FALL 2018

A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

INSIDE: Faculty tackle water quality >>

Alumni clean up hurricane destruction >>

Students mix water and technology >>

THE WATER ISSUE CSE dives into water research FROM THE DEAN MOSTAFA (MOS) KAVEH Water connects our communities

innesotans have a special connec- The good news is that faculty, students, tion to water. With the Mighty Mis- and alumni in the College of Science and sissippi running through our state Engineering are literally diving in to take

Slater Rebecca by Photo Mand 10,000+ lakes, Minnesota has 90,000 action. miles of shoreline—more than California, Among the many stories in this special issue Florida, and Hawaii combined. About 13 of Inventing Tomorrow focused on water million acres in Minnesota are covered by research, you will read about students and water or wetlands. We all have a personal faculty research using underwater robots connection to water, but we also have an to study pollution and invasive species. economic interest in the health and sustain- You’ll also read about faculty research that ability of our water resources. led to a statewide ban, and an eventual Unfortunately, about 40 percent of nationwide ban, on an ingredient in Minnesota’s lakes and rivers are polluted, antibacterial soaps that was ending up in according to the Minnesota Pollution our waterways. You will further learn about research to control harmful algae blooms last year’s Hurricane Harvey in Houston Control Agency. The National Academy of and keep our oceans free of plastics. and Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Engineering has identified access to clean water as one of its 14 Grand Challenges Water research also connects communities. I am proud of the work of my colleagues for Engineering. Lack of clean water is New faculty research working with who are employing the latest research responsible for more deaths globally than Minnesota Tribal collaborators uses wild techniques to study water, educating the war. About one out of every six people rice as a flagship for assuring clean water next generation of water researchers, living in the world today does not have and equitable communities. Alumni from and connecting communities around this adequate access to clean water. our college worked in clean-up efforts in vital resource.

Q&A with the new CSE Dean Mos Kaveh was named dean of the College of Science and Engineering in June 2018. He had served as interim dean since January. The following interview was excerpted from an article in our Fall 2018 CSE Alumni and Friends Enewsletter. To read the full conversation with the Dean, visit z.umn.edu/DeanQandA

What are the biggest changes you have seen in your What is your vision for the college’s role in our high-tech economy? 40+ years with the college? By growing our college, we have a great opportunity to be part of the engine When I first came to the University of Minnesota as a that drives Minnesota’s economy. Minnesota has truly been a miracle state faculty member in 1975, this was a commuter campus when it comes to the STEM economy. But, I am concerned that the state’s where people came and went only for classes. Today, our momentum may have slowed. The Twin Cities failed to even make the first students are much more tied to campus through student cut for Amazon’s second headquarters. The media said that the reason was groups, research, entrepreneurship opportunities, and that there was not enough technology talent to meet the workforce demand. other experiential learning opportunities. This has created a vibrant community that has helped us to attract top This is a wake-up call for our entire state. The business community, state talent and increase our graduation rates to new highs. leaders, and the legislature must acknowledge the problem and recognize that the College of Science and Engineering can and should be a key piece We’ve also been able to attract a more diverse student of the solution for providing that top echelon of the high-tech workforce. population. This year, our class of first-year students will have the highest percentage of women ever and is one of We need to grow our programs. Now is the moment for us to make that case the most ethnically diverse. to the legislature—our state’s economy depends on it.

2 INVENTING TOMORROW INVENTING TOMORROW CONTENTS Fall 2018 • Vol. 43, No. 2 TECH DIGEST / 4 cse.umn.edu

ADMINISTRATION FEATURES Dean Mostafa Kaveh Every Drop Counts / 6

Associate Dean, CSE engineers and scientists Academic Affairs tackle water-quality threats from Ellen Longmire multiple fronts 6 Associate Dean, Research and Planning Christopher Cramer Rain, Rain, Go Away / 14 Associate Dean, Another hurricane season is Undergraduate Programs Paul Strykowski ending, but clean-up and rebuilding efforts continue EDITORIAL STAFF Communications Director Deep Analysis / 20 Rhonda Zurn Three students talk about their Managing Editor Pauline Oo role in water-related projects 14 Designer Sara Specht INVESTING IN TOMORROW / 28 Contributors Jenn Ackerman Richard Anderson ALUMNI NEWS / 31 Maja Beckstrom Greg Breining Tim Gruber / Barbara Heitkamp RETROSPECT 34 Patrick Loch The flume that started it all— Susan Maas Brian McFatridge how one man’s vision weathered Patrick O’Leary the years 34 Rebecca Slater Printing University Printing Services

© 2018 Regents of the University of 20 Minnesota. All rights reserved. Inventing Tomorrow is published by the College of Science and Engineering twice a year for ON THE COVER alumni and friends of the college. Each month, Junaed Sattar, founding director of the Interactive The publication is available in Robotics and Vision Lab (irvlab.cs.umn.edu), and his student alternative formats for those visually impaired by calling researchers bring Minnebot to the rec center for pool trials. 612-624-8257. In addition to being an invaluable platform for underwater robotics research, the autonomous submersible could help ADDRESS CHANGE? If you’ve moved, drop us a line: protect our environment. Mail to Inventing Tomorrow College of Science and Engineering 105 Walter Library Photo by Ackerman + Gruber WE’RE ONLINE! 117 Pleasant Street SE Reading and sharing your favorite college magazine just got Minneapolis, MN 55455 easier. This publication is available electronically, as both a web Email [email protected] version with pages you can flip (with the click of a mouse!) and as Call 612-624-8257 a digital edition delivered via email.

Printed on recycled paper To view this or past issues, visit: cse.umn.edu/InventingTomorrow

FALL 2018 3 TECH DIGEST Astrophysicists identify new type of stellar collision New observations of a stellar phenomenon by a team of researchers, including University of Minnesota astrophysicists, have solved a 348-year- old mystery. The phenomenon is thought to be an explosive merger of white and brown dwarf stars—the first ever identified. Read more:

Photos z.umn.edu/StellarCollision courtesy National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency

New maps show Antarctica in stunning detail Researchers from the University’s Polar Geospatial Center are part of a team that has released the most accurate terrain map of Antarctica ever created. The map uses high-resolution satellite images to show the continent in stunning detail and will provide new Photo courtesy ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/S. P. S. Eyres insight on climate change. Read more: z.umn.edu/AntarcticaMap18 International team to study fundamental science of waves An international collaboration, led by the University of Minnesota, has received an $8 million grant that will bring together top experts from around the world to study the fundamental science of waves. Read more: z.umn.edu/WavesCollaboration

New material could improve Scientists discover new efficiency of computer magnetic element processing and memory A new experimental discovery, led A team of researchers, led by the by the University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota, has developed demonstrates that the chemical a new material that could potentially element ruthenium (Ru) is the fourth improve the efficiency of computer single element to have unique processing and memory. The discovery magnetic properties at room has received attention from the temperature. The discovery could semiconductor industry and researchers improve sensors and other devices have filed a patent. Read more: using magnetic materials. Read more: z.umn.edu/NewMaterial18 z.umn.edu/MagneticElement

4 INVENTING TOMORROW Genetic interaction map reveals the networks of Image by cellular life Anastasia Baryshnikova, A landmark new study, University of involving University of Minnesota Toronto researchers, is no longer looking Photo courtesy Robert Schwarz at genes as loners but instead Researcher makes history at the bottom of the world as a social network that interacts in groups. The new approach University of Minnesota astrophysicist Robert Schwarz holds a place unique in may ultimately change our history. Over the past 22 years, he has spent 14 Southern Hemisphere winters understanding of the genetic at the Pole—more than anyone else. Schwarz watches over the Keck Array, a roots of diseases. Read more: cluster of microwave telescopes. Watch video: z.umn.edu/SouthPoleWinters z.umn.edu/GeneNetworks

How does the caged molecule rattle and sing? A team of energy researchers has discovered that molecular motion can be predicted with high accuracy when confining molecules in small nanocages. Their theoretical method is suitable for screening millions of possible nanomaterials and could improve production of Photo courtesy McAlpine Group fuels and chemicals. Read more: z.umn.edu/CagedMolecules Researchers 3D print prototype for ‘bionic eye’ Photo courtesy Center for Transportation Studies A team of researchers have, for the first Team to study autonomous time, fully 3D printed an array of light vehicles receptors on a hemispherical surface. Could campus shuttles drive This discovery marks a significant step themselves in the future? Maybe. toward creating a “bionic eye” that A team of researchers has could someday help blind people see received a new grant from the or sighted people see better. Read more Photo courtesy Catalysis Center for Energy National Science Foundation to and watch video: z.umn.edu/BionicEye Innovation rethink transportation services using giant pools of shared autonomous vehicles. Researchers find natural product that could slow aging process Read more and watch video: In a new study, University of Minnesota researchers have found a natural z.umn.edu/AutonomousVehicles18 product, called fisetin, that can reduce the level of damaged cells in the body, which can slow the aging process. Read more: z.umn.edu/Aging18

FALL 2018 5 FACULTY FEATURE

CSE engineers and scientists tackle water- quality threats on multiple fronts

ater touches everything—not just our physical environment, but also W our cultural and spiritual worlds. We use it but never destroy it. We drink it and bathe in it. We wash cars and irrigate crops. Our factories consume and expel it. Rivers carry away our waste. But then we—and nature—clean it, and the people downstream use it again. The thin film of water enveloping our planet is constantly recycled, since time immemorial.

But as human population has grown and uses of water have grown, so too has the demand for clean water. According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2018, the worldwide demand for water has been growing about 1 percent a year because of increasing population, economic development, and changing con- sumption patterns. Industrial and domestic use will grow fastest, though agriculture will remain the biggest user. As global weather patterns intensify—wet regions becoming wetter and dry regions drier— half of the world’s population will live in areas of water scarcity that lasts at least one month each year.

To make sure we have clean water when and where we need it, researchers in the Drop University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering are studying water issues—tracking down pollutants, investi- gating aquatic ecosystems, and inventing new ways to clean water and protect this CountsWritten by GREG BREINING natural resource.

6 INVENTING TOMORROW Lurking hazards of a germ compound to kill bacteria, and it was derivatives are formed. In sunlight, killer leading to compounds that are of a these compounds form four differ- Triclosan, an antimicrobial agent class that are known to be toxic.” ent kinds of dioxins, a class of toxic used in consumer products, sounds chemicals that bind to fatty tissues First formulated in the 1960s, harmless enough. It kills germs, after and are responsible for fish consump- triclosan found its way into many all. And it has been used in soaps, tion advisories. everyday goods in the 1980s as shop- cleaning supplies, and even tooth- pers sought out germ-killing personal The triclosan that doesn’t break down paste and mouthwash for 40 years products. The chemical first came to binds to suspended particles and without obvious health effects. Arnold’s attention in 2001, when he sinks into the sediment of lakes and But Bill Arnold, Distinguished was a newly minted assistant profes- rivers. With funds from the National McKnight University Professor and sor interested in chemical reactions Science Foundation and the Min- the Joseph T. and Rose S. Ling Pro- driven by light that could break nesota Environment and Natural fessor in Environmental Engineering, down human-made compounds. Resources Trust Fund, Arnold and found that triclosan has been build- Triclosan seemed particularly inter- colleagues examined and dated sed- ing up in the sediments of Minnesota esting because it was both reactive iment layers from lakes around the lakes for decades. Worse, it breaks and common. state and found triclosan in every one down to potentially more harmful except a small isolated lake in Superi- chemicals. Triclosan has an easy route to water- or National Forest. ways—down the sink, through the “What we clearly showed is that the sewer, to a sewage treatment plant, “There was nothing before 1965 source of these compounds in the and into a river or lake. As wastewa- because triclosan wasn’t invented environment was triclosan,” he said. ter is treated with chlorine, Arnold yet,” Arnold explained. “And then “So, we are washing our hands with a discovered, several potentially toxic throughout the ’80s and ’90s, levels

The average American family Did you know? uses more than Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours. Source: EPA 300 gallons of water per day at home. Roughly 70% of this use occurs indoors. 1.8 trillion Source: EPA ( ) In Minnesota water supply 3% Estimated bits of plastic systems (53%) and waste floating in the of the earth’s crop irrigation (34%) Pacific Ocean surface water is are top ways water drinkable. Source: The Ocean Source: is used per year MN DNR Cleanup Foundation

FALL 2018 7 Photo by Richard G. Anderson G. Richard by Photo

Minnesota was the first state to ban the germ-killing chemical triclosan from soaps and bodywash after a two-year water pollution study by environmental engineering professor Bill Arnold and his research group.

8 INVENTING TOMORROW to understand how they may affect an entire ecosystem,” said Cara Santelli, There are millions of compounds that we can produce a co-principal investigator and assis- that might have use, but we need a balance between tant professor of Earth sciences who recently earned a National Science Photo by Richard G. Anderson G. Richard by Photo “ what’s useful and what’s sustainable. Foundation CAREER award. “One of our goals is to think of wild rice BILL ARNOLD habitats as an entire ecosystem.”

of triclosan increased dramatically so-called reaction products as com- Wild rice yield is also limited by water as it got incorporated into more and pounds break down. ” murkiness and temperature, water-lev- more consumer products.” el fluctuations, plus winter length and The conundrum, he noted, is finding cold. What remains unknown: the The scientists presented the findings a balance between new chemistry effect of metals such as mercury, com- to the Legislature. “Pretty quickly and expensive and time-consuming peting plants, and invasive organisms Governor [Mark] Dayton put out testing. “I don’t know that there’s such as zebra mussels. an executive order that banned state a single solution that’s optimal for agencies from buying triclosan-con- both the environment and for busi- “This project intrigued me because taining products,” Arnold said. “The ness,” he said. “There are millions of here was a problem that involved wa- rationale was essentially that here’s a compounds that we can produce that ter, plants, contaminants, geochem- chemical that isn’t necessarily needed might have use, but we need a balance istry,” said Earth sciences assistant to make these products function as between what’s useful and what’s professor Gene-Hua Crystal Ng, a they should. Washing with soap and sustainable.” McKnight Land Grant Professor water is fine.” who’s leading the project. “I saw this Wild rice and cultural funding opportunity as a chance to The Minnesota legislative ban fol- collaboration assemble a team that could look at all lowed in early 2017. And soon after, Wild rice conservation in the Great these different factors.” the federal Food and Drug Adminis- Lakes region is a complicated busi- tration ruled that companies wouldn’t Ng first thought their most important ness. That’s what three College of be able to continue to use triclosan task was to untangle the many physical Science and Engineering researchers, in many products without further environmental factors that affect and working on a two-year University review. potentially threaten wild rice produc- of Minnesota Grand Challenges tion. But she soon discovered the issue Meanwhile, Arnold and colleague Research Grant with Indian tribes, was even more complicated than that. Timothy LaPara, a professor in the state and federal scientists, and social Department of Civil, Environmental, scientists, are quickly discovering. Even though wild rice is finicky about and Geo- Engineering, are looking at its physical environment, it also exists First, wild rice depends on clean antibiotics as well as other common in a social and political ecosystem. water. Even sulfate, an otherwise cleaning agents and their derivatives While it is of casual concern to many relatively benign pollutant, interacts in the environment. Minnesotans, the grass is of vital with microbes in lake and stream cultural and spiritual importance “It’s a huge challenge, because there sediments to form toxic sulfide, which to Great Lakes Ojibwe tribes who are new compounds constantly severely limits wild rice growth. for much of their history have been coming to market,” Arnold said. “We know that microbes play a really sidelined in environmental decisions. While companies test the safety of important role in the availability of Tribes are seeing declines in wild rice the compounds themselves, relatively nutrients and type of pollutants that production on their lands and other little attention has been given to the are in the water, but we’re just starting areas in northeastern Minnesota and

FALL 2018 9 the landscapes of Minnesota, but the Cultural Enhancement Program. “I Wild rice is extremely, Bands’ current natural resource orga- personally came to realize that the nizations measure and manage lakes, issues we’re facing and dealing with in profoundly important rivers, and other ecosystems using Wisconsin are pretty consistent across for Native American both traditional and modern Western the region.” “ methods. In my experience, they are communities throughout much more enthusiastic about using New information on wild rice habi- the Great Lakes region. innovative methods than agencies and tats, he added, can better protect this So, protecting it is other resource managers.” important resource. really much more than To gain trust and establish rapport “Manoomin has no state or county boundaries on where it will grow just a matter of a with Indian tribes, the CSE researchers have spent weeks traveling to tribal and provide sustenance,” Chapman food resource. leaders in wild rice country. “We just noted. “We recognize it as an indi- really needed to listen at first,” Ng said. cator of healthy niibii [water] and GENE-HUA CRYSTAL NG hope this project educates our future In fact, for a while, Ng wondered if generations.” they would even be able to do any Wisconsin where Indians and” non-In- real fieldwork. But several tribes have Promising polymers dians gather it in late summer. proffered research and monitored sites Here’s the problem with plastics— “Wild rice is extremely, profoundly on tribal land. they’re strong, durable, and conve- important for Native American com- nient. Doesn’t sound like a problem, “Ojibwe tribes in manoomin [wild does it? But because of those qualities, munities throughout the Great Lakes rice] country are enthused to be given region,” Ng explained. “For the Ojibwe plastics are ubiquitous and hang the opportunity to work on a collab- around forever. Unfortunately, much people, their migration story is linked orative research project of this type,” to this food that grows on water. So, of it ends up in our waterways or cir- said Eric Chapman, a treaty resource cling endlessly in mid-oceanic gyres. protecting it is really much more than manager from Lac du Flambeau, Wis- just a matter of a food resource. It’s consin. “We appreciate the research Marine animals become entangled deeply, deeply tied to their identity.” team listening to some of our oral in this persistent trash and even teachings and respecting what they do choke on it. Sea birds on Lord Howe As a result, the research, which is also not yet understand.” Island near Australia were discov- funded by the Institute on the Envi- ered to be so filled with plastic they ronment, took on a new dimension— The groundwork coalesced into a con- couldn’t eat. A sperm whale that partnerships with many Native Ameri- ference earlier this year with research- washed ashore in Spain was packed can bands who depend on wild rice. ers and nearly 40 tribal representatives with 64 pounds of plastic. from 12 bands and four inter-tribal “The central tenet of this project is organizations in Minnesota and “The durability of plastics is both that we examine what our Native Wisconsin who are committed to, or their strong suit and their Achilles’ partners want us to examine,” said interested in, the study. heel,” said chemistry professor Marc Amy Myrbo, a research associate in Hillmyer, director of the University the University’s LacCore/CSDCO “The project has been very reward- of Minnesota Center for Sustainable facility within the Department of ing thus far, and there was lots of Polymers. Earth Sciences who has published on good discussion at the conference,” wild rice and sulfate with the Minne- said William Graveen, a technician Hillmyer and his students are deter- sota Pollution Control Agency. “Not with the Lac du Flambeau Band of mined to develop new polymers that only do they have long histories in Lake Superior Chippewa Wild Rice can serve an environmentally sustain-

10 INVENTING TOMORROW trick O’Leary trick Photo by Pa

CSE researchers Crystal Ng (left), Amy Myrbo (center), and Cara Santelli are partnering with Great Lakes tribes on a University Grand Challenges initiative that uses wild rice as a flagship for clean water.

FALL 2018 11 by Patrick O’Leary Patrick by Photo

At the Center for Sustainable Polymers, director Marc Hillmyer (left) heads a team of students and post-docs who are finding new ways to make better plastics—ones that are easier to recycle and won’t clog up our waterways.

12 INVENTING TOMORROW able economy and solve some of the new polymers help blend the disparate be more effective than present-day water pollution concerns that plastics plastics into a usable product. commercial water filters. themselves currently create. A second class of new renewable “It acts as a colander for very small

by Patrick O’Leary Patrick by Most plastic is derived from petro- polymers are stretchy “elastomers” things,” Hillmyer said. “Our basic leum—five to 10 percent of the oil that perform just as well as petro- research efforts have allowed us to Photo we pump from the ground is used leum-based products and could be move the science in a direction that for plastic. The first complication useful for rubber bands, gaskets, we think will allow us to efficiently is that the oil feedstock itself is not clothing, and sporting goods but manufacture these. That’s where the renewable. The second is that these can be composted. The center is also research is still ongoing.” petroleum-based materials, while du- developing bio-based foams, such as rable, are difficult to recycle and take those found in chair cushions, that With further development, such a nearly forever to break down in the can replace oil-based products. polymer filter might be used to filter environment. drinking water—in something as com-

At the Center for Sustainable Poly- mers, researchers are discovering and refining renewable raw materials— The durability of plastics is both their strong suit such as plant-derived sugars and oils— for durable plastics that will be easily and their Achilles’ heel.

recycled or even composted when MARC HILLMYER we’re done with them so they don’t “ end up in lakes, rivers, and oceans. In addition to making plastics easier pact as a hand-held pump for camping “If you start from corn or some plant to recycle, Hillmyer and his students or as large as a municipal water” system. and you turn it into a degradable plas- are finding new ways to make poly- It might also be used in wastewater tic, when it biodegrades it turns back mers (i.e., the molecules of plastics) treatment, to filter out bacteria, heavy into carbon dioxide and water, which that can help the environment. For metals, and even chemical toxins. are the building blocks for the plant. example, postdoctoral fellow Tho- That’s related to the circular economy mas Vidil and Nicholas Hampu, a “We’re looking for both industrial idea,” said Hillmyer, also a McKnight graduate student in the Department partners and research grants to be able Presidential Endowed Chair and of Chemical Engineering and to continue to push the fundamental Distinguished University Teaching Materials Science, engineered “block science to a point where we’re confident Professor. “This is a big challenge in polymer” molecules to self-assemble we can go into a development or man- our field, and it’s going to take the into a membrane full of holes that are ufacturing stage,” Hillmyer explained. modern tools of chemistry to solve only about 10 nanometers across— Hillmyer said scientists have an that challenge.” smaller than most viruses. obligation to develop new plastics to The center is making progress on sever- Vidil and Hampu used a process called solve water pollution concerns be- al fronts. For example, renewable poly- the order-disorder transition to cre- cause, while water is vital to a modern mers being developed there can boost ate a membrane with uniformly tiny society, so are plastics. the recycling rate of plastics. (Less than passages from one side to the other “We’re not going to get rid of plastics 10 percent of plastic that has ever been that is both highly permeable but also anytime soon,” he noted. “I see the re- produced has been recycled.) A big effective in trapping small particles. search that we’re doing contributing in worry is the mixing of incompatible The result is an efficient nanoporous a positive way to sustainability issues.” plastics in consumer recycling. The “ultrafilteration membrane” that could

FALL 2018 13 ALUMNI FEATURE

Rain, Rain, Written by MAJA BECKSTROM Go Away...

Another hurricane season is ending, but clean-up and rebuilding efforts continue

very fall, we turn on the news Kenton Spading: Restoring and see high winds, lashing infrastructure to rebuild lives E rains, and swollen rivers rav- When the flood waters recede, Kenton aging coastal residents in the Spading (Civil Engineering ’84) comes United States. Hurricane season peaks be- to town. Spading, a hydrologist with the tween August and October—and this year U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in St. Paul, we’ve met Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, helped communities in the aftermath of Florence, Michael... But who can forget the Hurricane Harvey. deadly storms of 2017? Houston suffered record rainfall, floods, and deaths from The storm dropped torrential rain on Texas Hurricane Harvey. Puerto Rico, which was coastal cities in August 2017. Four feet of slammed by two Category 4 hurricanes in water fell in Houston. A record-setting five less than a month, is still in ruins. feet dropped on towns east of the Louisi- ana border. Floods wiped out cotton fields, We look back a year to Hurricanes Harvey shut down oil refineries, and inundated and Maria with three College of Science hundreds of thousands of homes. and Engineering alumni.

14 INVENTING TOMORROW DID YOU KNOW? “Harvey” was retired from the hurricane name list in April 2018 because of extensive destruction. $215 billion Total damage caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Maria, both Category 4 storms. 3 Days Consecutive time Hurricane Irma held on to Category 5 status in the Atlantic, but even more impressive was that it kept its peak intensity—185 mph—for 37 hours and set a world record. 80% of New Orleans was underwater after Hurricane Katrina broke the city’s levee system. 1,000+ Number of commercial flights canceled when Florence hit the East Coast this September. 1900 Year of the Great Galveston Hurricane—it remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, killing at least 8,000 people. The Weather Bureau, predecessor to the National Weather Service, was only 10 years old.

FALL 2018 15 We’d go out and say, ‘Show us your damage.’ And they’d say, ‘Here’s where the [water treatment “ plant] was. KENTON SPADING

Three months after the deluge, From 2008 to 2011, Spading lived the Corps sent Spading to inspect the one week each month in New” Or- damage to public infrastructure. He leans, managing construction of a Photo courtesy Acara courtesy Photo assessed roads, culverts, parks, public section of the flood wall that Con- buildings, and schools. One focus gress voted to build around the city. was water and sewage systems. The system has already kept out one water, all those pumps burn out and storm, he said, but it won’t protect the entire system goes down.” “Eight hundred towns in Texas were against a big one. without sewer or water after the The Texas eastern coast will always be hurricane,” said Spading, who lived In Texas this past year, he supervised flood prone, he said. It’s the conse- and worked out of Beaumont, Texas a team for the FEMA public assis- quence of flat and swampy terrain for two months. “Almost 600 towns tance program, which distributes that traces its origins to ancient geol- were still being advised to boil wa- federal money to local governments ogy. When the glaciers melted they created a massive river flowing south. ter as of Thanksgiving. We’d go out and tribes to rebuild following a Presidential disaster declaration. His and say, ‘Show us your damage.’ And team took photographs and submitted “It spread out across Texas and they’d say, ‘Here’s where the [water reports that were used to determine Mississippi and Louisiana and cre- treatment plant] was.” eligible projects and cost estimates. ated a monster delta,” said Spading. “From Corpus Christi, Texas, all the Spading has a lot of experience In the case of Hurricane Harvey, the way to Biloxi, Mississippi, that’s one, helping rebuild after floods. After federal government is paying for 90 huge ancient river delta, full of muck Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the Army percent of reconstruction. Spading’s and mud. You’ve got Houston and Corps sent him to Florida, where he team also documented ways to reduce damage in future storms by diverting all these cities sitting on top of that. identified sites to set up mobile homes water or putting in levees. Another That’s the challenge.” and met families living in the backs suggestion? Replace existing sewage of their cars. After Hurricane Katrina pumps with submersible pumps that After working for the Corps in St. in 2005, he headed to Mississippi can run underwater. Paul for 30 years, Spading officially to reopen courthouses so flooded retired in 2015. For the past three homeowners could access property “There isn’t enough slope in the land summers, he’s advised students in the titles and apply for loans to rebuild. to have gravity flow for the sewers,” University of Minnesota Institute on The Federal Emergency Management Spading explained. So everything is the Environment’s multidisciplinary Agency (FEMA) team brought in re- pumped—pumped to the street, then Acara program and traveled with frigerated trucks to freeze records and pumped down the block. A small them to India for a three-week course prevent mold until the documents town will have 500 pumps or more, in sustainable development. He could be salvaged. and when you get that much rain also joined a Corps cadre of retired

16 INVENTING TOMORROW employees who are hired for specif- Restoring infrastructure helps rebuild and several chemical and plastic ic projects. In that capacity, he was lives. “I really, really adore that kind plants nearby produce other products, tapped to be lead project manager of work,” he said. ranging from butyl used in car tires for the Environmental Impact State- to polyethylene found in shrink wrap. ment and the Corps’ Clean Water Act Jay Axness: Addressing a For safety, almost everything had to wetland permit review of the PolyMet different sense of urgency be shut down when the storm hit. NorthMet copper-nickel mine in When hurricanes hit Texas, our oil “You can’t just flip a switch,” Axness northeastern Minnesota. supply is affected. The Gulf Coast is said. “It takes a long time to shut the center of the U.S. refining indus- Spading says he was glad to be sent down and even longer to start up. It’s try and nearly a dozen refineries were to Texas, where his skills could help not like an assembly line where you forced to halt operations in Corpus people. He recalled one person who can turn the conveyor belt off and Christi, Houston, and Port Arthur/ invited his team over to chat. Without then back on again.” Beaumont. The closures took out 20 sewer and water service, the family percent of the U.S. refinery capacity. was using an outdoor portable toilet While a small crew worked and University of Minnesota alumnus Jay and sterilizing water on the stove slept on air mattresses at the refinery Axness (Mechanical Engineering ’08) because buying bottled water had during the storm, Axness worked helped get gasoline flowing again. become too expensive. from home, keeping tabs on the engi- neers who reported to him. Amazing- Axness was a section supervisor “This guy was trying to dry out fam- ly, none suffered major flooding, even overseeing 20 engineers at ExxonMo- ily photos on his dining room table, though many buildings in Houston bil’s Baytown Area facilities just east and scraps of memorabilia he’d saved stood in more than four feet of of Houston, one of the largest pet- from the flood,” said Spading. “Mean- water. The city’s drainage system was rochemical complexes in the world. while the place where he worked had overwhelmed by the deluge and many Baytown Refinery itself processes been under five feet of water. So, he streets became a secondary drainage 580,000 barrels of crude oil daily was also looking for a new job.” system, making travel impossible.

By the time Axness returned to the refinery, the flood had receded. The first priority was to repair the re- finery’s docks and clear debris from the Houston Shipping Channel so gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel could be brought in by tankers from facilities not affected by the hurricane. Pan- icked consumers were stockpiling fuel and prices had gone up.

“People were going to gas stations and filling up their vehicle and then filling Photo by Patrick Loch/U.S. Army corps of Engineers several five-gallon containers,” he said. “They were doing gas runs, like a run on a bank. People were creating Kenton Spading (second from left) and colleagues from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2009 observe work on a levee surrounding St. Bernard Parish, a gas shortage where we may not have Louisana. otherwise had one.”

FALL 2018 17 Once enough gasoline, diesel, and jet mechanical and it was basically find where the storm knocked out the fuel was flowing to meet immediate out what needs to get done and find city’s water system, engineers from the needs, teams turned to the refinery. someone in the right discipline who offline Beaumont refinery used their Axness worked in an incident re- wasn’t dealing with flooding at home expertise to help the city build eight sponse room dispatching engineers to and get them there.” temporary pipelines to pump water make inspections and repairs wherev- from the Neches River. er they were needed. During the several weeks it took to get the refinery back up, off-duty By the time the hurricane hit, Ax- “It felt a little like a call center,” he ExxonMobil employees volunteered ness had worked nine years in the oil said. “I was lead for all engineering. with the American Red Cross and industry. He began his career with an I sat right next to operations and other relief efforts. In Beaumont, internship through the University’s co-op program with ExxonMobil in Houston. “I enjoyed the work and the team and challenges, so I decid- Jay Axness worked at the ExxonMobil Baytown Refinery during ed to come full time,” he said. He’s Hurricane Harvey. The petrochemical facility, which produces 580,000 barrels of crude oil daily, was shut down after the hurricane. always worked with “fixed equip- ment,” which includes valves, pipes, storage tanks, reactors, distillation towers, and pretty much anything that doesn’t have rotating parts. The oil industry also divides itself into upstream, midstream, and down- stream operations. Upstream explores and drills for crude oil or natural gas. Midstream focuses on transporting it, in pipelines or trucks.

Downstream, which is where Axness works, takes crude and turns it into something useful, “whether it’s motor gasoline or jet fuel or the chemical products that go into making plas- tic or rubber or wax,” said Axness. “People don’t realize it, but almost anything you use on a daily basis is impacted by oil and gas.”

Axness’ regular duties involved over- seeing fixed equipment during sched- uled maintenance “turnarounds,” when a portion of the refinery is shut down for inspection and repairs. Restarting Baytown after Harvey involved similar tasks and long hours. But being part of the broader recovery effort made it feel different. Photo by Brian McFatridge/ExxonMobil Brian by Photo 18 INVENTING TOMORROW “In the middle of the hurricane recovery we had multiple sites shut down and not producing gasoline for people’s cars, not producing jet fuel,” he said. “Ultimately, I was doing what we do every day, but this had a differ- ent sense of urgency and perspective.” Photo courtesy Ruben Otero De Leon

Ruben Otero De Leon: Puerto Rico flashback When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico last year, it knocked out power to the entire island. Nearly three- and-a-half million people were left Ruben Otero De Leon believes microgrid generators can help Puerto without electricity, some for months, Rico weather future power failures caused by hurricanes. including the family of Ruben Otero De Leon (Electrical Engineering M.S. ’15, Ph.D. ’17). couldn’t operate vital respiratory job as an energy storage engineer “Everybody was worried,” said Otero equipment or refrigerate medicines with PowerSecure. He’s installed a De Leon, who couldn’t reach his such as insulin. The loss of life is still microgrid battery storage system on a parents for a week. Now, more than being calculated and it’s forced Puerto North Carolina pig farm that collects a year later, the CSE alumnus, who Rico to assess its electrical infrastruc- electricity generated by methane gas grew up in Puerto Rico and works ture. Today, most transmission and and worked on a demonstration hous- for an energy technology company distribution lines have been repaired, ing development in Alabama, which in North Carolina, may play a role but the grid remains fragile and just includes several hundred kilowatts in improving the reliability of the as likely to get knocked down again of solar panels, battery storage, and a island’s electrical grid. by another big storm. natural gas generator as backup. Most recently, he installed a system at the Following the storm, Otero De Leon’s Otero De Leon, and others in his U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range father ran a small diesel generator field, believe decentralizing and di- Facility in Hawaii. every morning to charge a car battery versifying power generation may help that powered essentials, including the island weather the future. Microg- Now Puerto Rico is soliciting bids to lights, a refrigerator, and cell phones. rids—small, self-sufficient power grids create microgrids. Companies such It wasn’t strong enough to run the that incorporate renewable sources— as Tesla and Sonnen are designing washing machine, however, so his are one solution. projects. PowerSecure, which repaired mother washed clothes by hand, just power lines on the U.S. territory, may When he was an undergraduate at the also get involved, said Otero De Leon. as she had as a child. University of Puerto Rico–Mayaguez, “She said she was going back in time,” Otero De Leon spent a summer at the “That would be very exciting,” he Otero De Leon recalled. “But they University of Minnesota researching said. “Some sections of the island were among the lucky who got power power electronics with Professor Ned could keep drawing power from the [back] in January.” Mohan. This led to graduate studies microgrids even if the main public in CSE, where he was a Carl and grid collapsed. And maybe people Others, especially with medical Ethel Swanson scholar. Ultimately, could manage a little better.” concerns, weren’t so fortunate. They Otero De Leon landed his present

FALL 2018 19 STUDENT FEATURE

DEEP Written by SUSAN MAAS ANALYSIS Three students talk about their role in water-related projects

Students who jump at the opportu- Michael Fulton: Tinkering in in Montréal, Canada. In the year nity to partner with faculty typically different buoyancies since, Fulton said, the autonomous end up learning more—about them- What has six legs, lives at the Uni- submersible has changed a lot. selves and their areas of interest— versity of Minnesota, and spends than they expect. They also get to “I don’t think it had even hit the time at the pool once a month? The turn research into conference pre- water when it got here, except maybe answer: Minnebot, the amphibious sentations, journal publications, and a test in a small bath,” Fulton said. robot that ultimately could help im- entrepreneurial ventures. What isn’t Since then, the IRV Lab team—five as common is finding themselves, on prove our knowledge of water quality Ph.D. students plus about five under- top of everything else, recalibrating a in the state—and beyond. grads at any given time—has worked robot in Barbados, thwarting mis- constantly on Minnebot: testing, Michael Fulton, a second-year chievous geese while combating algae adjusting, upgrading. Ph.D. student in the Department of blooms, or simulating how bubbles Computer Science and Engineering, form in turbulent flows to protect “Water quality, pollution control, national security. “met” the robot in September 2017, a and aquatic invasive species are few months after its arrival to the In- really interesting to me,” Fulton Three CSE students recently boiled teractive Robotics and Vision (IRV) said. “Municipal water monitoring, down their faculty-led research en- Lab on the Twin Cities campus from for example, is one application I’m deavors for us. Independent Robotics Inc., a startup studying. I’ve read a lot of DNR

20 INVENTING TOMORROW Photo by Ackerman + Gruber

water quality reports, which are based tar’s studies involving human-to-robot Another challenge that’s unique to on human measurements. If we could communication, or enabling humans underwater robots is vision—being use Minnebot to do that same job, we and Minnebot to communicate with able to obtain usable images to collect could potentially increase the number each other. For instance, one student data (for instance, on water quality). of readings and improve the state of in the lab has developed a hand-ges- “The trouble is that underwater, most our waters.” ture interface, where you make images are distorted,” Fulton said. gestures to the robot and control it “You have turbidity, you have varying But there’s plenty to do before Minne- that way. Fulton, on the other hand, is light conditions, you have algae. But bot is ready to fulfill its purpose. doing the reverse. we’ve done some fantastic work on improving underwater image quality.” “It’s definitely a work in progress,” “I’m working on robot-to-human Fulton said. “There are always new in- The group brings Minnebot to the interface—using the robot’s motion, novations happening. I think everyone University Recreation and Wellness starting with having the robot nod its in robotics, to a certain extent, is a tin- Center monthly for a full day of pool head or shake its head and moving on kerer—that’s just the way our brains trials. That entails hours of packing work. We’re never fully satisfied.” to more complicated things, like point- up before and after, Fulton said. ing,” he said. “It needs to be efficient, it Much of the group’s work revolves needs to be natural, and it needs to be In June, they also brought it to Lake around IRV lab director Junaed Sat- foolproof—especially underwater.” Nokomis in south Minneapolis for

FALL 2018 21 Photo by Ackerman + Gruber

CSE graduate student Michael Fulton (right) and his faculty advisor Junaed Sattar are using the Aqua 8 Minnebot to better understand how robots can detect water quality, marine pollution, and aquatic invasive species.

more of a real-world experience. And “But [the 2018 trip] was a really great fixing things, and you try again the in February, Fulton and Sattar, his experience because, up until that next day.” faculty advisor, along with other IRV point, it hadn’t been in saltwater. Salt Lab colleagues, will bring Minnebot and freshwater have entirely differ- Overall, however, “our field trials have on its second trip to Barbados for tri- ent buoyancies,” he explained. “We gone pretty well,” he added. “Our als at the Bellairs Research Institute. have lead plates and small anodized work on underwater robotics has weights that we screw onto it to weigh resulted in collaborations with, and While Barbados is a great place to be it down. Our first day, we spent the visits from, other labs in spite of us in late winter, Fulton said, the week is entire time just doing that.” Later the being a young lab.” a “marathon” of 16-hour workdays. group discovered that the hand-ges- ture communications they’d been us- Fulton is grateful to have followed ing back on campus weren’t working. Sattar, his undergraduate professor and mentor at Clarkson University Watch z.umn.edu/Minnebotvideo “You try something in the pool and it in upstate New York, to the Twin to learn more about the IRV works fine, then you take it out to the Cities. “I applied to other schools, but Lab in the new Gemini-Huntley Robotics Research Laboratory. ocean and it doesn’t work,” he said. I knew: If I get into the University of “So you recalibrate. You stay up late Minnesota, I’m going,” he said.

22 INVENTING TOMORROW “Our work in the IRV lab is very “The roots grow below the matrix, about ecology—and specifically, exciting. You learn anything and you so they’re just floating in the water,” water. “My grandmother didn’t have pass it on. I’ve had a few experiences Merino Franco explained. They gath- running water,” said the first-gener- trading ideas with professors, and it’s er algae and microbes and “absorb ation college student, who received great—I’m so glad I decided to come a lot of phosphorus and nitrogen,” the University’s Thomas W. and Lynn here.” thereby helping clean the water B. Rusch Scholarship. “And I remem- around them. The microbes host- ber when I was in first grade, our Maria Camila Merino Franco: ed by the roots also provide a food school mascot was a drop of water.” Letting nature do its work source for aquatic wildlife. The recycled, BPA-free plastic struc- Like many Minnesotans, Maria “It’s such a simple idea—letting na- tures are produced by a company Camila Merino Franco spent a good ture do its work,” said Merino Franco. called Floating Island International, portion of her summer out on the And it embodies the kind of work she whose subsidiary, Midwest Floating water. Unlike most, she spent that hopes to do as a BBE graduate. Island, is based in St. Paul. So far, time taking drone pictures, measur- the matrices seem to survive Min- ing native wetland plant growth, and Merino Franco, whose family moved nesota winters just fine. Each island building goose-deterrent fencing. to Minnesota from Colombia eight is anchored more or less in place by years ago, has always been concerned Merino Franco, a senior in the De- cement barrels. “That way it can move partment of Bioproducts and Biosys- tems Engineering (BBE), earned an Undergraduate Research Opportuni- Bioproducts and biosystems engineering majors Sydney Peyerl and ties Program (UROP) grant that al- Katelyn Younger worked with Maria Camila Merino Franco to launch lowed her to work with BBE research floating wetlands in Lake Fleming, Minn. professor Joe Magner on a novel project aimed at improving water quality in Minnesota ponds and lakes. From May to November, she managed several specially designed “floating wetland” islands at two different sites.

Excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen are a problem across the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Resulting mostly from fertilizer and agricul- tural runoff, they fuel algae blooms that endanger freshwater fish, form attachment sites for pollutants, turn the water an unsightly green, and even jeopardize human health. The floating island concept—also called Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs)—revolves around a buoyant matrix structure made of recycled plastic and covered by various native wetland plants.

Photo courtesy Maria Camila Merino Franco Merino Camila Maria courtesy Photo FALL 2018 23 around a little, but not too much,” The first concern was replanting. To the islands. “We invited him to come Merino Franco said. spare the expense and logistics of out on the boat with us, and after hauling all new plants up to Aitkin, we [showed him] and talked to him What’s planted on them varies the team decided to try starting from more about it, he was very interested,” depending on what grows easily and seeds the second time around. The Merino Franco said—even offering to naturally in a specific region. “Be- next issue was preventing the geese “adopt” an island next year. cause you’re using native plants, these from wreaking havoc again. The Merino Franco loved the experience islands look different in different team tried planting bamboo poles at of combining research, working with areas,” she said. “You want them to intervals around the islands, but “they a professor, collaborating with a pri- come back every year, and you want just used them as an obstacle course,” vate enterprise, and interacting with them to support pollinators and pro- Merino Franco said. What did work local residents to build support for the vide habitat.” was a simple fence, made of posts and project. “You can offer a solution,” she one strategically placed wire, around The islands Merino Franco managed said, “but if the people who live there the island perimeter. “They trip over and monitored are in a stormwater don’t want to implement it, it’s not it,” she laughed. Problem solved. going anywhere.”

Mrugank Bhatt: More to bubbles than you think You can offer a solution, but if the people who Mrugank Bhatt is immersed in bub- live there don’t want to implement it, it’s not bles. Specifically, the Ph.D. student in the Department of Aerospace Engi- “ going anywhere. neering and Mechanics (AEM) stud- ies cavitation—the formation of vapor MARIA CAMILA MERINO FRANCO bubbles in liquid. Cavitation typically happens when a liquid is exposed to a rapid drop in pressure. retention pond in Vadnais Heights, a This summer, the Fleming ”Lake “If you have a container of water and Twin Cities suburb, as well as Flem- islands proved popular hangouts you heat it up to 100 degrees Celsius, ing Lake in northern Minnesota’s for blue herons and otters—which the water becomes vapor and you Aitkin County. They’re planted with thankfully don’t share the destructive have bubbles. The same can happen bulrush, ironweed, wool grass, swamp habits of Canada geese. Merino Fran- if you drop the pressure significantly milkweed, and common rush. Last co spent much of her time in Aitkin without changing the temperature,” year, a problem emerged that she was monitoring the plants’ growth, often Bhatt explained. “The latter is why able to help solve when her UROP using a borrowed drone to capture you see bubbles forming on rapidly tenure began. photographs at different intervals. rotating marine propulsors.” His research aims to yield a better under- “The geese pulled out a lot of our She even came to work closely with standing of when this process starts plants on Fleming Lake—about 80 one landowner, a retired engineer and how it develops. percent of them! And the [human] who offered the use of his pontoon residents around the lake weren’t hap- boat, and she earned the approval of Cavitation is significant in several py about that,” Merino Franco said. another local who initially opposed contexts. In marine applications, it’s

24 INVENTING TOMORROW Bioproducts and biosystems engineering senior Maria Camila Merino Franco spent the summer managing 20 “floating islands”—four in Vadnais Heights and 16 in Fleming Lake Photo by Pauline Oo

FALL 2018 25 Photo by Patrick O'Leary

Aerospace engineering graduate students (left to right) Filipe Brandão, Mrugank Bhatt, and Aditya Madabhushi are part of a multi-year cavitation study funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. Their faculty advisor Krishnan Mahesh is the project’s lead investigator.

26 INVENTING TOMORROW typically problematic. It’s a cause of noise, vibrations, and material dam- What we learn here can be applied in many other age. Finding a way to predict precisely when and how cavitation will oc- fields. For instance, in biomedical contexts, we can cur—thereby helping design efficient use ultrasound to form and direct the collapse of these Photo by Patrick O'Leary marine propulsion systems—is the “ purpose of this project Bhatt’s been cavitation bubbles to break up kidney stones. working on for the past year, funded MRUGANK BHATT by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI). are working on the experimental side, ingly the sound speed drops signifi- Bhatt said. cantly, which makes the problem ” “What we learn here can be applied more challenging.” in many other fields,” he explained. AEM graduate students Aditya “For instance, in biomedical contexts, Madabhushi and Filipe Brandão are Although the MURI project is just we can use ultrasound to form and also part of the study. Madabhushi over a year old, Bhatt’s been studying direct the collapse of these cavitation is exploring cavitation inception in cavitation with Professor Mahesh for bubbles to break up kidney stones. vortex interaction, while Brandão is nearly four years. He’s enjoying the And sonoporation—using bubbles working on how non-condensable gas chance to collaborate with researchers to increase the permeability of cell can influence bubble formation. from different universities and differ- membranes—can be used for directed ent disciplines. drug delivery to a particular organ.” Most of what’s known about cav- itation, Bhatt said, has only been “We have people from chemistry The MURI project is led by AEM learned in the past century, starting working on this, looking at the Professor Krishnan Mahesh, a recipi- with the work of British physicist molecular properties that then can be ent of the college’s George W. Taylor Lord Rayleigh. “The majority of the used for computations at macroscopic Award for Distinguished Research computational work has been done level…people from computer science and Guillermo E. Borja Award. The in the past two or three decades,” he using the latest machine-learning University of Minnesota team is col- explained, with the advent of super- algorithms, people from mathemat- laborating on it with researchers from computing. “It really speeds up the ics, and so on,” he said. They “meet” Caltech, UC Santa Barbara, Univer- calculations—you get results much biweekly via WebEx, with faculty and sity of Iowa, University of Michigan, more quickly. students from various universities tak- MIT, Johns Hopkins, and the Austra- ing turns presenting, and the whole lian Maritime College. “Part of my work is taking the team gathers in person once a year, current base code and enabling it to Bhatt said. In Minnesota, Bhatt said, their focus do a higher time step. I’ve worked is on computational modeling—con- on something called implicit time “I like that people with expertise in ducting simulations on supercom- marching, which can allow faster different areas are coming together puters. Their numerical work fuels calculation of cavitation equations,” and sharing their knowledge.” and complements the experiments Bhatt said. “It’s much easier when you performed by team members at have a single phase in the flow— Michigan, Johns Hopkins, and the either just water or just vapor. When Australian Maritime College, who you have a mixture of both, interest-

FALL 2018 27 Investing in Tomorrow You’ve heard the adage “Pay it forward,” “The class gift represents our recognition of right? Instead of paying back the person who the hard work and rigor that future graduating did something for you directly, you pass it classes will put in,” said Nessim (Chemical on to another person instead. Last spring, Engineering, Chemistry). Nessim understands our Class of 2018 graduating seniors in the the significance of philanthropy. During her KIM DOCKTER Departments of Chemical Engineering and years at CSE, she received three alumni-fund- Senior Director, Materials Science (CEMS) and Civil, Environ- ed scholarships—the Ed and Cora Remus External Relations mental and Geo- Engineering (CEGE) decided Scholarship, the Christie John Geankoplis [email protected] to do exactly this. Scholarship, and the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Scholarship. GET CAMPAIGN These two inspiring classes recognized that UPDATES AT every CSE student benefits in a variety of The CEGE class leaders are striving for a 50 cse.umn.edu/giving ways from the gifts of time, talent, and trea- percent participation rate among their class- sure given by our alumni and benefactors— mates. Their class gift—led by Kade Kearney, To make a gift or whether through scholarships, renovated labs Michael DeMars, Sami Kinnunen, and Lee learn more, call me: 612-626-9385 and facilities, mentoring, interview coaching, Werner—will help establish a scholarship for and more. In recognition of the many ways one deserving CEGE student each year. “Not alumni and friends help CSE students, the many students understand the importance graduating seniors decided to “pay it forward” of alumni donations, as we just assume our and help future undergraduates by establish- tuition pays for every luxury offered to us in ing the College’s first senior class gift program. the department,” said Kearney (Environmen- tal Engineering), also a recipient of several scholarships.

No matter the purpose—scholarships, fellowships, Many of you have already joined Driven: The Campaign for the College of Science and faculty support, facilities—every gift counts... Engineering by making a gift—thank you! As “ the work of our enterprising and dedicated KIM DOCKTER recent alumni demonstrates, gifts of every size matter. I invite you to join our students in Proceeds from the CEMS class gift campaign— paying it forward. led by 2018 alumni Alec Logeman, Elizabeth” Nessim, and Nicholas Volkenant—will be used No matter the purpose—scholarships, fellow- to upgrade the undergraduate student lounge ships, faculty support, facilities—every gift and increase department scholarships. The counts toward our $250 million campaign goal. faculty in CEMS jumped on board to help the Together, you help us to achieve our goals of class reach its goal by matching $26 per stu- providing a world-class education to the next dent donor. More than one-third of the class generation of scientists and engineers, and participated in the effort by making a philan- finding solutions to the world’s most pressing thropic gift. problems. Please join us today.

28 INVENTING TOMORROW MAKE A GIFT Land O’Lakes gift for student learning If you’d like to support a and industry studies project you read about in this magazine, or are curious about The Department of Me- department-specific opportuni- chanical Engineering has a ties, contact us today: new wind tunnel. The gift— an 8-foot-tall, 11.5-feet- Courtney Billing Chemical Engineering and wide, and 23-feet-long Materials Science wind tunnel—arrived from WinField United, a wholly 612-626-9501 • [email protected] Hernandez Marcos by Photo owned subsidiary of Land Jennifer Clarke O’Lakes. Industrial and Systems Engineering Mechanical Engineering The low-speed subsonic wind tunnel, capable of 612-626-9354 • [email protected] producing wind speeds of Anastacia Davis up to 15 miles per hour and Electrical and Computer Engineering simulating the tiny drop- Institute for Math and its Applications lets from boom sprays in 612-625-4509 • [email protected] Steven Fredericks (center), a post-doctoral associate in farm fields, will help both Professor Chris Hogan’s lab, manages most of the wind- tunnel activities. undergraduate and gradu- Raechelle Drakeford ate students gain valuable Corporate Partnerships skills and experience in 612-626-6874 • [email protected] high-tech agriculture research. It also enables CSE researchers—namely Chris Hogan, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Ber- Kathy Peters-Martell nard Olson, director of the Particle Calibration Laboratory—to partner Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics with WinField United on better understanding how to target crop-pro- Chemistry tection products and prevent over-spraying. 612-626-8282 • [email protected] Olson’s former lab assistant, Daniel Bissell (Aerospace Engineering ’10), Emily Strand was responsible for making the corporate gift possible. Bissel, a senior Computer Science and Engineering research engineer at WinField United, had suggested his alma mater. Medical Devices Center Within days, he was tasked with developing and executing a plan for School of Mathematics the long-term collaboration. 612-625-6798 • [email protected] “Land O’Lakes and WinField United have long recognized the scien- Shannon Weiher tific expertise at the University of Minnesota,” said Bissell. “My hope Biomedical Engineering with this wind tunnel donation is that Dr. Hogan, Dr. Olson, their Earth Sciences colleagues, and students will advance agriculture and enable farm- School of Physics and Astronomy ers to get the most out of each acre.” 612-624-5543 • [email protected] Land O’Lakes has invested nearly $930,000 in the College of Shannon Wolkerstorfer Science and Engineering since 1992. This includes a three-year Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering sponsorship of the Center for Sustainable Polymers to find new History of Science, Technology, and Medicine uses for skim milk powder. Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory 612-625-6035 • [email protected]

FALL 2018 29 92 and counting Written by PAULINE OO Faculty emeritus finds joy in supporting students through philanthropy

For many people, retirement means What kind of student were you? flying off to faraway lands and never When I was at the University of Wiscon- stepping foot in the office again. Way- sin, I graduated with a cumulative GPA land Noland isn’t like most people. of 4.0. I really lucked out. The 92-year-old professor emeritus of So, how did you end up here? chemistry still spends the bulk of his I grew up in Madison, but I came to the days in his Smith Hall office. If he’s not University of Minnesota because they reading or writing a paper, he’s consult- gave me a job. Minneapolis was like a ing with the 9 or 10 researchers in his big version of Madison—a green, nice four labs on the Twin Cities campus. city with lakes. In fact, since he officially retired in Did you get financial help in college? 2016—64 years with the same employ- I did. A major help at the start was er—Noland has “been working harder veteran’s benefits. I was drafted near than I ever have before,” he said. “And the end of World War II and served for the motivation is to get a bunch of pa- 11 months. I was trained as a medic and pers published on research that we’ve surgical technician in preparation for already done or are doing.” the invasion of Japan. But I never went Philanthropy is another activity close over because of the atomic bomb. to his heart. Noland has six endowed How do you decide to give money? funds that support both undergraduate The field of philanthropy is very large. and graduate students in the College of You have people who give a little bit Science and Engineering. He made his of money to a whole lot of different first gift to the University of Minnesota things, on the one extreme, and you in 1984. He endowed his first fund, the have people who give a large amount Wayland E. Noland Fellowship in Organ- to a few things. I have probably been ic Chemistry, in 2000 and started giving within the 10 percent on the latter side. to the general college fund in 2004. Wayland Noland was the macebearer for the There are so many things that deserve spring 2008 commencement ceremony. The following are edited excerpts from financial support. I made the decision a conversation with him. to support education primarily at the schools I have attended and taught at, including scientific causes to a consider- Recipients of the Wayland E. Noland Award for Academic Excellence in Chemistry able extent. “This scholarship allows me to “Professor Nolan’s generosity Any advice for someone considering a gift to CSE? dedicate more time to classes, helps me to offset the cost of You can’t take your money with you. research, and student groups.” my education.” So then the question is: Where can —Kathleen Wang, Class of 2019 —Annika Page, Class of 2019 you do the most good before and after you’re gone?

30 INVENTING TOMORROW SHOP Roger Haxby, above in 2017, with his scholarship recipients Eric Inderieden and for the Holidays Abigail Wolters. CSE clothing and accessories His legacy continues… are just a click away. Surprise Outstanding engineering skills plus honesty, reliability, and focus earned a loved one with a gift. Or buy Roger Haxby (ME ’58) the respect and confidence of many. Haxby, who died on July 24, played an important role in the college’s direction. He yourself a college souvenir. served on the CSE Dean’s Advisory Board for more than 30 years; was an active volunteer fundraiser, serving on the CSE campaign committee; and was a generous donor. Haxby, a native of St. Cloud, Minn., joined Ingersoll-Rand after gradu- ating from CSE. He led the company to unprecedented sales records as its western Canadian branch manager. When oil was discovered in Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay in the 1970s, he moved to Anchorage and formed the Waukesha Alaska Corporation—now led by his son, John. Since 2006, the Roger and Mary Haxby Scholarship Fund has helped 12 students pursue their education in CSE. “I consider it payback time for the good fortune that we’ve enjoyed over the years,” he once said. “I z.umn.edu/csestore credit much of my own success to the University.” In Memoriam: Earl Bakken Earl E. Bakken grew up in Columbia solution. He responded by building the Heights, Minn., and was fascinated with world’s first battery-operated, wearable the movie "Frankenstein." For Bakken—who pacemaker. received his undergraduate degree in In 2017, the University named the Earl E. electrical engineering from the University Bakken Medical Devices Center in his of Minnesota in 1948 and, shortly after, honor. “Our center wouldn’t be possible founded Medtronic Inc.—the movie “in- without the foundation he built in Minne- spired me to bring people back to life with sota,” said director Arthur Erdman. “We electricity,” he often said. Bakken died on are committed to continuing to live up to Oct. 21 at his home in Hawaii. He was 94. his charge, to create new technologies to Over the course of his career, Bakken improve health.” worked closely with numerous Universi- Ironically, Bakken himself had several im- ty scientists, engineers, and healthcare planted medical devices, including stents, providers, including C. Walton Lillehei. The insulin pumps, and a Medtronic pacemaker. late surgeon was pioneering procedures to help babies born with often-lethal heart >> Read more about Bakken’s life’s defects. Lillehei asked Bakken to find a work: z.umn.edu/BakkenTribute

FALL 2018 31 SAVE THE DATE Quotable Nov. 30-Dec. 1, Dec. 6-8, 2018 5:30, 6, and 6:30 p.m. At Google, our work gets Winter Light Show used on a daily basis by more It sure gets cold in Minnesota, but Tesla Works ” “than a billion people. That’s knows how to make the season fun! Catch 250,000 LED lights syncing to music on the Civil Engineering Plaza. very satisfying. >> Dec. 7: Alumni Open House — Jeff Dean (CompSci ’90) was recently appointed the company’s new head of artificial intelligence. RSVP at z.umn.edu/WinterLights18 He previously co-founded the Google Brain team and will continue to lead it in his new role. In 2014, Dean and his May 9-10, 2019 wife, Heidi Hopper (Psych ’90), established the Hopper- Dean Scholarship in CSE to honor Vipin Kumar, his Class of 1969 50-Year Reunion undergraduate thesis advisor. Alumni will enjoy a full day of activities, then on Friday will receive commemorative medallions and lead the 2019 commencement procession. More info: cse.umn.edu/50Reunion CSE alumnus leads 3M May 9, 2019 When Mike Roman (EE ’82) joined 3M Co. as a senior Golden Medallion Society Reunion design engineer, he was six years out of college and All alumni who graduated 50 years ago or more looking for his next challenge. Little did he know that are invited to catch up with classmates, recon- three decades later, he would lead this $32 billion global nect with faculty, meet current students, and technology company. enjoy a full day of activities. “I always knew I wanted to do something where I could More info: cse.umn.edu/GoldenMedallion learn and grow as a leader and help others succeed,” said Roman, who became chief executive officer this past July. “When I joined 3M, I found myself doing just that, learning a lot—like my time at the University of Minneso- ta—and enjoying the challenge of being part of a global business and working with outstanding people.” LIGHTNING Prior to assuming his new role, the Wisconsin-born Roman served as chief operating officer with direct LECTURES responsibility for 3M’s five business groups and international operations. Previously, he led 3M’s Short on time but serious about issues industrial business group, which accounts for roughly related to science and engineering? one-third of its worldwide sales. Then don’t miss our free Curiosity Drives “What an honor it is to be chosen as the next CEO of Progress Lecture Series. Top CSE faculty 3M,” said Roman, a former treasurer on the University discuss their research TED style—about 15 of Minnesota Foundation Board of Trustees. “We have minutes each. extraordinary technology, market leading capabilities >> Watch past talks: cse.umn.edu/PublicLecture across the globe, one of the top brands, and an incred- ible team of people. I’m committed to doing my best to Next event: April 9, 2019 build on that foundation.” Topic: Sustainability & the Environment

32 INVENTING TOMORROW The 2018 Alumni Awards go to...

The CSE Alumni Society Board was named Martenson, former president of the American Outstanding Society of the Year by the Society of Civil Engineers, has served on the University of Minnesota Alumni Association “for Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- exceptional programming efforts that strengthen Engineering (CEGE) Advisory Board, 50-year the University community.” Over the past year, Reunion Committee, and CSE Mentor Program—in the 23-member volunteer group has focused on addition to connecting more than 370 industry creating engagement that advances the college’s experts with students in CEGE’s capstone design mission. New efforts included the “Curiosity Drives course. In 2014, he endowed a scholarship with his Progress” lecture series (page 32) and an “open wife, Catherine, that supports future environmental house” for alumni at the annual student-produced or civil engineers. Winter Light Show. The board also organized McDonald, a partner at the intellectual property educational tours of the Bell Museum, St. Anthony law firm Merchant & Gould, has held a wide array Falls Lab, and the wind energy research center at of leadership positions over the past 20 years UMore Park. with the boards of CSE’s Alumni Society, the U of M Kaushik Bhattacharya (Mechanics Ph.D. ’91) and Alumni Association, and the U of M Law School. His John Guider (EE ’69) received the University of efforts continue to shape curriculum and strategic Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement Award for direction across the University. their leadership and “unusual distinction in their >> To learn more about these winners, read the full chosen fields.” story: z.umn.edu/AlumniAwards18 Bhattacharya, vice provost and professor of mechanics and materials science at Caltech, revolutionized the study of phase transformations, the shape-memory effect, and the behavior of functional materials. He wrote the standard textbook in his field and edited the Journal of Mechanics and Physics of Solids for 10 years. He also mentored many to positions of prominence in academia, industry, and national laboratories. Guider, retired chief operating officer of Compellent Technologies, pioneered the development of technologies that led to the initial PC superserver architecture and paved the way for cloud storage. As an entrepreneur, he co-founded three companies that introduced game-changing technologies to the data storage landscape. Dennis Martenson (CivE ’67, M.S. ’68) and Daniel

McDonald (EE ’82, JD ’85) both earned the Alumni Photo by Justin Cox Service Award, which “recognizes the service of CSE’s Society of the Year winners (left to right): Dean Mos Kaveh, Alyssa a volunteer who has had a major impact on the Hennen, Steve Savitt, Kim Dockter, President Eric Kaler, Joelle Larson, Mary University, its schools, colleges, departments, or Kurth, Greg Twaites, Rob Graber, David Holt, Jerry Sosinske, and Kari Vokes faculty, or to the University of Minnesota Alumni Association or any of its constituent groups.”

FALL 2018 33 RETROSPECT

Up to 300 cubic feet per Written by PAULINE OO A second of water from the Mississippi River is diverted through the lab for studies involving sediment transport, hydraulic modeling, and marine hydrokinetic research. The main channel is six feet B deep and nine feet wide. that started it all The current motorized, C data collection carriage was built in-house. It How one man’s vision weathered the years is capable of repeated sub-millimeter resolution Two years after he arrived at the Uni- ing in favor of engineers learning the topographic scans. versity of Minnesota, associate professor “laws of similitude” as part of their Once the water exits the of hydraulics Lorenz Straub published professional training. D channel, it is routed back an article about the importance of using to the Mississippi below St. physical models and experiments to an- In 1936, four years following this article, Anthony Falls. Sediment- alyze water flow when designing struc- Straub began directing the construc- settling basins here remove tures to manage it. In that four-pager tion of the St. Anthony Falls Hydraulic materials added during for the Minnesota Techno-Log, Straub Laboratory—now the St. Anthony Falls experiments. told readers how to tackle scaling issues Laboratory—on Hennepin Island in An entire fourth floor and between models and prototypes, argu- downtown Minneapolis. He established E wind tunnel was added in the 1980s as lab research evolved to also include the flow of air. E D C

34 INVENTING TOMORROW a long-lasting and adaptable floor space for hydraulic modeling. But why stop at designing an innovative building? Straub had a hand in all the equipment that went into it as well.

The main channel, a 275-foot-long flume spanning the length of the lab’s first floor, is his creation (original blueprint below). Another Mississippi River supply channel is located one floor up. It routes

water to various small- and large-scale experimental courtesy UniversityPhoto Archives flumes and basins within the building. Straub built this portable flume in the 1930s, and it’s still used to teach visitors and students fluid mechanics concepts. “There are, of course, numerous other applications of the principle of similarity,” Straub wrote in his article. “The success of the isolated experiments performed under the direction of capable investigators points definitely to the remarkable possibilities of this meth- od of design.” With that, Straub heralded the future.

The lab, celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, has Photo by Sophie Hoover diversified beyond river hydraulics. Visitors on the free public tours will find all manner of studies show- ing an interdisciplinary approach to fluid mechanics, including delta restoration, wind energy, and even the flying patterns of fruit flies.

For lab tours, visit events.umn.edu; search “SAFL.”

A B

FALL 2018 35 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID University of Minnesota Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 90155 105 Walter Library 117 Pleasant Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455

Join our networks!

facebook.com/umn.cse

@UMNCSE

UMNCSE

youtube.com/umncse

cse.umn.edu/linkedin

cse.umn.edu/flickr

Spark young minds and fuel their curiosity

The world needs more scientists and engineers to tackle the planet’s biggest challenges, including water availability, food scarcity, and climate change. Driven: The Campaign for the College of Science and Engineering sets a path to prepare tomorrow’s high-tech workforce. Generous donors fuel this journey.

Let’s inspire the next generation together.

Learn more: cse.umn.edu/giving