College of Engineering News • Iowa State University

PrISUm at ASC ’18: Mackenzie Klima

This is part of a series featuring students from Team PrISUm who are competing in the 2018 Formula Sun Grand Prix (July 10-12) and American Solar Challenge (July 14-22). This year’s race follows portions of the Oregon Trail, beginning in Omaha, Nebraska and finishing in Bend, Oregon. For updates throughout the race follow PrISUm on …Continue reading “PrISUm at ASC ’18: Mackenzie Klima”

PrISUm at ASC ’18: James Kuhman

This is part of a series featuring students from Team PrISUm who are competing in the 2018 Formula Sun Grand Prix (July 10-12) and American Solar Challenge (July 14-22). This year’s race follows portions of the Oregon Trail, beginning in Omaha, Nebraska and finishing in Bend, Oregon. For updates throughout the race follow PrISUm on …Continue reading “PrISUm at ASC ’18: James Kuhman”

PrISUm at ASC ’18: Bryan Kalkhoff

This is part of a series featuring students from Team PrISUm who are competing in the 2018 Formula Sun Grand Prix (July 10-12) and American Solar Challenge (July 14-22). This year’s race follows portions of the Oregon Trail, beginning in Omaha, Nebraska and finishing in Bend, Oregon. For updates throughout the race follow PrISUm on …Continue reading “PrISUm at ASC ’18: Bryan Kalkhoff”

PrISUm at ASC ’18: Andrew Kraus

This is part of a series featuring students from Team PrISUm who are competing in the 2018 Formula Sun Grand Prix (July 10-12) and American Solar Challenge (July 14-22). This year’s race follows portions of the Oregon Trail, beginning in Omaha, Nebraska and finishing in Bend, Oregon. For updates throughout the race follow PrISUm on …Continue reading “PrISUm at ASC ’18: Andrew Kraus”

Find community at Iowa State – Engineer at ISU CCEE

On campus and in Ames community, construction engineering senior shares ways to give back Julie “JP” Penton’s day is made when she can help someone else. “If you can make someone else feel better, then that in itself is the best thing that you can do,” she says. It’s a defining part of her ISU …Continue reading “Find community at Iowa State – Engineer at ISU CCEE”

New year, new team, same goal

Submitted by Julie “JP” Penton, Cyclone Energy member It’s springtime, and Cyclone Energy is ready! After winning last year’s ELECTRI International Green Energy Challenge (GEC), the team is working hard to get another win for the books. If they bring home first place this year, it would be the fifth consecutive win. One of the …Continue reading “New year, new team, same goal”

ME researcher aims to improve solar panels, batteries for wind energy storage

An ongoing research project by a mechanical engineering faculty member could lead to improved solar cells and better batteries for wind energy storage. Shan Hu, an assistant professor of ME, recently received a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Hu is one of three ME researchers at Iowa State to receive the award …Continue reading “ME researcher aims to improve solar panels, batteries for wind energy storage”

ME alum publishes novel: ‘Spirit of Engineering’

A novel penned by a mechanical engineering alum tells the story of two freshmen college students and their journey to discover what engineering is. Najeeb Kuzhiyil, who graduated with a PhD in ME in 2013, recently published his first novel: Spirit of Engineering: The Journey of Two College Freshmen and the Soul of Engineering. The idea to …Continue reading “ME alum publishes novel: ‘Spirit of Engineering’”

ME student’s independent study project aims to electrify CyRide

CyRide buses frequently spotted around campus and other parts of Ames could soon be getting a facelift. Ryan Saunders, a senior mechanical engineering major, has spent the past semester studying the feasibility of electrifying CyRide, the campus and city bus system. The project, which Saunders is working on as part of an independent study course, …Continue reading “ME student’s independent study project aims to electrify CyRide”

ISU NECA wins Green Energy Challenge for fourth year running, finds volunteer calling

While working to win the Electri International/NECA Green Energy Challenge, students discover ways to give back Can a competition be something more? Beth Hartmann’s answer is “yes!” “It’s a learning curve,” she says. Hartmann is a faculty advisor for the Iowa State University Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, or ISU NECA. This month, …Continue reading “ISU NECA wins Green Energy Challenge for fourth year running, finds volunteer calling”

Cyclone Energy earns third consecutive first place finish in Green Energy Challenge

THE TEAM: Mid-September in a Cyclone Energy practice session. Ten students listen as their peers, one by one, run through a presentation for an ELECTRI/International NECA Green Energy Challenge (GEC) proposal. One member, Regan, makes edits to the PowerPoint. The group throws comments up rapid-fire style. There is joking, but there is also an edge in …Continue reading “Cyclone Energy earns third consecutive first place finish in Green Energy Challenge”

Student – industry collaboration aims to capture energy from the prairie

Written by Bob Mills, communications and marketing for the Bioeconomy Institute Two teams of mechanical engineering students from Iowa State University have designed a system to convert prairie grasses into fuels and other products as part of their senior capstone project. The effort involved close collaboration with an industrial company, Roeslein Alternative Energy LLC, including a visit …Continue reading “Student – industry collaboration aims to capture energy from the prairie”

IE alums add solar power to campus

The company that helped Iowa State install a couple of 8 X 60-foot solar panel arrays on the east side of campus has ties to the university’s Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering. CB Solar, the state’s biggest solar contractor, designs and installs turnkey solar power systems for residential, commercial and agricultural uses. Two …Continue reading “IE alums add solar power to campus”

Developing the next generation of solar-powered robotic systems

Ran Dai earns NSF CAREER award to design unmanned vehicles for long-duration, high-efficiency missions Using renewable energy to power aerial and ground vehicles could change the way we handle aspects of environmental monitoring, search and rescue missions, surveillance, and agricultural practices. To navigate these sorts of dynamic environments, Ran Dai, an assistant professor in aerospace …Continue reading “Developing the next generation of solar-powered robotic systems”

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