inaugural CCEE Graduate Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition September 15, held on the second floor of Town Engineering Building. The event was solely run by graduate students. Sixteen graduate students presented their research in many civil, construction and environmental engineering disciplines. Participants competed for the …Continue reading “Students form first CCEE Graduate Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition”
Most students who were accepted to the Summer Program for Interdisciplinary Research and Education-Emerging Interface Technologies (SPIRE-EIT) didn’t know what to expect when they arrived in Ames on May 31. The description of the program on the National Science Foundation’s website used phrases like information visualization, mobile/ubiquitous interfaces, intelligent agents, and enabling infrastructure, but it …Continue reading “Variety found in SPIRE-EIT summer REU program”
Sustainability has grown into a hot topic around the globe. The concept can be applied to a myriad of activities, but the students who participated in the Sustainable Biomass Production and Processing (SBPP) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) had their eyes on agriculture. Sustainable agricultural practices are comprised of many intricate details, and SBPP participants …Continue reading “Increasing the production and sustainability of land”
The Microscale Sensing Actuation and Imaging (MoSAIc) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Iowa State provided eleven students with the opportunity to explore advanced imaging and diagnostic systems, and gain experience with designing and manufacturing microscale and nanoscale sensors, actuators, and smart materials. In order to help students build an understanding of how materials interact, …Continue reading “Exploring advanced imaging and diagnostic systems”
Nikhil Shah, junior in chemical engineering at Iowa State, wasn’t sure what to call his research when he began the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) with the Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC). The end goal of his work, converting lignans into other chemicals, is a bit of an unknown because much of his experimentation is …Continue reading “Students conduct summer research to produce biorenewable chemicals”
Twelve students from across the nation and three from Mexico spent their summer with the Biological Materials and Processes (BioMaP) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at Iowa State University. BioMaP consists of a variety of projects with topics ranging from nanovaccines, to drug and gene delivery, to clinical trials with an artificial pancreas. Through …Continue reading “Students travel from across the nation for BioMaP REU summer program”
The Wind Energy Science, Engineering, and Policy (WESEP) summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) almost didn’t happen. The National Science Foundation did not approve WESEP until March and participant applications were due in April. With only one month to advertize the program, organizers hurried to publicize the opportunity and hoped for about 50 applicants. Gene …Continue reading “Exploring the power of wind”
A chance to participate in a prestigious program that provides first-hand access to cutting-edge research doesn’t frequently present itself to undergraduates, but a talented group of students were given such an opportunity when they were selected to participate in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program this past summer. The National Science Foundation (NSF) started …Continue reading “Summer 2011 REU programs”
Two new appointments have recently been bestowed upon Iowa State alumnus Shreekanth Mandayam. Rowan University has named him executive director of the South Jersey Technology Park (SJTP) and associate provost for research at Rowan, giving Mandayam new, exciting responsibilities. “As executive director, I manage SJTP, which is a collaborative effort between the state of New …Continue reading “Alumnus receives joint appointment”
The Daily Snapshot in the Iowa State Daily’s September 19th edition featured the Mechanical Engineering Learning Teams’ Dodgeball Tournament. Click here to view today’s edition, and the snapshot can be found on Page 2.
Last year at this time, I blogged about how high-tech industries are experiencing significant growth, particularly in sectors at the boundaries of traditional engineering disciplines and fields such as biology, medicine, and product design. Coupled with that surge of career opportunities is an approaching demographic crunch in the engineering workforce as more baby boomers retire. …Continue reading “National workforce needs in engineering”
