Q. 520.5 RINDING POSTS CAN BE CUT. THl If. too tightly bound to photocopy, f?v. 103-107:1 please take to the Circulation Desk so J987-91 personnel can remove plastic posts. Inc. cop. 2

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October 1987 Volume 103, Issue 1

Editor: Scott C Brun The Merging of Mechanics and Medicine 4 Business Manager: Lisa Gronkowski Dan Powers

Production Editor: Mary J. Winters Through technical innovations, the field of clinical engineering Features Editor: Mike W, Lind has helped to increase health care efficiency in the past and Copy Editor: David Song present. EOH Editor: W Dan Leonard

Photo Editor: Alyce M, Nogal Engineering Family Album 7 Design: Abel Sanchez Mike Lind Asst. Design: Angela Lin Our annual guide to some of the prominent engineering activities to be found on campus. Publisher: E Mayer Maloney, Jr Production Manager: Geoff Bant Simulating the Wild Blue Yonder Editorial Staff: Fred Brunner, Tim Diez, Nancy JamesIAlyce Nogal Doug Dominiak, Scott Heydinger, Laura ILLIMAC and Flight Simulator II represent safe and effective Jakstas, Nancy James, Steve Kropp, W. Dan alternatives to aerial training for both tne professional and the Leonard, Mike W. Lind, Alex Magnus, Ashish novice. Mayenkar, Alyce Nogal, Kevin Ochsner, Dan Powers, Ken Raczka, Dawn Smith, David Song, Rich Symanski, Swathi Vourganti. Departments Editorial 2, Tech Teasers 2, Tech Visions 6, Technovations 9, Photo Staff: Peter Lei, Mike Pavlovic, Dan Tech Notes II, Tech Profiles 12 Powers, Eric Smith.

Cover: Abel Sanchez Illinois Technograph. Room 302 Engineering Hall. Urbana, Illinois, 61801, phone: (217) 333-3558.

Copyrighl lllim Media Co. 1987

Illinois Technograph (USPS 258-760) Vol 103 No 1 October 1987 Illinois Technograph is published live times during the academic year at the University of Illinois at

Urbana-Champaign Published by lllini Media Co, 620 East John St, Champaign, Illinois. 61820. Editorial and Business offices of the Illinois Technograph Room 302 Engineering Hall. Urbana, Illinois. 61801, phone 217-333-3558 Subscriptions are available for $725 pet academic year Advertising by Litlel-Murray-Barnhill. Inc., 1328 Broadway, New York, N.Y, 10001, 221 N LaSalie is Street, Chicago, If, 60601 . Illinois Technograph a member of Engineering College Magazines Associated tech teasers editorial

1. Solve the following addition, knowing Serving 35,000 Cainpuswide benefits for society, such as improved that FOUR + 12 equals a perfect Considering the fact that the distribu- health care via support technology for the square; tion boxes for the Illinois Teclmograph physician or heightened fiight safety are usually empty within a few weeks af- through instructional software for pilots. FIFTY ter the release of each issue, one would Although these articles are not specifically FOUR imagine that the contents of the magazine written around such social themes, con- FOUR have been widely disseminated. Hopeful- sidering them in this light may help stu- TWO ly, the rapid disappearance of the maga- dents to realize that tangible accomplish- zine has been linked to an appreciation of ments can result from the manipulation of SIXTY the educational and entertainment merit of differential equations. the publication. While the staff of the Despite these noble sentiments, 2. How many squares are on an 8x8 Teclmograph attempts to develop subject perhaps you would prefer to read about chess board'.' How about on an n x n material of interest to a significant seg- subjects that directly pertain to engineer- chess board'.' ment of the campus population, the im- ing experiences on the University campus. mense size of the University of Illinois Should this be the case, we invite you to

3. What is the maximum number of gives rise to a spectrum of opinions, and send to the Teclmograph a list of topics knights which can be placed on a chess- catering to every single one of them you wish to see developed, whether you board in such a way that no knight attacks would be a task even Atlas would fear. be a member of the faculty or student the other'.' Moreover, as our audience consists of stu- body, engineer or otherwise. UnforUinate- dents and faculty, Tecfmograph must gear ly, the staff of the Technograph cannot

(answers on page 1 1) its stories to accommodate both. Thus, claim omniscience as a talent in its pos- our goal is to provide information on en- session, so we welcome your ideas. gineering topics in a manner that allows Moreover, in order to receive feedback for comprehension by those without a from as large a portion of the campus as substantial technical background, as well possible, we urge you to pass this issue as giving educators a student's perspective on to a friend or colleague. As stated pre- on subjects they deal with on a daily viously, since engineering plays such a basis. substantial role in our society in one form In addition, readers should be aware or another, the Technograph wishes to of fields which they may not be intimately provide both engineers and those studying connected with. Thus, as both of our fea- other disciplines with an opportunity to ture articles deal with the contributions of learn about technical topics of interest to engineers to fields that have improved the them. quality of almost every one of our lives. we encourage you to read the material

although it may not be immediately re- Illinois Technograph invites letters in response to lated to your sphere of interest. While its articles and editorials, or any otiier items of in- classroom work usually does a fine job of terest to its readership. Articles, photographs, and teaching mathematical concepts, we often other contributions are also welcomed. Letters must be signed, but names will be withheld upon lose sight of the fact that those same static request. numbers can be translated into dynamic Fellowships % Pioneer the future with us.

All of the technological advancements that have part-time while studying at a nearby university; Full- been pioneered by Hughes Aircraft Company are Study Fellows attend classes full-time. merely an introduction to what will come. And Hughes has just announced a special MSEE As a Hughes Fellow, you could be pioneering your program in Microwave Engineering in conjunction with own future, studying for your Master's or Doctorate in two major Southern California universities. Microwave Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing), Fellows will be allowed time off at full pay to attend Computer Science or Physics. classes taught by university faculty right at Hughes' You'd be receiving full tuition, books and fees, an facilities. educational stipend, full employee benefits, relocation Since Hughes is involved with more than 90 expenses, professional-level salary, summer employ- technologies, a wide range of technical assignments is ment, technical experience. . .with a combined value is available. An Engineering Rotation Program also of $25,000 to $50,000 a year. available for those interested in diversifying their work While you're completing your degree, you'll also experience. have the opportunity to gain valuable experience at Since 1949, more than 5,500 men and women have Hughes facilities in Southern California, Arizona or earned advanced degrees in engineering and science Colorado. with the help of Hughes fellowships. We hope you'll Hughes Fellows work full-time during the summer. join us in creating the next generation of technological During the academic year, Work-Study Fellows work wonders, by pioneering the future—yours and ours.

Hughes Aircraft Company, Corporate Fellowship Office Dept. MC-8788, BIdg. C1/B168, P.O. Box 45066, Los Angeles, CA 90045-0066 Please consider me a candidate for a Hughes Fellowship and send me the necessary information and application materials.

PLEASE PRINT: Name Home Phone & Hours

Address City State Zip

I am interested in obtaining a Master's Doctorate _ in the field of:

Rotation Program Interest: Yes No Microwave Program Interest: Yes .

DEGREES NOW HELD OR EXPECTED:

Bachelor's: Field Date School GPA

Master's: Field Date School GPA HUGHES

Minimum GPA-3 0/4,0 Proof of U.S. Citizenship May Be Required, Equal Opportunily Employer '

The Merging of Mechanics and Medicine

Dan Powers

Although the physician is the most recognized specialist

in health care, support personnel

such as the clinical engineer also help provide

a safe and efficient medical environment.

Technological advances have enabled hospital staffs to general idea of any fluid, like water, was that it evaporated up- make commonplace what three generations ago would have been ward. The lamp bearer forgot, or did not know, that ether vapor inconceivable. However, modem hospitals also have to take re- is heavier than air and falls downward. In an instant, everything sponsibility for the safe operation and staggering cost of this burst into flames: the etherizer flung the cone to his right and technology. Increasingly, engineers in the hospital have become the bottle (we had no tin carrier in those days) to his left. Fortu- the ones responsible for the consequences of technology. nately the bottle did not break. I instantly seized a towel and Engineers may work individually, in departments, for mul- covered the patient's face, to prevent his inhaling the flames, ti-hospital organizations, or on contract from consulting firms. and another to protect the wound. . . . A number of us learned Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers use classical engineering several lessons that night. ' - Transactions and Studies of the specialities, such as electrical and mechanical engineering, in College of Physicians of Philadelphia order to develop equipment and find ways to artificially model the human bcxly. Another example of the need for technical knowledge com- Clinical engineers apply engineering knowledge more es from the surgeon, John Collins Warren, professor of surgery directly to hospital operations. Equipment is emphasized among at Halyard. He recalls his days in surgery at Massachusetts a clinical engineer's responsibilities. Clinical engineers use their General Hospital in the I870's. technical knowledge to purchase or develop products that will

, which the satisfy hospital needs and budget restrictions. They are often re- "Soon after this came Lister's 'spray' by means of antisep- sponsible for inspecting, installing, and testing newly acquired air in the immediate vicinity of the wound was rendered equipment. Clinical engineers also supervise the calibration, tic. This was effected by an atomizer driven by an alcohol lamp maintainance. and repair of hospital equipment. which threw a cloud of carbolized vapor over a space several surroimd- Clinical engineers work with hospital staffs to establish yards in diameter enveloping the patient's wounds and safety programs. They may also train personnel to properiy use ing the attendants." —To Work in the Vineyard of Surgery new equipment. was essential These duties all have a common goal. The clinical engineer This new piece of operating room equipment attempts to reduce the high cost of technology while increasing for preventing infection. However, it was useful only when it Warren explains; its safety. In addition to these responsibilities, clinical engineers was properly maintained, as Professor must be flexible enough to meet needs not yet perceived. Although clinical engineering, as a separate discipline, has "/ recall the contempt with which this innovation was received additional duty developed mostly over the last three decades, the historical need by one of the old ward tenders to whom fell the 'That for technical expertise with machinery' can be found in the of keeping the new apparatus in good working order. memoirs of many pioneer physicians. won't last long,' was his cynical but somewhat prophetic com- disadvantages, . . and For example, civil war surgeon. Dr. W. W. Keen describes ment. . There were many inconveniences source a battlefield hospital mishap with an etherizer. however, in working with the spray technique. It was a offrequent annoyance that the apparatus would fail to work at

' patient was often severely 'To enable me to see better, the holder of the light lowered it the appointed time, and the surgeon' s (the candle holder) a bit, as the candles were rather long. Our tested by the unavoidable delay." Health care personnel and automation must work in harmony rather than discord, (or while technol- ogy assists the physician or nurse in their tasks, machines cannot replace the personal attention that people provide, which aids in the healing pro- cess (Photo by Peter Lei).

As an occasional mechanical (allure Is Inevitable when dealing with sophisticated equipment, the clinical engineer must be available to ensure that vital equipment is operating optimally when a physician requires it (Photo by Peter Lei).

As technology proliferated in hospitals, the need for person- among physicians and hospital administrators, as well as among nel to maintain the equipment increased accordingly. By the patients. In response, more clinical engineers were hired to en- 1960's the financial consequences of inefficient health care tech- sure the safety of the patients and the hospital staff. nology management were being felt. Although scientific adv- The most recent development in the role of the clinical en- ances had made diagnosis and therapy vastly more effective, pa- gineer has been in the area of hospital design. Hospital buildings tient confidence and trust were lower than at the turn of the cen- have become technologically advanced. Designing for sterility, tury. This distrust was partly due to rapidly increasing hospital clean ventilation, adequate lighting, ward layout, and human fac- costs. Hospital administrators recognized the need for equipment tors demand the contribution of medical personnel. While clinic- experts to reduce costs by extending equipment life, repairing al engineers do not design or remodel facilities, they may serve and modifying older equipment, and researching new equipment as liasons between the traditional medical staff and construction purchases. By 1959, engineers were being added to hospital engineers. staffs. Clinical engineeering is one of the youngest branches of en-

In the 1970's, citizens began to question the ability of hos- gineering. It was formally named only in 1967 during discus- pitals to operate new technology safely. In the March 1971 issue sions that lead to the founding of the first department of clinical of Ladies Home Journal, 'Ralph Nader's Most Shocking Ex- engineering at George Washington University. Hospitals and pose' appeared, an article by the consumer rights advocate physicians desire the latest technology to provide patients with which repeated a prominent surgeon's claim that 1200 Amer- the best possible care. As other engineering disciplines develop icans were electrocuted the previous year during routine diagnos- new technologies and apply them to medicine, clinical engineers tic and therapeutic procedures. This figure was not documented will undoubtedly proliferate in the medical field. or ever substantiated, but it resulted in troubled discussion tech visions

Welcome Back! Welcome back to the start of a new semester! For those of you returning, you can easily recognize these familiar sights. The Engineering Library, centrally located in Engineering Hall, provides a scholarly atmosphere for those long hours of rigor- ous studying. Good luck! and professionals in civil engineering. Its field trips to construction sites and month- ly meetings give students a feel for the field they can not get in the classroom. Engineering Family The Engineer-in-Training (EIT) refresher course helps students get through the EIT. For fun, the societ>' has happy hours at JVIbum Murphy's, participates in Softball and other sports, and takes part in a concrete ^Mike VV. Lind canoe race every year. For more informa- tion, contact Joe Vespa in 3129 Newmark Civil Engineering Lab. This sampling of engineering societies gives a American Society of Mechanical En- gineers (ASME) taste of the wide variety of activities that can This national professional society has spice up the life of an engineering student. a student chapter here on campus. It gives students access to papers from the national chapter. Monthly meetings offer speakers

from industr\ . At Technical Elective American Academy of Mechanics pwrtation for more information. Night, professors describe the courses that (AAM) American Institute of Chemical En- they teach. The society also sponsors an Students interested in theoretical and gineers (AICHE) Engineer-in-Training refresher course and applied mechanics (TAM) might want to AICHE keeps chemical engineering some plant Crips. For more information, check out the monthly AAM meetings. students informed in a variety of ways. leave a note in the ASME mailbox in 140 They feature speakers talking about TAM Plant trips and guest speakers at meetings Mechanical Engineering. and offer plenty of refreshments. For give students contact with the ""real"" che- Association for Computing Machinery more information on this group of about mical engineering world. For academic (ACM) 30 people, look for announcements on the help here at the University, the group The student branch of this profes- AAM bulletin board on the second floor offers peer advising on courses. Tailgreat sional organization is a CS-wide society of Talbot Lab. and pizza parties give a welcome break that also features many smaller special in- American Ceramic Society, Student from the pressure of classes. For more in- terest groups on such topics as artificial Branch (SBACS) formation, stop by 217 Roger Adams intelligence, graphics and electronic SBACS is both a social and profes- Lab, or call 333-1587 between 11:00 am music. The society will hold a career day sional organization. Its meetings feature and 1:00 pm on weekdays. on November 9 to give students a chance both representatives from industry and stu- American Nuclear Society (ANS) to ask questions about pursuing a career dents who discuss their work. For fun, The ANS wants to get more nuclear in CS. For more information, go to 1204 members participate in Tailgreat and a engineering students involved this year. W. Springfield, room 201 or call 333- hayride in the fall and a pigroast in the The society sponsors picnics and intramu- 5828. spring. Athletic ceramic engineering stu- ral teams for socializing, and also holds Association of Minority Students in En- dents will enjoy the society's volleyball meetings where representatives from the gineering (AMSIE) team, the Porcelein Gods, and the socie- field of nuclear engineering speak. Con- Many opportunities are open to ty's water polo and ultimate teams. The tact Glenn Moeller at 356-0207 for more minorities in engineering, and AMSIE

societ)' is also responsible for publishing information. helps locate these opportunities. Not only the mini Ceramist Yearbook. Meetings American Society of Agricultural En- does the society offer plant trips and peer are held in 218 Ceramics on the third gineers (ASAE) counseling, but it also offers information Thursday of the month. For more in- Students in agricultural engineering on writing a good resume and seeking out formation, contact Kurt Eickmever at 344- will find that ASAE offers many opportu- jobs in a variety^ of areas in engineering. 4933. nities for interaction, both with peers and Meetings are held ever>' two weeks and .\merican Institute of Aeronautics and with professors. Meetings on the third include a social aftePAards. For more in- Astronautics (AL\A) Wednesdays of the month feanire speakers formation, drop bv 302 Engineering Hall The student branch of AIAA keeps from the agricultural engineering field. In or call 333-3558.' aeronautical and astronautical engineering addition, the society holds student staff Bioengineering Society students up-to-date in the field. Monthly picnics and is planning an exchange with The Bioengieering Societ>' is an in- meetings feature speakers from the field, the Purdue chapter. Contact Dale Brock- terdisciplinary' society that publishes a while monthly socials allow students to amp in 332-G Agricultural Engineering newsletter on the bioengineering field. It meet and speak with facult>' members. Sciences Building for more information. meets once a month and features lectures This semester, AIAA will make a trip to from people in the field as well as social a McDonnell Douglas plant to view aero- American Society of Civil Engineers events with professors. For more informa- nautical engineering in the field. Leave a (ASCE) tion, contact Sandee Stedwell in 164 note in the AIAA mailbox in 102 Trans- ASCE is the liason between students Mechanical Engineering, or call 333-1867.

(continued on page 10) Simulating the Wild Blue Yonder

Nancy James and Alyce Nogal

IVhile professionalflight simulators, such as the ILLIMAC system, have been in existence for years, recent research in computer programming has resulted in new programsfor home computers that successfully mirror the experiences found in professional simulators.

Soaring over the plains Man's fascination with tlight dates University of Illinois, provides its students of Illinois in a flight simu- lator provides the aviation student with realistic with two types of equipment- the Singer back as far as ancient Egypt, where civi- experience. Along for the ride on the wing of the lization acknowledges myths of men im- link ground simulator and the ILLIMAC Singer simulator, an instructor of the pilot training department of the Institute of Aviation coaches itating birds. In 1903. mankind reached system. Through the simulator, the stu- his student through air flight (Photo by Alyce M. new frontiers with the accomplishments of dent may practice navigation, instrument Nogal). the Wright brothers. Today, air travel reading, approaches, holding patterns, and plays a major role in our everyday lives. emergency procedures. Thus, the student While a great deal of the population en- may gain proficiency with these valuable gages in air travel, only a select few manuevers while remaining in the safe attempt to obtain a piloting license. In embrace of Mother Earth. addition, many limitations exist on those WTiile one might assume that flight The ILLIMAC digital avionics re- who are qualified to become licensed simulators would require the use of soph- semble those of the most modem aircraft. pilots. In order to be eligible for licensure isticated technology, their use as an edu- As a result the student can gain experi- for a single engine aircraft, the trainee cational tool has not been a recent phe- ence with instrumentation that can be con- must be at least seventeen years old, have nomena. The Singer ground link model sidered a near perfect fascimile of the medical certification, wield excellent En- has been in use for over fifteen years actual thing. During training, the student glish communication skills, and pass the now. As has been the case with most navigates over an map area that cover the rigorous written, oral, and actual aerial technology, advances have resulted in a equivalent of two hundred and fifty square tests. However, prior to taking to the air, device of even greater utility-the ILLI- miles. As a result of the large geographic- the student must implement his training in MAC system. Ever since its inception at al area available, a variety of approach ground school. the Aviation Research Lab at Willard Air- schemes may be attempted by the student. A vital tool used in this aspect of port ten years ago, the project has con- In addition, several different airports are flight training is the airplane simulator. In tinued to evolve. When the idea behind programmed into the system. The possibi- order to ensure that potential pilots pos- the system coalesced, Lynn Staples, pro- lities include such locales as Peoria, sess sufficient skills prior to going air- ject engineer, and Dan Morris, assistant Springfield, and Chicago, to list just a borne, ground school requires that stu- project engineer, decided to develop a few. dents spend a mandatory low-cost general aviation simulator. As a The software which allows for this i period of three " to five hours in extensive simulator train- result of their efforts, the ILLIMAC repre- wide range of travel resulted from the ing. The pilot training department of the sents an advanced computer controlled efforts of Computer Science students at Institute of Aviation of Willard Airport, system capable of great accuracy and pre- the University of Illinois. Following speci- which happens to be affiliated with the cision compared to its predecessors. fied developmental parameters, the mic-

(contimied on page 10} technovations

MS-DOS and UNIX United the first and time delayed by mirrors, beads. The beads circulate in the cham- Companies and researchers will no drove an optical sampling switch. This ber, where they grind char and any ash longer have to decide strictly between switch measured the electric pulses as into easily-burned particles. The hot beads UNIX-based and IBM PC compatible they traveled by on the transmission line. then transfer their energy to a heat ex- machines. A new computer developed by One of the uses for these fast pulses changer. Hot air from the exchanger Prime Computer, Inc. in Natick, Mas- is to study conventional electronic switch- would power a closed cycle gas turbine to sachusetts runs UNIX system software ing devices. The fastest experimental sili- produce electricity to drive the locomo- and MS-DOS software simultaneously. con logic devices today switch on and off tive. UNIX is a multi-user operating system de- in about 30 picoseconds, while gallium

signed by AT &T Bell Laboratories that is arsenide devices switch in about 10 popular in the scientific picoseconds. community and The one-half picosecond (continuedfrom page 7) MS-DOS is the operating system for IBM electrical pulses will help study these lead- PC compatible computers. ing edge logic devices in greater detail. Engineering Council

Designed around the Intel 80386 As the umbrella organization of all of the microprocessor, the Prime EXL 316 su- Coal's Comeback? engineering societies. Engineering Council permicrocomputer supports up to 58 con- Mention a coal-powered locomotive, offers more opportunities than can poss- nections to terminals, printers and other and many people picaire a filthy man ibly be listed here. The Council not only computer systems. The computer is cap- shoveling coal into a smoke-belching iron offers a voice for students through the able of executing 3.2 million instructions horse. That era of the the steam engine Dean's Student Advisory Committee

per second. train may be gone, but coal may once (DSAC),but it also offers many programs Two software packages included again power locomotives. and activities for students.

with the system allow it to execute soft- Leon Green Jr. . of Energy Conver- Engineering Open House, which

ware from the two different programming sion Alternatives, Ltd. in Washington most societies participate in, is organized environments. One, called PC-Interface, D.C., has suggested that coal water slur- by the Council. Students can join the En- allows users of IBM PC compatible com- ries could power turbine engines in future gineering Speakers Bureau or help with puters to switch between UNIX applica- locomotives. the SUident Introduction to Engineering to tions and MS-DOS applications. The Since coal water slurries are liquids, educate high school students about the

second package allows UNIX-based prog- they can be stored in conventional fuel college. If organizing conferences is your rams and MS-DOS-based programs to run tanks. Even though the slurries are com- game, then you might want to help out concurrently. posed of coal, they avoid many of the with the Leadership Conference or Gradu- Despite the variety of programs that problems associated with solid coal. Cur- ate Conference. Freshmen need not feel the EXL 316 will run, it is only 25 inches rent coal water slurries are made with left out, as they can be part of the En- tall and can easily fit under a desk. In its low-sulfur coal and are in compliance gineering Freshman Council. There are fully configured state, it sports 8 mega- with sulfur dioxide emission regulations, also many social opportunities for stu- bytes of memory more than a gigabyte of according to Green. In addition, as coal dents, including organizing the Knights of magnetic disk storage. slurries are de-ashed when prepared. St. Pat ball after Engineering Open Green says he believes that they can meet House, as well as bowling and volleyball Picosecond Barrier Broken mobile-source particulate emission require- tournaments. With the development of ever-faster ments with few problems. If you are interested in these or any electronic switching devices has come the The only element which must be other of the numerous activities of En- need for ever-shorter electrical pulses to further developed is adequate heater or gineering Council, drop' by 300 Engineer- control them. This past summer, IBM sci- combustor technology, according to ing Hall or call 333-3558. entists created electrical pulses only one- Green. One heater which could meet the Illinois Society of General Engineers half of a picosecond, or one half-trillionth requirements would be a pressurized, (ISGE) of a second, long. combustion-stirred fiuidized heat exchan- ISGE tries to inform engineering stu- The method the researchers used was ger. This combustor consists of a lower dents that general engineering is not just a not a conventional electronic switch. chamber and an upper chamber, each major to pursue until a student discovers Rather, a short burst of laser light shorted pressurized to 10 atmospheres. Fuel is his favorite field. To accomplish this goal, a transmission line etched on a thin piece partially burned in the lower chamber and the society features meetings where gradu- of silicon, creating an electric pulse. A then travels to the upper chamber. There, ate students and professionals speak about second burst of laser light, created with the hot gases fluidize a bed of ceramic (continued on page 10) .

(continuedfrom page 8)

roprocessor uses Assembly language. The Illinois Technograph Lanry Melvin, at 337-751 1 inclusion of this language as the base of As an interdisciplinary magazine, the Society for Cooperative Engineers

the system facilitates the compilation of Technogruph is dedicated to bringing en- Tired of classes'.' Want some "real data on an IBM computer. .As a consequ- gineering students the latest infonnation world" experience? If so. co-operative ence, detailed records may be kept for fu- about technology. The Technogruph has education may be for you. The ScK'iety ture reference on each student wht) prac- positions for students with writing skills, for Cooperative Engineers helps promote

tices on the simulator . Research currently interest in photography, or business acu- the University's co-op program with job i extends into student data bases, where men. If you would like to become a pub- fairs and brings co-op students together I each student would have his own disk of lished author or photographer, call Scott for picnics, volleyball games and happy simulator training. Brun at 384-2040. hours. For more information, contact the For those of us who would rather not Institute of Klectrical and Electronic Co-op Office in 213 Engineering Hall, or exptise ourselves to the rigors of formal Engineers (IEEE) call 244-0906. tlight training, there exists an alternative With so many different areas in elec- Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) manner to experience flight on an amateur trical engineering, how does an electrical This semester, SAE co-sponsored the level. A software program. Flight Simula- engineer decide which one to pursue ? National Collegiate Driving Championship tor II, is available on floppy disk for IEEE Ciin help with this decision. Its with Dodge and Goodyear. This event home computers from SubLOGIC in general meetings and career fairs offer gave students a chance to pit their driving Champaign. The program mcxlels a Cess- representatives from different companies skills against a pylon course. The society na 184, displaying a cockpit view of the who talk about the various areas of elec- is also reconstructing a 1976 Datsun airspace. Actual manuever execution is trical and electronic engineering. IEEE's 280Z. The group plans to travel to Detroit accomplished through user input via the main event this year will be the Student this year for the annual SAE convention. keyboard. By using the program, aspiring Professional Awareness Conference For more information, leave a note in the aviators may attempt the more traditional (SPAC). Professional and academic repre- SAE mailbox in 140 Mechanical En- fomis of flight, or tljey may try their luck sentatives will discuss undergraduate en- gineering, or stop by the SAE glass dis- at death-defying feats ranging from land- gineering issues. This semester a movie play case outside of 101 Mechanical En- ing on an aircraft carrier to navigating night gave IEEE members a break from gineering. under the Golden Gate Bridge. the drudgery of homework. For more in- Society of Women Engineers (SWE) In order to program scenery for the formation, drop by the IEEE office in 247 This professional engineering society, diskettes, SubLOGIC engineers actually Electrical Engineering. open to both men and women, exists to take to the skies. Some have even resear- Institute of Industrial Engineers (HE) support women engineers. The Universi- ched projects from the seat of an acrobatic The student chapter of this profes- ty's snjdent branch recruits women en- plane. As high level programming lan- sional organization helps promote the in- gineers to speak about engineering careers guages generally could not effectively cre- dustrial engineering profession. It sponsors and the resources available to women en- ate the high-speed graphic animation high- industry speakers, including engineering gineers. This semester the society spon- lighted in this simulation, an alternative alumni and co-operative education stu- sored a technical career night. The society type of programming format needed to be dents. Plant trips, like last year's to the plans to go Christmas caroling at a local sought out. The search for a solution re- Chicago Tribune and Abbott Laboratories, nursing home and sponsor a bowling sulted in the creation of Real-Time will be highlights of this year. Of course, tournament. Drop by 302 Engineering Animation Language (RTAL), a language the society offers social events such as Hall or call 333-3558 if you want more that has become the basis for other three- picnics and bowling nights. For more in- information or would like to join. dimensional personal computer animation formation, contact Nils Albert at 384- SYNTON projects. 0074. Have you ever dreamed of making

Flight Simulator II offers an excellent Phi Sigma Rho friends in far away places? If you have, introduction to the type of style employed Until now the University has not had SYNTON, the ametuer radio society, may in the actual simulators. Obviously, on a sorority specifically for women in en- be for you. Members of SYNTON are both the personal and professional fronts, gineering. Phi Sigma Rho is being orga- usually interested in building the electro- engineers have devoted considerable nized this year, and is looking for women nic equipment necessary for global com- amounts of their time in developing sup- in technical fields to join. If you are in- munications, or simply enjoy using the port technology that allows for aviation terested in this social and professional equipment to talk to people all over the training without the risks inherent in jour- sorority, call Pam Warmack at 384-0431. world. Licensed members can use the neying into the wild blue yonder. Sigma Phi Delta society's equipment in its station. The This social and professional engineer- society also offers novice licensing classes ing fraternity gives engineers a chance to for newcomers. For more information, (continued from page 7) help build a homecoming float, sponsor a call the station at 244-5798 or call Joe triathalon, and participate in other activi- Sluz at 351-8885.

their work. The society also sponsors pic- ties. It also sponsors professional prog- University of Illinois Metallurgical Soci- nics, and bowling outings with faculty rams with College deans and professors, ety (UIMS) members. For more information, contact and EOH projects. For more information, UIMS meetings offer speakers from the General Engineering Department stop by the house at 302 E. Gregory St., the Department of Metallurgy and Mining Office at 333-2730. Champaign, or call the rush chairman. Engineering and other related depart-

(cont-nued on page 11)

10 tech notes

Spreading the Word The Beginning of CHAPTER One Tech Teaser Answers Loretta L. Jones, associate director Chemical engineering students now of the general chemistry program at the have their own national publication. Cal- 1. 48439 also 49438 University, was selected this summer to led CHAPTER One, the biannual maga- 4612 4612 help spread her knowledge of video in- zine is published by the American Insti- 4612 4612 struction methods. As part of International tute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) in 376 376 Business Machines' Consulting Scholar New York. Program, she will visit other campuses The magazine, which debuted 58039 59038 across the country for one year to discuss September 15, features articles on career the design of interactive videodisc lessons. development and new technologies. Out- (Teaser 1 was taken from the December, Jones was one of five educators standing students and professionals are 1961 issue of American Mathematical selected for the program. The educators also profiled in every issue. For students Monthly) were selected for their expertise in an area seeking chemical engineering opportuni- 2. There are 204 squares on an 8x8 chess- of computer-based instruction. IBM will ties, a regular department lists scholarship board. On any n x n chess board, there — pay all of the program's expenses. and professional contests. are (n-t- 1 j) squared number of j x j Jones is no newcomer to the video Issues of CHAPTER One are mailed squares. Thus the total number of squares instruction field. She has 13 years of ex- directly to undergraduate student members equals (sum j = 1 to n) of perience producing video-based chemistry of AIChE. Other students may subscribe (n-H 1 — j)squared, which equals lessons and has also helped design lessons at a rate of $10 per year. For more in- n(n-l- l)(2n-l- 1)/6. (Teaser 2 was taken in physics, biology and mathematics. formation, contact the Communications from the January, 1964 issue of American Department, AIChE, 345 E. 47th St., Mathematical Monthly.) Tutoring for All New York, NY 10017. 3. The answer is 32. Note that a knight You may be at the end of your rope may move only from a black to a white in that one class. It may be physics, cir- Notes Needed space and vice-versa. Since a knight can cuit analysis or any of many other classes One of the purposes of the Tech tour the chessboard exactly once, and that can sneak up behind you and surprise Notes department is to publicize events there are 32 black spaces, 32 knights can you. Don't panic! Instead, call Tau Beta sponsored by engineering societies. In be on the board simultaneously. (Teaser 3 Pi for help. order for us to announce your society's was taken from the February, 1964 issue Tau Beta Pi engineering honor socie- event, we need to know about it! Below of American Mathematical Monthly.) ty offers free Uitoring for a variety of en- are the deadlines for this years issues of gineering classes. Whether it is Physics Technograph: 106 or a 300 level mechanical engineering (continued from page 10) elective, a Tau Beta Pi member can prob- Publication Date/Note Due Date ably help. To take advantage of this ser- ments. This year, in addition to plant vice, visit the Tau Beta Pi office in 302 Dec. 4/Friday, Oct. 30 trips, the society plans on establishing a Engineering Hall, or call 333-3558. Tau mentor group of juniors and seniors to Beta Pi will give you the name of a tutor Feb. 12/Friday, Nov. 27 offer guidance to freshmen in the depart- who has taken the class and offered to ment. Also, a new co-op student panel

help others make it through. Just remem- April 15/Friday, March 4 will provide students with information ab- ber that the sooner you call, the better off out co-operative education. Phone the you will be! You may submit announcements in society's office at 333-0789 if you have Mike Lind's mailbox in 302 Engineering questions. Hall, or call him at 384-2040. Triangle Fraternity This social fraternity is for engineers, architects and science majors. This year it plans to sponsor a homecoming float, a bam dance, sports teams and other events. For more information, contact the infor- mal rush chairperson, Gary Walther, at 384-9668, or stop by the house at 112 E. Daniel St., Champaign.

11 tech profiles

Professor Bruce Wheeler of the Electrical and Computer Timothy F. Weiss, Associate Professor of English, wants

Engineering Department is well known among electrical and to instill in his students the importance of communication, not computer engineers for his amiable lecturing style. After only in their future job duties, but in all aspects of their lives. teaching EE 244, Electrical Engineering Laboratory I, for several His avenue of influence for this goal is his class. Business and semesters, he is currently teaching EE 310, Digital Signals and Technical Writing 252, Technical Communication.

Systems. "I like teaching; I wouldn't be here otherwise," he Weiss" globetrotting background begins with undergraduate says. Wheeler also works with students as the Bioengineering studies at the University of Colorado, where he picked up a Society advisor. He received the Engineering College's Pierce B.A. in English in 1971. He received his Masters of English award in 1987 for facilitating faculty-student interaction. from the University of Wisconsin in 1974, and then had a two- Wheeler's research has been in the areas of bioengineering year stint in the Peace Corps during which he taught English and solid state biosensors. To monitor the activity of small writing and literature at Cuttington University in Liberia. The groups of neural cells, he developed a 32-channel electrode array time he spent in Africa convinced Weiss that he liked warm with 200-micron electrode separation. He has been studying weather better than the cold extremes of Colorado and Wiscon- drugs such as penicillin and picrotoxin which cause epileptic-like sin. This led him to the University of New Mexico, where he activity in laboratory rat brain tissue. Wheeler says he believes earned his Doctorate of English in 1981. Apparently, New Mex- that a model which mimics epilepsy may eventually help other ico was not hot and dry enough for Weiss, because he headed to researchers develop treatments for the disease. Saudi Arabia to teach at a Saudi Arabian university for one year. In addition to studying small groups of neural cells, Wheel- After teaching for brief periods at the University of Kansas and er has been analyzing and classifying the electrical signals of in- Iowa State University, Weiss joined the faculty at the University dividual brain cells. He has been developing equipment to record of Illinois in 1985. the neural signals, and real-time algorithms to analyze them. In his short time here, Weiss has instituted many changes Neural systems are being vigorously studied because of in BTW 252. The class was originally titled Technical Writing, possible applications in artificial intelligence and computer but was changed to Technical Communication to include a architecture, Wheeler says. Aspects of neural networks have broader range of media. The number of engineering students in already been implemented in parallel processor computer the class has also increased. Weiss welcomes the increasing architecture designs, according to Wheeler. His research and the number of engineers, and stresses that it is especially important equipment he has developed may facilitate further research in for them to adopt an international perspective on communication, this area. since most technical literature is published in English. He has

Professor Wheeler was an undergraduate student at the also begun to use word processors extensively in the class, and Massachussetts Institute of Technology where he graduated with hopes to add a graphics package to the system in the near fu- joint degrees in science and history. He earned masters and PhD ture. Those interested in taking BTW 252 should act quickly if degrees at Cornell University and came to the University of Illi- they want Weiss as their professor. Weiss is in the running for a nois in 1980. Fulbright Scholarship which would send him back to Africa and warmer skies for the 1988-1989 acedemic year. David Song W.Dan Leonard

12 44 I MADE $18, COLLEGE ^9

As soon as I finished Advanced Training, the Guard gave me a cash bonus of $2,000. Then, under the New GI Bill, I'm getting another $5,000 for tuition and books. Not to mention my monthly Army Guard paychecks. They'll add up to more than $11,000 over the six years I'm in the Guard. And if I take out a college loan, the Guard will help me pay it back— up to $1,500 a year, plus interest. It all adds up to $18,000— or more —for college for just a little of my time. And that's a heck of a better deal than any car wash will give you. THE GUARD CAN HELP PUT YOU THROUGH COLLEGE, TOO.

When my friends and I graduated SEE YOUR LOCAL RECRUITER from high school, we all took part-time FOR DETAILS, CALL TOLL-FREE jobs to pay for college. 800-638-7600* OR MAIL THIS They ended up in car washes and COUPON. •In Hawaii 737 5255, Huertu Rico 721-4550, Guam 477 9957, Virgin Islands hamburger joints, putting in long hours iSl Croixl: 773-6438, New Jersey 800-452-5794. In Alaska, consult your local phone directory, for little pay. c 1985 United States Government as represented by the Secretary of Defense. All rights reserved, Not me. My job takes just one

weekend a month and two weeks a year. MAIL TO: Army National Guard, P.O. Box 6000, Clifton, NJ 07015 Yet, I'm earning $18,000 for college. Because I joined my local Army National Guard. They're the people who help our CITY/STATE/ZIP

. US CITIZEN D YES O NO state during emergencies like hurri- AREA CODE PHONE

canes and floods. They're also an SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER important part of our country's military OCCUPATION EEEDC defense. So, since I'm helping them do such an important job, they're helping me Nattonal Guard A1CLJC21097NP make it through school. Army National Guard A mericans A t Their Best. Uarryl Greene knows that teamwork is the key to winning

ust a year out of school, Darryl Greene is responsible for supplies and services that support 14 major plants in GE's Lighting business. What makes this young engineer so successful, so fast? His dynamic sense of teamwork is a big factor. He's got the confidence to interact with people at all levels. His personality inspires trust. He knows how to act like a leader, so his colleagues will act like a team. Darryl knows it takes the best resources to back a winner. That's why he chose a job with GE. GE provides unlimited scope for outstanding talents. The diversity— in businesses, resources, and locations— is second to none. Above all, there's a real willingness to give the ball to those who are willing to *| run with it. If you want to be a leader, join the front-runner.

The mark ofa leader.

An equal opportunity emp/oyer. illinoislechnograph

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November 1987 Volume 103, Issue 2

Editor: Sc3t: C 3run Universitj' Scientists Supervise Superconducti>itj Business Manager: Lisa GronkowskJ Research 4 Production Editor: Mary J. Winters Scon \t. Heydinger Features Editor: Mike W. Lirxj Universit) of Illinois researchers are placing substantial time and Copy Editor: David Sorg effort into the e.xploration of the properties and production of EOH Editor: VV Dan Leonard superconducting materials.

Photo Editor: Ayce M. Nogai Design: -ce Sanchez A Liberal Look at Engineering 8 Asst. Design: Angea Ijn Man,- J. W'imers A five-year program betv, een the College of Liberal Arts and Publisher: E Mayer Maioney. Jr. Sciences and the College of Engineering gives students the Production Manager: Geoff Bant opportunity to cam an extra degree while increasing the breadth of their education. Editorial Staff: Fred Brunner, Tim Diez, Scott Heydinger, Laura Jakstas, Nancy James, Steve Kropp, W. Dan Leonard. Mike The Debut of Automotive Ceramics 11 W. Und, Aex Magnus, Ashish Mayenkar. Alex Magnus Alyce M. Nogai, Kevin Ochsner, Dan Powers, The proliferation of ceramics in the automotive industry may Ken Raczka Davm Smith, David Song, allow for increased improvement in engine performance. Ramesh Subramani, Rich SymanskJ, Ted Viciar. Swathi Vourganti. Departments Business Staff: Dennis Cfien, Caro Editonal 2, Technovations 3. Tech Visions 6, Tech Teasers 10. Cr-sstrui. Kristina Jeske, Carolyn Rice. Tech Notes 10, Tech Profiles 13

Photo Staff: Peter Lei, Mike Paviovic, Da^ Powers, Enc Smith. Illinois Technogmph. Room 302 Engineering Hall, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, Cover: Ace. Sanchez phone: (217) 333-3558.

Copynghi Bin Media Ca 1987. •DOS Tednogiaph (USPS 258-760). Vol 1CX3 No 2 Nouember 1987. Hnois Techncgoph is published five tries dicing the acadernic year at Itie Umvefsity o( Binois a Urtjana-Champaiga Pubished by iani Media Co.. 620 East John Sl Charripaign. Ilnois. 61820 EcBcrial and Business offices of the Itnois Tectinogiaptt Hoofr 302 Engineenng Hal VWaaDa. linois. 61801. phone 217-333-355a Subsaptons are available far $725 per acaderrc year. Advertising by Littel-Muiray-Bamhil. Inc, 1328 Broadway. New York. N.Y, 10001; 221 hJ. LaSaJle Stres. Chicago, t. 60601. Itnois Tectnograpti s a rrember of Engrieering College Magazines Associated editorial

Mother Nature-Professor of Engineering ease through on-the-job training. This loss the order of the width of a human hair. In of "icing on the cake" would appear to addition, through the process of evolution, In order to function effectively, the be an adequate sacrifice for an introduc- "nature's designs" have been field-tested engineer should be quite familiar with the tion to another basic science that can and optimized over millions of years to disciplines of mathematics and science. It serve as a substantial foundation for the allow the organism to efficiently interact is necessary, however, to define exactly further accumulation of knowledge. with its environment. which fields of knowledge, among the Nevertheless, one may wonder In order to expose engineers to this many lcK)sely labelled as "science", are whether the additional knowledge gained wide variety of natural phenomena which of value to the engineer in his or her from the study of biology would be of could serve as a springboard to further annointed task. At the University of Illi- any practical use to the engineer. While creative thought, perhaps a specialized nois, the physical sciences are traditionally this approach certainly will not im- biology sequence could be designed which defined as physics and chemistry. Howev- mediately solve all current engineering would emphasize concepts of utility to the er, since the engineer must deal with mat- enigmas, an appreciation of biology may engineer. Certain topics of lesser interest, ter and energy in nature, one might be cu- aid the engineer by encouraging him to such as plant biology, could be removed rious as to why the engineer's background seek solutions to engineering problems from this technical survey of the life sci- in the physical sciences is not extended to through the observation of nature. Indeed, ences (although the method by which the domain of natural science by the addi- centuries ago, initial interest in optics was trees transport water from roots to leaves, tion of biology to his educational prog- stimulated by the observation that concave generating 300 atmospheres of pressure in ram. After all, the College of Liberal Arts water droplets on leaves refract light in the process, calls into play considerable and Sciences has found a place for biolo- such a manner as to produce magnifica- hydraulics). However, since the develop- gy, as its program requires at least one tion. Flora and fauna provide excellent ex- ment of such a class would demand con- biology course, even for non-science ma- amples of useful structures, systems, and siderable time and toil and may not be jors. processes which the engineer may be able feasible in the immediate future, perhaps The traditional argument against the to adapt for his special purposes. Our own professors teaching physical science inclusion of biology in a standard en- bones are fine examples of civil engineer- courses could devote more attention to gineering curriculum revolves around the ing, as their intemal stmctural arrange- biological phenomena pertinent to their fact that the additional hours of study this ment provide a relatively low density subject matter. The extensive coverage change would require could overburden material that can withstand greater tensile, given to the eye by the physics depart- the student. Considering the challenging compressive, and shear stresses per unit ment during a unit on optics offers a fine and extensive training our students receive weight than granite or concrete. The joint example of this spirit, and the hydrodyna- at the University, this claim wields con- arrangement in the appendages of the mics of capillary action, the dynamics of siderable merit. However, perhaps biology grasshopper was suggested as a basis for limb movement, the themiodynamics of could be fit into a schedule in the place of the landing gear of the British Harrier jet. metabolism, and the RC circuit properties one or more technical electives, such as Researchers in the field of computer sci- of neurons offer further material that can the upper-level classes that provide the ence might find the cell a fascinating be developed in a similar vein. Such an student with specific "up to date" in- playground, as the DNA present in the exposure to biology could act as a catalyst formation, which often suffers from nucleus acts as a premier example of for further interest and study of the sub- obsolescence soon after its presentation or compact data storage, providing 45 mil- ject by students (and staff), as engineers which may be assimilated with greater lion storage positions, each capable of discover just how much Mother Nature taking on one of four values, held in a can offer to their chosen profession. roughly spherical volume with a radius on 2>o&tt C- 6/VjLX.'Vv.

Illinois Technograph invites letters in response to its articles and editorials, or any other items of in- terest to its readership. Articles, photographs, and other contributions are also welcomed. Letters must be signed, but names will be withheld upon request. .

Michael W. Lind technovations

Inside-Out Delivery CD River Data Light Meets Electricity Doctors in the future may explore During the past few years, compact Communications technology is rapid- the body's ducts using catheters that disk read only memories (CD-ROMs) ly moving toward fiber optics because of actually turn themselves inside out as they have promised to replace many of the the extreme speed with which they carry travel through the body. Daniel R. Shook, dusty reference volumes used by en- data. One problem this transition presents a biomedical engineer at the biomedical gineers and scientists. One company that is that of converting the light pulses car- engineering and instrumentation branch of has done much work in this area is U S ried by optical fibers to electrical pulses the National Institutes of Health in WEST Knowledge Engineering, Inc. of used by computers. International Business Bethesda, Maryland, described the evert- Denver, CO. It recently introduced two Machines Corporation recently announced ing catheter in a recent American Society products that put a century of river flow the development of an experimental com- of Mechanical Engineers journal data on the portable disks. puter chip to convert light pulses back to Essentially, the everting catheter is a The first product, introduced last electrical pulses. flexible catheter inside of a rigid catheter. spring, is called Hydrodata and compiles The new chip is made of gallium The rigid outside catheter is inserted into more than 100 years of water quality and arsenide (GaAs) rather than conventional the body similar to a conventional cathe- river flow data. The second product, Hyd- silicon. Not only can a GaAs chip convert ter. The doctor then pushes the flexible ropeak, was introduced in September and signals faster than its silicon equivalent, it inner catheter out, causing it to unfold and contains flood flow information for the also does it more efficiently. turn inside-out along the walls of the duct. entire United States. The primary problem with creating

Because of the everting catheter's Normally, hydrologists, civil en- fast photodetectors is the interference con- flexible design, it can follow extremely gineers, and planners must access this in- ventional electronic circuitry causes. Long complicated vessels, yet there is little fric- formation from large mainframe compu- wires from photodetectors to their electro- tion against duct walls, according to ters. With the Hydrodata and Hydropeak nic amplifiers make the detectors very Shook. In addition, only the tip, rather CD-ROMs, the data is accessible on their susceptible to noise. To reduce this noise, than all of the catheter, moves through the personal computers. the photodetectors must be built on chips vessels. CD-ROMs are essentially identical to alongside other electronics. As with conventional catheters, standard audio compact disks, except the IBM scientists chose GaAs as the everting catheters can deliver drugs and data encoded on them represents text or base material for the new chips, but en- instruments to many different parts of the graphics, rather than music. countered new problems because of the body. An everting catheter, however, can Because of their large capacity, choice. The high-temperature annealing negotiate extremely twisted vessels, such much more information can be included process used to create transistors changed as those in the brain. According to Shook, on the CD-ROMs than in conventional the photodetector's characteristics. They the catheter can easily navigate through formats. The results of some common cal- found that adding small quantities of cer- these vessels and deliver drugs to tumors culations, such as standard deviations and tain other materials ("doping") allowed without delivering the drugs to surround- other overall figures, have also been in- the detector to maintain its characteristics ing tissues. cluded on the CD-ROMs to better utilize during high-temperature processes. Two companies already hold licenses their capabilities. Overall, the IBM scientists believe to manufacture the catheter, but they are Each product comes with a software that the new chips are as much as two not currently marketing it. The main prob- package that allows the planners not only times faster than any previous designs. lem with the everting catheter is that a to access and print the data, but also to doctor cannot easily control the direction transfer the data to other programs, such that the catheter takes once it reaches a as spreadsheets and word processors. Pro- branch in a vessel. Shook stated that fessionals can thus not only retrieve the further development was needed to solve data, but also quickly put it to use. this problem. University Scientists Supervise Superconductivity Research

Scott M. Heydinger

Since last spring's discoveries in superconductivity, the University of Illinois has been pursuing superconductor research more actively than ever.

The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign has been the University in 1959. His interest began as a graduate student very active in superconductor research since the recent discover- in 1956. Ginsberg also wrote the article on superconductivity in ies of higher temperature superconducting materials. Earlier this the 1974 edition of Encyclopedia Britannica. year, it was found that certain ceramics could be made to lose Bardeen says he is impressed with the rapid pace of discov- their resistance to the flow of electricity, or superconduct, at re- ery. He also says he believes that the University is now well latively high temperatures. These discoveries have sparked in- equipp)ed for the work. He admits that the University does not tense research around the world. have the largest superconductivity research center. However, he In February, Myron Salamon, professor of physics and says the University has been at the forefront of the field since assistant director of the Materials Research Laboratory, began the program began. Ginsberg agrees: ""The total effort here is trying to obtain funds. He applied for funding from the National one of the most extensive in this area at any university."' Science Foundation to allow University scientists to conduct new University researchers have been working to achieve a bet- studies in superconductivity. Other funding was obtained from ter understanding of the science of superconductivity. By con- the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. trolling and optimizing the parameters involved in the production Faculty members were also redirected to superconductor re- of superconducting compounds, researchers can obtain valuable

search. "It's still a struggle,"" Salamon explains, because more information about the electronic interactions which are responsi- University scientists are interested in the field than can be sup- ble for supercondutivity. Eventually, it is hoped that this under- ported. standing will aid the search for even higher temperaOire super-

Currently, the University is collaborating with companies conductors. such as IBM and DuPont. Also, Salamon says he looks forward The University produces almost all of the superconducting to the University joining the proposed Illinois Superconducting samples it needs for research. Mark Reeves, graduate student in Institute. This organization would tie together university and in- physics, explained how superconducting pellets are made at the dustrial knowledge within the state. Materials Research Laboratory. Yttrium, barium, and copper ox- Initially, graduate students were asked to put their thesis ide powders are mixed together. The powder compound is then work on hold and begin studying the new materials. The stu- pressed into pellets with 2000 pounds of force applied over the dents were enthusiastic about studying the new field, Salamon quarter inch-diameter sample. The pellets are then sintered, or

said. At present, the list of professors and students is still heated, in an oxygen atmosphere. This hai'dens the sample and growing. allows it to absorb oxygen, the key to producing a good sample.

Professor Emeritus John Bardeen is one University resear- The resulting compounds are then characterized and distributed cher who has been previously involved in superconductivity re- to other groups on campus for experiments. search. Bardeen shared the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics for a University researchers are working to produce larger single theory explaining how conventional superconductors work. Last crystal samples. Since the magnetic properties of superconduc- May, he discussed possible ways of understanding the new su- tors depends on the orientation of crystals within the sample, it j perconducting phenomena at a conference in Berkeley, CA. is better to have a sample that consists of one large crystal rather! Donald (iinsbcrg, professor of physics and a co-leader of than many smaller, randomly arranged crystals. Joe Rice, gradu- the thnist group for high temperature superconductivity research, ate student in physics, has grown thin single crystals which are has been experimenting on superconductivity since he came to about 2 mm square. Making a sample Uirge enough for certain Mark Reeves, gradu- ate student in pliysics, patiently fills a dewar flasK with liquid helium in order to carry out low-temperature calor- imetry experiments on superconducting mate- rials (Photo by Dan Powers).

experiments is a challenge, though. "That's the trick," says computer control. The volume inside the probe, where the actual Bardeen. P. Han and David Payne, professors of ceramic en- measurements are taken, is gradually heated by a resistor. By gineering, are also trying to grow bigger and thicker single crys- determining the amount of energy needed to raise the tempera-

tals. ture of the sample one degree, itii^heat capacity can be found.

Payne is also head of the materials science and engineering The results of this experiment included an unexpected phe- department, which was recently formed by combining the cera- nomenon below 10 K. Ginsberg presented the findings at the mics and metallurgy departments. His own work involves rapid- March meeting of the American Physical Society in New York. ly solidifying a superconducting comjx)und and producing an Relva C. Buchanan, professor of ceramic engineering, is

amorphous solid. The solid is then melted and slowly solidified, producing thin films of superconducting compounds. A solution enabling him and his students to find out how a superconductor of organometallic carboxylates is concentrated by heating. The

achieves its structure. solution is then spun onto a substrate, where it forms a solid

Another experiment involves taking measurements with film about one micron thick upon heating. He says it is impor- SQUID, the superconducting quantum interference device. Brian tant to look into this matter because, "this is the only form in

Pazol, graduate student in physics, considers it a sensitive volt- which the carrying of higher density currents has been achieved meter. Since the concentrated research program began earlier in to date." He says he also intends to look into improved methods the year, those researchers involved in high critical temperature of producing pellets and possibly wires. (or high Tj.) research have managed to keep the machine booked Other researchers at the University are attempting to create solid, said Sue Inderhees, graduate student in physics. better compounds by studying the absorption of oxygen during One of the major pure science aspects of superconductivity the sintering process. About ten theoretical physicists are devot-

being studied at the University is the heat capacity of supercon- ing substantial amounts of their time to the field. George Kor-

ducting materials. Reeves, who is studying this property, says das, associate professor of ceramic engineering, has recently de- that results of this research will help theorists gain a better veloped a process for developing superconducting compounds at

understanding of the mechanisms behind superconductivity. 1 100° F instead of 1750° F. Numerous other aspects of super- To carry out his experiment. Reeves uses a sophisticated conductivity are being investigated; undoubtedly the list of calorimeter which was designed and fabricated at the University. achievements in this field will continue to grow. The instrument is not very common, making the University one Bardeen says he sees a bright future for the field. He pre- of the few places able to conduct this type of study. Reeves dicts that as a result of all the data now being generated, "things said. will begin to shake down in the next few months," and the cor- The device consists of two insulating dewar flasks, one in- rect theoretical approach could be chosen from among the many theories that exist. research I side the other. The outer one contains liquid nitrogen to cool the currently Considering the amount of

inner dewar fiask, which is filled with liquid helium or liquid taking place in Urbana-Champaign, the next big superconducting

nitrogen. Inside the inner flask is an evacuated probe that con- discovery may well come from the laboratories of the Uni- tains the superconducting sample. Measurements are taken under versity. Mike Pavtovic tech visions A Centripetal Celebration __

Engineers can have a field day com- puting the amount of centripetal force re- quired to navigate the curves on this twenty-four foot long skateboard ramp built by Urbana resident Randy Gawlik. The product of a week's worth of inten-

sive labor, the ramp is extensively used by daring high school and college stu- dents. "All engineers ever think about is assistant dean of engineering. Bruce Hine- A calculus and slide rules." "An engineer ly, assistant dean in Liberal Arts and Sci- can't study literature; he's Uw busy solv- ences, agrees with this assessment of the ing equations." "Everyone knows that program's primary thrust. "In my opin- engineers are geniuses who wear glasses ion, the main purpose is to combine the Liberal and go around quoting Einstein and scientific and technical knowledge which Copernicus." the engineering curriculum provides with Generalizations like this are quoted the broader, more rounded education that Look at and believed by many people. The the LAS curriculum provides." thought that an engineer can know any- This does not mean, however, that thing besides engineering seems to sur- students can take shortcuts in either col- prise people. Of course, they believe that lege when they decide to study for two Engineering engineers are people, too, but they think degrees. All admission and graduation re- that studying for an engineering degree quirements for both colleges must be met.

leaves little time for anything else. Wenzel and Hinely agree that many The engineering curriculum at the students enter the program after their University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign freshman year. Wenzel says that many

Mary J. Winters does leave little room for electives. transfer students who already have a signi- Although eighteen hours of social science ficant number of credit hours in either or and humanities courses are required, other both colleges enter the program when they

technical electives can easily fill up a transfer. Dean Hinely estimates that only

four-year schedule. However, there is a about half of the students who enter the way for engineering students to get a program do so as freshmen. more rounded education, and more and Suidents enter the program for many more students are taking advantage of this reasons. Some engineers simply enjoy opportunity. taking liberal arts classes. Others have a By taking advantage of a For over twenty years, there has more specific purpose. Hinely says that been a program at the University which several students are studying computer en- program offered by the Col- allows students to receive degrees from gineering and psychology with the inten- leges of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences tion of applying their knowledge to artifi- and the College of Engineering in five cial intelligence. "By selecting an LAS, some students are gain- years. This program "permits a student to appropriate liberal arts and sciences major earn a Bachelor of Science degree in a in combination with the desired engineer- ing the benefits of a broader field of engineering from the College of ing curriculum, it is possible for students education as well as greater Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts or a to qualify for new and unique careers in Bachelor of Science degree from the Col- industry, business or government". (1985- desirability by employers in lege of Libera] Arts and Sciences". 87 Undergraduate Programs) their chosen engineering (1985-87 Undergraduate Programs) There are currently 138 sUidents reg- Originally, the program was intended istered in the program. According to Dean field. just for students with a wide range of in- Hinely, enrollment has grown consider- terests. Twenty years ago, there was not ably in the last three or four years. About as much emphasis placed on careers as five years ago there was only a handful of

there is today. Students who wanted to students in the program, he says. take some extra courses were able to do Students in the program usually so, and the program let them earn an ex- spend their first year in the College of En- tra degree at the same time. gineering. The following two years are According to the Undergraduate spent in LAS. and the final two years are Programs guide, the five-year program spent in the College of Engineering. This allows students to prepare for interdisci- does not mean that a student can only

plinary careers. It also enables students to take engineering courses while in the Col- develop a well-rounded cultural education lege of Engineering and liberal arts classes in addition to their engineering specialty. in LAS. Usually, a student mixes his en- "It gives students an opportunity to get gineering and LAS courses. The transfers some breadth in their education that is for- do allow each college to hold the sui- mally recognized," says Harry Wenzel, dent's records for a time. When a sUident decides to enter the program, he obtains a five-year program form. Because the program assumes that a student will take courses which can fulfill requirements in both colleges, the student must carefully choose his classes. He then in one major and then attend graduate Although no plans presently exist to replace Foel- linger Auditorium with Engineering Hall, a large organizes his classes and completes the school to receive a Master's in another number of engineering students are taking the form. However, this proposed schedule area. Many students are interested in re- trek "south of Green" in order to engage in stu- does not need to be followed strictly. It is ceiving joint degrees in engineering and dies over and above their technical courses (Photo by Peter Lei). possible to switch courses between semes- business. However, there is currently no ters or to take courses during the summer. joint program between the College of En- After the student has filled out the gineering and the College of Commerce form, he must see his engineering advi- and Business Administration. sor, who reviews the form and makes There are many ways to combine en- a student to finish the program in four sure all the required engineering courses gineering and LAS degrees. As previously years instead of five. This plan is difficult are listed. After the engineering advisor mentioned, computer engineering and or perhaps impossible without having a signs the form, the student takes the form psychology is one popular choice. Some significant amount of credit before coming to his LAS advisor for the same reason. others are; computer engineering and rhe- to the University. One student is follow- Then the student brings the form to the toric, computer science in engineering and ing this plan with studies in computer sci- engineering college office and a copy to a foreign language, and general engineer- ence and Spanish. He says he believes it the LAS office. After that, a student only ing and English. It would even be possi- will be an advantage in his intended milit- needs to complete the five years of clas- ble for a student to sUidy computer en- ary intelligence career. ses, which may require taking eighteen or gineering and computer science/math. The five year LAS / engineering nineteen hours of classes in a semester. Some students in the program be- program is a great opportunity for students Apparently, most students who enter lieve that the program will help their at the University. The benefits and re- the program believe the work is worth- careers. Engineers with a more liberal wards of the program are worth the extra while. "I haven't seen that many (stu- education are desired by employers. "It's time and work required. If you are tired dents) drop out," Wenzel says. However a good thing to have on your resume," of exclusively taking math and science some students do drop out because they says Dean Wenzel. classes, this program is definitely worth decide that a secondary' degree would not It is even possible for members of considering. be as beneficial as originally supposed or R.O.T.C. to join the program. However, that the program does not satisfy their R.O.T.C. scholarships sometimes require specific needs. For example, some stu- dents decide to get their Bachelor's degree Michael W. Lind tech teasers tech notes

1. If one third and one fourth of a piece Testing Your Cleverness Overseas Business Tips of cloth are black and the remaining eight Do you enjoy spending hours on Anyone doing business overseas yards are gray, how long is the bolt? tricky mathematical problems? If so, then must learn to accept the local customs and the National Putnam Exam may be for be as flexible as possible, according to a 2. Three men are playing a game where you. This exam, given to approximately publication by the International and the loser doubles the other two players' 2000 undergraduate students each year, Domestic Negotiating Institute in Red money. Each man loses one game in their will test your ability to solve many diffe- Bluff, California. Many times, business set of three. How much did each start rent types of mathematical problems. people do not realize that things are done with? The exam consists of 12 problems, differently than they are in the United given in two three-hour session's. Topics States. range from calculus and geometry to more "American businessmen and Complete I am hard advanced topics, and the exam empha- businesswomen need to start from scratch Behead am sound sizes both technique and cleverness, and act as if they are preparing to deal Behead me again according to Harold Diamond, professor with someone from another planet!" said Then a number is found in mathematics. Students work as indi- Eugene Mendosa of the Institute. He be- viduals, but three are selected to deter- lieves that for people to make successful mine the University's national ranking. deals, they must not maintain a traditional 4. What monosyllable of five letters will Last year, David Secrest, senior in phy- viewpoint. make two monosyllables? sics, placed 35th out of a field of 2094, Mendosa recommends several things helping the University place 15th overall. to help people survive in the international Diamond said. business world. Business people should The exam will be held on Saturday, not get upset just because foreigners do (answers on page 12) December 5. To help prepare for this not conduct business as Americans do.

year's exam. Diamond is holding weekly They should also not rush immediately study sessions on Wednesdays from 4:00 into a transaction, and they should avoid to 5:00 pm in 143 Altgeld Hall. For more being individualistic, according to Men- information, contact Harold Diamond at dosa. 333-0379. To increase the chances of success, Americans should study the etiquette of

other cultures, learn all they can about the country's business practices, and be pa- tient, according to Mendosa.

More information is available in a free pamphlet from IDNI by contacting Cynthia Williams, Dept. 5026, Interna- tional and Domestic Negotiating Institute, P.O. Box 882, Red Bluff, CA 96080.

10 The Debut of Automotive Ceramics

Alex Magnus

Although difficulties still exist, allowing for significant fuel savings. According to Professor Assanis, the fuel extensive efforts are being savings will come from two areas. One is made to further the transition insulating the combustion chamber to con- serve heat, and the second is to preserve ceramic materials of 'ffom the e.xhaust heat by venting it through a nirbocharger and back to the engine. teacups to turbines" , because Ceramics can be exposed to tempera- ceramic components allow en- tures as high as 2500° F without distorting gines to operate with greater or melting. At 2500° F engines can achieve maximum fuel efficiency. Current efficiency. parts only run at 2200° F, yielding a 25% decrease in efficiency. Running the engine at higher temperatures will allow the use of alternative energy sources, such as A ceramic car engine? Why would methanol mixed with gasoline. Although anyone vv ant the material of teacups and this fuel is presently in use, Assanis says

bathroom wall tiles to be the engine hous- that the use of ceramics will make it more ing of our cars? Ceramic materials possess feasible. properties that ha%e many advantages over Gas turbine and diesel engines re- the superallov' materials currenth' being spond well to higher operating tempera- used. Superalloys are materials that ex- tures. The hotter these engines run, the

hibit greater strength at high temperatures. more efficient they become. Since heat is 1500° F to 2000° F, than do conventional poorly conducted in silicon nitride, heat alloys. If ceramics have so many advan- conventionalh wasted in the cooling sys- tages, then why are they not in production tem could be kept in the cylinder and con- and use now? Ceramics, although highly verted to work. In theor>'. the themial promising, do suffer from problems in efficiency of such a diesel engine could manufacturing and implementation. Gov- be increased by 30%. In actuality, Profes- ernments, private companies, and uni- sor Assanis has found that an intercooled versity professors, such as Professor De- turbocompound engine derives a modest nnis Assanis, assistant professor of 4.3'7(: thermal efficiency improvement at a mechanical engineering at the Universit}' 60% reduction in heat loss. of Illinois, are working to overcome some Turbo chargers can also utilize ener-

of the major drawbacks that have yet to gy' from the engine exhaust. Ceramics

be resolved. Ceramics is currently one of could be used to make particularly effi- the most scrutinized technological material cient turbine rotors. Ceramics have a third science areas. "Solving the fundamental of the densit>' of steel, and their lower

problem is now just (a matter of) time,"" thermal expansion allows for more effi- says Kent Bovven, professor of engineer- cient operation at smaller clearances. The ing at Massachusetts Institute of Tech- lower inertial mass of the rotor cuts the Graduate student Joe Grindley coats engine com- nology. moment of inertia by 45%. This feature ponents with ceramic materials at tlie Plasma Spray in Ceramic structural parts have signifi- reduces the amount of energy needed to Booth the Ceramic Engineering Building (Photo by Eric Smith). cant advantages over conventional parts. accelerate the turbocharger. It reduces tur- Compared to superalloys, ceramics are bocharger lag and ensures agile engine re- lighter and made from cheaper raw mate- sponse. Nissan has already develojjed a \ rials. They require no lubrication and re- silicon nitride rotor and is currently using components, including cylinders, pistons,

Bsist corrosion. Because of their strength at it in Japan in their 300ZX. and pins for over 100 hours in a single high temperatures and excellent thermal Other companies are also making cylinder engine. The engine showed

conductivity characteristics, ceramic parts ceramic engine parts. Ford Motor Co. has potential for up to an 1 1 % improvement and coatings allow engines to run hotter. successfully tested structural ceramics in fuel economy, with minimum wear and

11 process. If advanced ceramics are de- low friction. Companies that arc funding ceramic engine designers. Flaws on the it will have a Assanis's $3(X),CKX) ceramic research order of 5 to 10 microns can lead to fai- veloped to their potential, on the auto industry, budget are Caterpillar, General Motors, lure of ceramic parts. However, at higher significant impact nation. Chr>sler, Amoco, and government agen- operating temperatures, the stress concen- car owners, and the cies. trations surrounding a flaw can actually Porsche has introduced a ceramic- decrease. lined exhaust port system in their 944 Another major problem area is reliabil- BIBLIOGRAPHY nuxlel. The system insulates the head ity. There are still many unknowns abt:>ut ""The Amazing from the heat in the exhaust system, pro- ceramics and their long term use. Ceram- Dizard, John W. Closer", Fortune tects electronic components, and channels ists have difficulty understanding material Ceramic Engine Draws 76-9. more heat to the turbocharger system. It properties because not enough ceramic 25, July 1983, pp. "Syalon-super strong allows for a more efficient engine and a auto engine parts are being produced to Scott, David. Popular Sci- smaller radiator because less heat must be provide the necessary volume for sUidy. ceramic for engines, tools". 89. dissipated by the cooling system. Processing methods such as injection ence, April 1985, p. "Hot prospects The Department of Defense is also molding, slip casting, and hot isostatic Nobbe, Thomas A. Machine De- enthusiastic about ceramic engines. Be- pressing create more uniform ceramic for non-metallic engines". cause ceramic engines require less cool- parts with fewer flaws. Another method sign 26, June 1986, p. 66. ing, cooling systems could be eliminated of manufacturing is slip casting, a techni- on tanks. This would reduce weight and que based on a powder slurry. It could be maintenance costs. used to create thin-walled parts such as Ceramics research is not new, espe- cylinder liners. Uniaxial pressing is a third cially for the silicon nitride family which way to manufacture ceramics. The cera- Tech Teasers Answers includes Syalon, a material used to manu- mic powder, laced with an organic binder,

facture engine components. Syalon is is compacted in dies under an intense 1. 19.2 yards named after the chemical names of its ele- pressure of up to 30,000 psi. It is then ments which are; silicon, aluminum, ox- sintered at 3772° F in a nitrogen atmos; 2. $39, $21, and $12 ygen, and nitrogen (Si-Al-0-N). The sec- phere, making it tougher than silicon nit- ground to is tone, be- ret of this alloy is the alteration of the sili- ride. It can then be diamond 3. The word sfone beheaded con nitride crystal lattice. Aluminum precise dimensions. headed again is one. atoms replace some of the silicon atoms Reliability may also be hindered by that in the structure; oxygen atoms replace inherent frictional resistance between 4. Just a few of the monosyllables some of the nitrogen atoms. parts. This property can be controlled at will make two monosyllables are heart While silicon nitride could be used the atomic level. The process involves im- (hear and art) and stone (tone and one) for making monolithic parts such as a pis- planting metal ions into the surface of and Spain (spa and pain). How many ton head or valve, present research centers ceramics in order to provide the lubricants more can you name? Write them down on ceramic coatings. Professor Assanis needed to improve engine performance at and mail them to: coats pistons, combustion chambers, elevated temperatures. The process adds cylinder heads, and spark ignition compo- the desired lubricating quality by bom- Illinois Technograpb nents with zirconia of a thickness of 0.5 barding ceramic specimens with metallic 302 Engineering Hall very to 3.0 mm. A thicker coating would in- ions, atoms or groups of metals. A 1308 W. Green St. crease the chance of failure and diminish thin layer of metal-ceramic alloy with un- Urbana, IL 61801 the performance parameters. Assanis plans usual and extremely desirable properties is to use this procedure on a one cylnder en- created. The ion implanted layers, which gine which he received from Australia for are metal-ceramic oxides, appear to be- We will publish the answers we receive $100,000. After coating the pistons, cylin- come quasi-liquid at very high tempera- a future issue. der pads, cylinder head and liner, he may tures and thus serve as their own sacrifi- par- also place a fully ceramic valve in the en- cial lubricant. Materials used include pressed gine. tially stabilized zirconia and hot Assanis utilizes the facilities of the silicon nitride. This is one processing department of ceramic engineering at the method that can reduce some of the ex- University in manufacturing the coatings isting problems that are inherent in cera- for the engine components he uses in his mic engine component mating. research. As a result, he can better control Whether the payoffs come next year, the process and can measure the prop- in 1990, or in the year 2000, many en- erties of the materials himself. gineers are convinced that ceramics offer Perhaps the most serious problem valuable weight, wear, and insulation

with ceramic parts is their tendency to advantages. The problem now is the fracture or shatter under stress. Their brit- arduous task of finding the best ceramic tleness presents a serious technical chal- material for the job, improving reliability, lenge to both ceramic parts producers and and then improving the manufacturing

12 tech profiles

Jim Letter, visiting professor of Tschangho John Kim, professor of to expand research and development of civil engineering, has had a challenging urban and regional planning and civil en- ideas into international forums. Kim is and exciting career. After receiving an gineering, as well as associate director of particularly enthusiastic about the study

M.S. degree in civil engineering from the international programs and studies, is cer- abroad program for undergraduates in University of Mainland and an M.A. de- tainly a world class educator. Originally which University students work and study gree in government from Washington Uni- from Korea, he earned a B.S. in in foreign countries. Professor Kim invites versity. Letter worked as a consultant for architectural engineering at Hanyang Uni- all students and especially engineers to Bethlehem Steel Company and other in- versity in 1967. He went on to study "experience study abroad and broaden dustnal and private consulting firms. La- urban design at the Vienna Graduate their horizons." ter, he worked for the U.S. General Ser- School of Art and proceeded to earn an Among Professor Kim's non- vices Administration and as a contracting M.S. in urban planning at the Pratt Insti- academic goals is the improvement of the officer for the Veteran's Administration. tute in New York in 1973. Majoring in University through the creation of a cam- Within his field, Lefter has had transportation, he eventually acquired both pus-wide bus system for students" safety many accomplishments: from supervising an M.S. and a PhD. in urban planning at and convenience. The proposed bus sys- the construction of hospitals, to restoring a Princeton University. tem would enormously assist those living fire—damaged computer room in the Pen- Professor Kim usually teaches Urban in residence halls and apartments far from tagon. With the help of Mete Sozen. pro- Planning 407. Planning Evaluation, which campus. In addition, the buses would pro- fessor of civil engineering, and other con- studies the economic aspects of planning vide a safe mode of transportation, help- sultants, he developed new and now wide- and transportation policies. However. Kim ing to prevent crime on campus.

ly imitated designs to ensure the safety of is currently occupied with a variety of re- Whenever Professor Kim finally does buildings during earthquakes. He has also search projects. get time off, he likes to relax with sports. written a book. A Micro-Based Primer On He is working on two operations for He has an intense passion for golf and Structural Behavior, the result of his love the National Science Foundation which in- Kim says. "I never, never, ever skip for computers and their uses as engineer- volve developing efficient algorithms to skiing in the winter."" ing tools. solve non-linear programming problems.

Lefter is now retired from federal He is also assisting the U.S. Army Corps Ashish Mayenkar

service and is teaching as a visiting pro- of Engineers Research Laboratories in the

fessor at the University. Lefter is very development of the Expert System of Site grateful for this opportunity, as he has al- Selection, which involves artificial intelli- ways wanted to teach at this campus. Lef- gence and the creation of new computer ter's students get to share in his experi- software. ence and enthusiasm for his field, which Moreover, Kim is engaged in re- he conveys quite easily, by studying cost search for the State of Illinois on the eco- estimation in Civil Engineering 318. and nomic feasibility of transporting Illinois design, structural failures, and legal coal to Asian markets. aspects of construction in Civil Engineer- Of special interest to Kim is his cur- ing 398/498. rent position as associate director of inter- Lefter says his wife and children, national programs and studies (IPS). The along with his work, keep him busy. Any objective of IPS is to enable and encour- hobbies he has time for. such as writing, age University staff, faculty, and students

are work-related. His motto is: "We're al- ways looking for a better way.""

Steve Kropp

13 Darryl Greene knows that teamwork is the key to winning

^.'- ust a year out of school, Darryl Greene is responsible for supplies and services that support 14 major plants in GE's Lighting business. What makes this young engineer so successful, so fast? His dynamic

sense of teamwork is a big factor. He's got the confidence to interact with people at all levels. His personality inspires trust. He knows how to act like a leader, so his colleagues will act like a team.

Darryl knows it takes the best resources to back a winner. That's why he chose a job with GE. GE provides unlimited scope for outstanding talents. The diversity— in businesses, resources, and locations— is second to none. Above all, there's a real willingness to give the ball to those who are willing to M ^ run with it. If you want to be a leader, join the front-runner.

The mark ofa leader.

An equal opporWnitY emphyer. Fall 1988 Newsstand $1.40

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f v Arthur Andersen & Co. Is Proud to Be the #1 Employer of U of I Engineermg Grads for the Second Year in a Row.

We are pleased to announce the names of the 1987-1988 University of fllinois engineering graduates who have become associated with our firm:

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING Illinois Technograph Fall 1988Volume 104, Issue!

Editor-in-Chief: Kiefer K. Mayenkar Building From the Aspirations of

Beckman With the aid of Arnold O. Beckman, a Business Vallero Manager: Karen By Julie Reyer and Ken Skodacek variety of disciplines will combine efforts for the advancement of human and Production Editor: Victoria Degler artificial intelligence.

Features Editor: Iris Chang

Copy Editor: Scott Heydinger

Riding the Wind Asst. Copy Editor: Melinda Chen By Calvin Huang Winning the America's Cup Yacht Race involves cutting edge ship design. EOH Editor: Jack A. Gidding

Photo Editor: Dan Powers

Design: Brian Switzer A WISE Summer in the Nation's

Capitol Engineering students visit Washington

By Laurie Hellmer D.C. to meet legislators and research engineering-public policy issues. Publisher: Michael Smeltzer

Production Manager: Kit Donahue Engineering Family Album 10 Editorial Staff: Thomas Chuang, By Jack A. Gidding Our annual guide to some of the Minako Hashimoto, Laurie Hellmer, prominent engineering activities to be Calvin Huang, David Kenyon, Andrew found on campus. Martens, Julie Reyer, A.J.Singh, Ken Skodacek, Bijal Shah, Ketan Thakkar, Dean Wagner, Mon Yee, Deborah Departments Zandell. Editorial 2, Techvisions 4,

Photo Staff: Christopher Guy, Laurie Technovations and Techteasers 15, Hellmer, Ken Horlander, Julie Reyer, Techprofiles 17 Dean Wagner, Mon Yee.

. cover/illustrations: Brian Switzer editorial

When Money Stops Talking

Welcome to the University of Illinois. Board of Education recommends that which aside from Mr. Beckman's We are one of the nation's finest schools, students tuition should cover one third of contribution, cost Illinois $13 million in leading in the research and development the cost of instruction, average addition to annual operational costs. The

of technology which will change the lives undergraduate tuition at the University is University must also learn not to depend of those for generations to come. Indeed, about one half the cost of instruction. on supposed tax increases by the State with the construction of the $52 million To even the most casual of observers which would provide our required Beckman Institute, the S17.5 million then, the Fighting-to-stay-alive-Illini funding. This would mean stabilizing

Digital Computer Laboratory Addition, appear to be in a tight squeeze. Who is to university growth rather than infeasibly the $13.7 million Microelectronics blame? Well, let us give credit where expanding and setting aside emergency

Research Center, and other multi-million credit is due. economic resources. dollar projects, we will multiply our First, we must thank the the State of To groups such as the University scientific capabilities tenfold. Illinois, and especially Governor James Board of Trustees and specifically the Undoubtedly, the University of Illinois Thompson. Thank them, not for vetoing a Task Force On Campus Priorities, which will be on the cutting edge of science well larger tax bill which would have funded was responsible for a report on the studies into the 21st century and so on and so our school, but for their less than practical of downsizing, but claimed that they forth. allocation of state funds. Thank them for didn't know they were supposed to

There you have the sales pitch. Now building the State of Illinois Center in present the report: I advise that in future

you get the facts. Financially speaking, Chicago which cost twice its original meetings, spell out exactly what is to be

the University is experiencing one of its estimate. Thank them for accepting the done. Efficiency is warranted in this worst periods. Due to the ingenuity of highest rather than the lowest bid for the economic crisis. state legislators and university construction of the Department of Lottery Lastly, students should learn from the administrators alike, we are on the Building, and for spending $350,000 of developments of the past few years that forefront of a $40 million downsizing of the State's Road Fund on the Executive involvernent and input in State and

educational programs. In addition to vital Mansion rose garden. Never mind the University affairs is important.

instruction being cut, brilliant professors University of Illinois which is desperately Organizations such as Student are being drawn to other schools with trying to maintain existing programs. Government Association, LAS Council, more lucrative offers. Student affairs and Never mind the adverse effect of this on United Progressives, as well as College activities, career development and the thousands of individuals who are to Republicans and Democrats should voice placement, and the Dean's office face play important roles in the state's as well their concerns more loudly, and more severe cutbacks. Centrally held repair and as the country's future. Point made? actively seek to influence State and rennovation funds are gone and we cannot Secondly, we must thank University University decision makers.

purchase needed equipment, library administrators. To this group I must say Clearly, University economics is a

books, and journals. that the development of better foresight is science of complex variables. There are Since the State of Illinois has refused in order. Upon initiation of new programs no rights or wrongs, but more often

to pass a new tax bill which would have and multi-million dollar construction compromises that might possibly work. allowed the University to have the projects, priorities should be clearly The underlying truth or bottom line, if

necessary funds, one might ask, "Who is assesed and allocations analyzed. In you will, in this chaos is that practicality

paying for all of the above?" The answer simpler words, upgrade what already must replace Utopian visions.

is obvious, the students. exists rather than begin endeavours which The University of Illinois has had a may never reach completion. State and reputation for maintaining an affordable, capital development bond funds need not Kiefer K. Mayenkar yet quality education. Until now. Tuition be expended merely because they exist.

was raised $300 in 1987 and is threatened Current programs in need of financial with further increases. In fact, the average assistance should be investigated more vZl annual tuition increase between 1978 and thoroughly. Overcrowded classrooms, /f/fYr 1988 at all other Big Ten schools was declining faculty, removal and

Illinois Technograph invites letters in response to its articles and SI 21 while at Illinois it was $169. Fees at replacement of unintelligible teaching ediioriaJs. or any other items of interest to its readership. Articles, the Urbana campus have risen by 139.2 assistants as well as maintainance and photographs, and other contributions arc also welcome Letters must be percent since 1978, an annual rate of 10.2 rennovation of existing facilities are more signed, but names will be withheld on request. percent. In addition, while the Illinois important than say, the Beckman Institute Building From the Aspirations of Beckman

The area north of Green Street at the from the state, is expected to bring the Institute, the proposed quadrangle, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University to the apex of another field: the Engineering Complex should make the campus is rapidly changing. With the understanding of both human and artificial area north of Green Street a place for

addition to the Digital Computer intelligence. It will focus on students, faculty and others to relax Laboratory, the Microelectronics Research interdisciplinary research bonding biology, between designing planes and crushing Center and the Arnold O. and Mabel M. behavior, and cognition to material atoms. Beckman Institute for Advanced Science science, computers, and computation. Most feel the Institute will have a and Technology, the engineering campus Specific studies will include neuronal positive influence on sUidents. It will

is shaping up. The Beckman Institute is pattern analysis, materials chemistry bring researchers from across the country, by far the largest enhancement to the approach to submicron structures, and allowing students to broaden their area. It is built on an innovative idea visual processing in complex systems. knowledge in a wide variety of designed in part to usher the University of No researcher will be awarded a disciplines. Students will gain Illinois into the 21st century. pemienant position at Beckman; each will opportunities to learn from such

Arnold Beckman is a University of still be tenured in a department on researchers on an individual basis, as well

Illinois alumnus with a B.S. degree in campus, be it electrical engineering, as acquire hands-on experience. Chemical Engineering and a M.S. degree cognitive science or philosophy. The At a statue unveiling ceremony on in Physical Chemistry. He went on to faculty members will have a position for a October 8, 1988, Arnold Beckman receive his Ph.D. from the California specific, but extendable, period of time. declared, "My wife and I are indebted to Institute of Technology. In 1935, while This will assure that the staff remains both the University for giving us the teaching chemical engineering at Caltech, fresh and competitive. The building was opportunity to be a part of this great he formed his company, Beckman designed to accommodate this manner of concept." Dr. Beckman neglected the fact

Instruments. Since then Beckman has operation. With the exception of basic that the University of Illinois, its faculty amassed a half-billion dollar fortune due operating equipment, such as wiring, and students, are indebted to him. Were it in most part to the sale of his $618 plumbing, and venting, the rooms of the not for the generousity and drive of Dr. million company in 1982. building are not specifically designated for Beckman, the Beckman Instiuite for

Arnold Beckman is not hoarding his any one purpose. Advanced Science and Technology would fortune, however. Instead, he has created Researchers will be responsible for never have been realized. It could have the Beckman Foundation to disperse a acquiring their own equipment through been an idea tossed around for years, or a portion of his funds to institutions, funding from federal and private research project that was cancelled due to lack of primarily universitities, for research and grants. This allowed the University to funding. As it is, the University should be development. As head of the foundation invest a large portion of the $53 million proud to have a place where ideas from Beckman believes in taking a personal toward the building itself. The estimated different disciplines can be shared, approach to selecting recipients; he $7 to $8 million per year operating costs perhaps over lunch, to find the keys to himself reviews each application. During should be the only expenditures that the understanding human and artificial his in depth analysis of an institution's University must render. intelligence. financial responsibility, he mainly seeks The concept of an interdisciplinary those that will utilize a contribution most research facility came about five years ago effectively. from Lewis Barron of the University of Julie Reyer and Ken Skodacek In the past, the Foundation made a Illinois Foundation. The pushing done by donation to the supercomputing center at University President Stanley Ikenberry, the University of Illinois. The Director Theodore Brown, and Beckman supercomputer has expanded the himself has resulted in a 313,000 square capabilities of researchers on campus and foot building located on Illinois field, provided a network of knowledge and south of University Avenue and east of

information. The center has placed the Wright Street. The Institute is expected to University at the pinnacle of computer be completed by January of 1989, only research. two years after construction began.

The Beckman Institute, made possible The Beckman Institute is expected to by a $40 million contribution from the greatly enhance the north end of the Foundation and approximately $13 million University. The combination of the tech visions

After five yeans of planning and waiting, the Beckinan Institute for Advanced Science and Technology nears completion Photographs by Julie Reyer and Ken Horlander Riding the Wind

Long ago the Phoenicians, ancient The use of technology in the New that is wide enough to be stable while a seafarers, sailed on the Mediterranean Zealand goes beyond just materials. For catamaran can have two narrow hulls Sea. Their crude wooden ships were slow instance, the hull and keel of the New placed apart for stability; a wide hull has and inefficient. Since then. Man has come Zealand were designed by computer to more drag than two narrow ones. a long way in sailing technology. be streamlined like an airplane. The final The Stars and Stripes' hulls are made Advancements in aeronautics and results are a hull only 14 feet wide at the out of carbon fiber like the New Zealand, materials have made sailing ships faster waterline and a low drag keel. In addition but the similarities end there. Besides and better. Perhaps the best examples of the New Zealand, following the lead of being a catamaran, the most obvious how far Man has come are two ships of modem airplanes and cars, comes difference between the two ships is the the America's Cup, a prestigious yachting equipped with three computers. One keeps type of sail. The Stars and Stripes has a event which occurred two months ago. track of boat speed, both true and wingmast, or rigid sail. Although These ships, the Stars and Stripes and optimum. The second computer measures wingmasts have been around for about ten the New Zealand , are the fastest and stress being placed on the ship's frame. years, there has never been one designed most modem sailing ships yet built by The third works with miniature TV by a top aeronautical engineer. The Stars Man. cameras placed atop the mast, taking and Stripes' wingmast was designed by The New Zealand, although the loser images of the sails and comparing them Burt Rutan, the designer of the Voyager, of the America's Cup, is still a sailing with "target" shapes. As a result, the the plane that flew around the world vessel to be respected and admired. More crew of the New Zealand can then without refueling. Made of carbon fiber. than likely, she is the fastest sailing adjust the sails for optimal performance. Mylar, and Dacron, the wingmast is monohuU in the world, able to reach a Compared to the Stars and Stripes. essentially a giant, vertical wing. It rises speed near 25 miles per hour. Her ability however, the New Zealand is a step 108 feet into the air and is larger than a for speed comes from her high-tech behind in speed and technology. The wing of a Boeing 747. Whereas an construction and also from her size. The difference in speed is because the Stars airplane wing provides lift, the sail latter is what catches one's attention first. and Stripes is in a different class of provides horizontal thrust. To enhance

For a yacht, the New Zealand is a big sailing ships than the New Zealand. The pert'ormance, the Stars and Stripes' ship. A typical 12-Meter yacht, the Stars and Stripes is a catamaran, a two wingmast has a slotted flap, also known traditional type of boat used in the hulled ship, whereas the New Zealand is by some as a Fowler flap. A top view of

America's Cup, is 65 feet long and needs a monohull. According to Professor Allen the wingmast would show that it is

a crew of 1 1 . In comparison, the New Ormsbee of Aeronautical and essentially comprised of two airfoils with Zealand stretches 132 feet in length and Astronautical Engineering at the a slot between the two. The trailing edge has a crew of 40. Her mast reaches a University of Illinois, a catamaran is the of the first airfoil, the slat, controls the height of 150 feet, holding up sails that faster of the two because a ship's speed is size of the slot. The two airfoils work in cover about 20.000 square feet. This large limited by its length and width. A sailing conjunction with the slat to to improve size enables the sails, which can literally ship has a transverse wave train, which performance of the wingmast. As crush a man with their sheer weight, to originates at the bow, attached to the hull. explained by Professor Ormsbee. the first provide an extraordinary amount of thrust As the ship's speed increases, the wave airfoil splits the air, creating low pressure for the New Zealand. speed increases as does the period of the on one side and high pressure on the

It is important to note, however, that waves. When the period of the waves other. The slot between the two airfoils being big does not mean the New approaches the hull length, the drag of the allows the air from the high pressure side

Zealand is heavy. In fact, the New hull increases rapidly to large values, to travel to the low pressure side in a high

Zealand only weighs around 70,000 creating a speed barrier as the drag speed stream. This is known as the pounds, close to the 60,000 pound weight prevents the ship from accelerating. Thus, Venturi effect. The stream of air has low of a typical 12-Meter yacht. The "low" a long hull is desired as a long hulled ship pressure, thus putting a pressure difference weight can be attributed to the use of a can reach higher speed before the period on either side of the second airfoil and high-tech material, carbon fiber. This is a of the waves approaches the hull length adding to the horizontal thrust. This is

lightweight but strong material. The use and prevents the ship from accelerating. similar to an airplane deploying its flaps of innovative materials also extends to the The Stars and Stripes has two long during takeoff. sails, which are made out of Kevlar and hulls. This is a furthur advantage in that Mylar. The former provides strength, the drag can be reduced without losing latter light weight. stability. A monohull must have a hull The wingmast, along with the advantages that a catamaran has over a monohull. makes the Stars and Stripes possibly the fastest wind-powered ship in the world. She can reach a speed of around 30 niiles per hour. That may not seem fast to many considering there are cars that can travel over 200 miles per hour and jets that can fly three times the

speed of sound, but 30 miles f)er hour is still fast enough to outrace any man. A world class swimmer moves about 4 miles per hour while a top sprinter can run only about 20 miles per hour. In comparison,

30 miles per hour is plenty fast, enough to pull a water skier. If the Phoenicians could somehow be brought to the present. the>' would be amazed by the A'ew Zealand and even more amazed by the Stars and Stripes. The use of high-tech equipment as well as exotic materials has pushed the limits of sailing farther away. Man has come a long way in sailing technolog\ and will probably go even further in riding the wind.

Calvin Huang

Drawing of Stan and Stripes by Brian Switzer. A WISE Summer In the Nation's Capitol

Washington Internship tor Students of Engineering (WISE) provides a unique opportunity' for saidents to learn the role

engineers play in the fomiation of national legislation. Last summer, 16 participants from universities around the countrv spent ten weeks in Washington, D.C., meeting with government officials, corporate representatives and lobbyists. The WISE

program is coordinated by the American Society for Engineering Education

(ASEE) and is funded by engineering societies such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The WISE program began eight years ago in an attempt to bridge the gap between the vsorld of technology and the coinplex legislative process. The goal of the WISE

program is to introduce engineering

students to the manner in which the government develops policy on technical Students also issues and the existing and ptJtential role experience the .science of professional engineers in that prtKess. and history of our Engineering societies are aware of the nation in the tremendous impact that federal decisions Smithsonian Institute can have on the members of their profession. To keep members informed on imp

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, their research, each student prepared a Several of the 1 988 intems have hopes Governor Sununu of New Hampshire, 25-30 page report, and at the end of the of pursuing careers in Washington D.C, lobbyists, auto industry executives. State summer, gave an oral presentation but the majority of students are planning Department officials and Capitol Hill defending their conclusions. to work as engineers after completing staffers. As well as meeting these leaders, The diverse interests of the 1988 their education. Regardless of their future

the 1988 intems toured Three Mile Island. intems was evident in the variety of aspirations, there is no doubt that participation in the WISE program was

beneficial to all of the students involved. The experience taught the interns the basics of the complex legislative process, and more importantly, taught them how

important it is for everyone, especially engineers, to voice their opinions to congress.

The WISE program is a wonderful opportunity for any engineering student

who is looking for a productive, educational, and enjoyable way to spend

their summer. The program is open to junior engineering students and faculty members. Sixteen students and one faculty member are chosen each year. A

stipend is provided that is sufficient to

cover all housing, travel and living expenses incurred during the ten-week stay in Washington D.C. Those interested

in participating in the 1989 WISE program must submit an application by December 20, 1988. The selection of the

participants is based on the student's extracurricular activities, academic record,

letters of recommendation and a short essay. Applicaions can be obtained from Tim Turner of ASEE at (202) 293-7080.

Laurie Hellmer, a senior in Civil Engineering, participated in the 1988 WISE program.

Engineering Societies that Sponsored 1988 WISE Interns Engineering Family Album

This sampling of engineering societies Alpha Pi Mu American Institute of Chemical gives a taste of the wide variety of Alpha Pi Mu, the industrial Engineers (AICHE) activities that can spice up the hfe of an engineering honor society, is composed of AlCHE keeps chemical engineering engineering student. juniors and seniors who rank in the top 25 students informed in a variety of ways. and 30 jjcrcent of their industria Plant trips and guest speakers at meetings Association for Computing Machinery engineering classes, respectively. The give students contact with the "real" (ACM) organazation was founded in order to give chemical engineering world. For academic The Student Briinch of this recognition to students who have shown help here at the University, the group organization is dedicated to the education exceptional academic achievement and offers peer advising on courses. Social and understanding of computer science participation in extra-curricular activities. events give a welcome break from the applications -- "computing science" and Alpha Pi Mu gives its members a wide pressure of classes. For more infomiation, — in society. The society holds many variety of activities to participate in such contact Scon Goffinet at 333-1587. activities such as a Career Day, Professor as peer advising, meetings with guest Association of Minority Students in Symposia, and has many special interest speakers, social activities, and Engineering (AMSIE) groups dealing with such various topics as participation in the Engineering Open Many opportunities are open to artificial intelligence, music synthesis, and House project. For more information, minorities in engineering, and AMSIE computer graphics. Tlie society, by contact Alison Odom 337-5985. helps locate these oppxjrtunities. Not only working in close association with the American Ceramic Society, Student does the society offer peer counseling,but Science, is Department of Computer Branch (SBACS) it also offers information on writing a capable of providing both undergraduate The Smdent Branch of the American good resume and seeking out jobs in a and graduate students with an effective Ceramic Society was founded at the variety of areas of engineering. For more channel of communications and University of Illinois in 1915. SBACS information, contact Jeff Johnson at continuing education. For more provides students with information on past 337-7434. information about the society, contact and current developments in ceramic American Society of Agricultural Rich Bloch at 356-2477. engineering and related fields, the Engineers (ASAE) Associated General Contractors (AGC) activities of the American Ceramic The ASAE is an organization mostly The student chapter of the Associated Society, cooperative events with other composed of agricultural engineers and is that tries to General Contractors a group engineering branches, and a spirit of some ag. mechanic students, but it is provide for the many aspects of one's fellowship through monthly meetings and open to students in all fields of interests. education that are not taught in the various functions. The SBACS also The society has student branch meetings classroom. Made up of civil engineers, sponsors such activities as the Engineering every three weeks. The ASAE promotes this society sponsors social activities that Open House project, a Tailgreat tailgate, a student-faculty interactions by promoting bring together different people who may fall hayride, intermural sfwrts teams, and and funding many department gatherings one day be working together. a traditional pig roast. For more such as a fall picnic, student-staff is to The main emphasis of the group information, contact Stacey Trella at welcome night, and a spring banquet. The give civil engineers practical experience 384-5793. club also promotes school activities such through community service. The group American Institute of Aeronautics and as sporting events. Engineering Open tries to perform one project per year in Astronautics (AIAA) House, and student welcome nights. which its are completely in members AJAA is a national organization for Likewise, community interaction is very charge of the design, methods, bidding, students expressing an interest in important, and is usually achieved by and labor. Since the labor is donated, the aeronautics or the aerospace industry. The blood drives and lawnmower community benefits as much as the AJAA has monthly meetings with guest summerizing. Contact Jim Sutor at students. For more information, contact speakers from major aeronautical 367-2208 for more information. John Shales at 356-2477. corporations and sponsors fequent plant trips for club members. The society also provides many social fiinctions that give students a chance to meet fellow students and professors on an informal basis. For more information, contact Beth Baird at 356-8725. American Society of Civil Engineers Engineering Freshman Committee Last year bioengineering won Best (ASCE) (EEC) Department Honors in Engineering Open

ASCE is the liason between students Engineering Freshman Committee is House competition, and the EMBS was and professionals in civil engineering. partially what its name implies but also named Best Profesional Society by the

With its various activities, it gives much more. Sponsored by Engineering Engineering Council. This year the EMBS students a feel for civil engineering that Council, EFC is an organization designed is challenging its members to "make the they cannot get in the classroom. The to be a "touchstone" for engineering best better!" Engineer-in-Training (EFT) refresher students new to curriculum and unfamiliar Institute of Electrical and Electronic course helps students survive the EIT with their majors. The bimonthly Engineers (IEEE) exam. Besides academic activities, the meetings are open to all freshman IEEE is a professional society society has various social activities. engineering students. The meetings inform involved in various aspects of electrical Contact Randall Romach at 359-2208 for members of the current activities of EFC engineering in both education and more information. as well as present a guest speaker. In industry. The IEEE chapter at the

American Society of Mechanical addition, EFC publishes a bimonthly University is one of the largest and most Engineers (ASME) newsletter, sponsors contests and other active of the chapters in the United States. This national professional society has social events, contributes to the success of The student chapter plans various career a student chapter here on campus. It gives Engineering Open House, and organizes related activities throughout the year. The students access to papers from the national the Colege of Engineering Blood Drive. IEEE offers speakers at meetings, plant chapter. Monthly meetings offer speakers For more information, contact Jason trips, and student related publications and from industry. The society also sponsors Struthers at 333-3558. programs. For more information, contact an Engineer-in-Training refresher course. Engineering in Medicine and Biology Bob Tata at 328-3210. For more information, contact Michael Society Dlinois Society of General Engineers Chu at 367-3138. Ten years ago. a small group of (ISGE)

Chi Epsilon students formed the bioengineering society "Something for Everyone" is this Chi Epsilon is the civil engineering honor to promote the application of engineering year's ISGE theme. ISGE sponsors sports, society. Chi Epsilon has three meetings in life sciences. This year the group has happy hours on Fridays, ir.formational each semester and is involved in several joined a national professional sessions for underclassmen, and campus activities. Every year, Chi Epsilon takes organization, the Engineering in Medicine affairs projects. pictures of all seniors in civil engineering and Biology Society. Though this move To date, ISGE held two meals with for the senior picture case. In the fall, the has changed the society's name, its speakers for freshmen, one on "Academic chapter hosts the Purdue chapter in purpose remains the same. The EMBS Success" and the other on the general volleyball, and in the spring, Chi Epsilon provides students an opportunity to engineering curriculum. The society has travels to Purdue to play Softball. Several explore the field of bioengineering by already hosted it's first speaker from new programs are being started to presenting speakers from academia and industry who spoke about "Opening Shop promote student faculty relations, such as business, organizing trips to manufacturers - A Career Option". For more a faculty help day and the "Take a and hospitals, supporting indepiendent information, contact Louis Wozniak at Professor to Lunch" program. Chi study projects, participating in community 586-4289.

Epsilon , besides starting a test file, also service projects on and off campus, and has many social events such as happy promoting student-faculty interaction in hours and parties. Contact Karen Mitchell professional and social settings. Because at 356-8725 for more information. students also learn from one another, the EMBS also offers peer couseling and tutoring, coordinates with other interest groups, and plans social events. Students in the EMBS not only learn about bioengineering, they also inform others about the field through extensive participation in Engineering Open House. 1

International Society of Hybrid Physics Society (PS) Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

Microelectronics (ISHM) Our society is basically an academic This professional engineering society, One of the main functions of the organization. We administer to anyone open to both men and women, exists to International Society of Hybrid interested in the field of physics or related support women engineers. The

Microelectronics is to promote an fields. We host speakers on graduate University's branch recruits women awareness to students of the existence of schools, present research, and popular engineers to sf)eak about engineering hybrid microelectronics. It is available to areas of concern. We sponsor one trip a careers and the resources available to those interested in microecectronics semester to research firms like Argonne women engineers. For more information, including those who have not yet been National Laboratory and Fermilab. We call Lorelei Hunt at 332-4415. exposed to hybrid microelectronics. Each represent the Physics Department in the lUinois Technograph spring ISHM participates in the nationally Engineering Open House. In addition to As an interdisciplinary magazine, the renowned Engineering Open House, an our academics, we also have some pure Technograph is dedicated to bringing event that ISHM does consistently well fun with happy hours, bowling nights, ice engineering students the latest information in. Throughout the school year, ISHM skating or the like. All are welcome to about technology. The Technograph has enjoys invititng its members to several participate. Drop by the PS office at 21 positions for students with writing skills, social gatherings which give members a Loomis Lab for more information. interest in photography, or business chance to meet and talk in a friendly Sigma Gamma Tau acumen. Students interested in becoming atmosphere. In addition, ISHM attempts Sigma Gamma Tau is an honor published author or photographer should to sponsor guest speakers that discuss society for aerosapce engineers. It seeks call Kiefer Mayenkar at 332-4035. current technology and field trips to to identify and recognize achievement and Tau Beta Pi companies involved with hybrid excellence in the aerospace field. The This honorary society was founded in microelectronics. requirement for admission is to be in the 1885 to recognize outstanding academic Keramos top 25 percent of the junior class, top 33 achievement in juniors, seniors, and Keramos is the Ceramic Engineering percent of the senior class, or a graduate graduate students. The Illinois Alpha Honorary Fraternity. The local chapter has student in good standing. Activities that Chapter offers a variety of services and

been ver>' active this semester. In SGT is involved in are a paper airplane projects to benefit its members, the September, Keramos held a "Get To contest in the spring, a highly successful University, as well as the community. For

Know The Department" party, and in tutoring program for all AAE classes, a underclassman of all majors, Tau Beta Pi

October, we sponsored an event in Tau winter banquet for all new initiates, an has a free tutoring system and also Beta Pi's Engineering Olympics. The Engineering Open House Project, and sponsers Outstanding Freshman and society also sold textbooks to students at various social activities. For more Sophomore Awards. This year the Alpha discounted prices. information, contact David Andreshak at Chapter coordinated the First Annual Current Keramos projects include the 398-1184. Engineering Olympics which involved 200

compilation of a resume bix)k that will be Society of Hispanic Professional engineering students from all curricula. sent to over 200 companies. This book Engineers (SHPE) General meetings for this organization are

will include all degree levels as well as The Society of Hispanic Professional held once a month with speakers from

students interested in summer or co-op Engineers(SHPE) is a national industry. This spring they will hold a

work. Keramos is also in the process of organization which supports the Summer Job Fair for all engineers on setting up a file system and compiling development of hispanic engineers and February 20. For more information on

faculty evaluation questionaires. Keramos scientists. The student chapter at the Tau Beta Pi, contact Michelle Ohms at

is currently trying to gather various University is focused on the retention and 333-3558. ceramic parts from corporations which we recruitment of students in the engineering will display in the showcases in the and science disciplines. There are a wide Ceramic Engineering building. Contact variety of positions including a regional Sharron Tracy at 328-4798 for more and national representative. Some of the information. SHPE activities include Engineering Open House projects, corporate speakers, career workshops, and notional and regional seminars. For further information, contact Assistant Dean of Engineering, Paul E. Parker, at 333-2280.

12 Triangle Fraternity

Triangle is a social fraternity composed of engineering, architecture, and science majors who are looking for more from their college experience. The Triangle Brotherhood offers a wide range of social, athletic, and leadership activities while maintaining high academic standards. Students interested in discovering the advantages of Triangle should contact Rush Chairman Rubin Mesa at 384-9668. University of Illinois Metallurgical Society (UIMS)

This is an academic organization which aids students in learning about metallurgical engineering and materials science outside the classroom. For example, this year members attended the World Materials Congress in Chicago and toured the Bums Harbor Bethlehem Steel Plant. Members of UIMS also have opportunities to get to know their professors and classmates on more a personal level through a variety of activities including the annual fall picnic, spring pig roast, and sports tournaments.

Meetings are usually held the first

Thursday of every month at 6:30 in 119 MMB. For more information about UIMS, contact Sherry Brown at 332-6041.

Jack A. Gidding

13 tech teasers technovations

What's NExT?

Besides a form of the 1 . Which of the following poker hands On Wednesday, October 12, Steven UNIX is the best'.' (on an ordinary 52 card deck P. Jobs, the fomier chairman of Apple Operating System, each computer is with no wild cords) Computer Co., unveiled his latest equipped with a variety of software that a)AH AD AS AC KD KS innovation to the computer market. After computer users will find very useful. The b)AH AD AS AC QS QC Jobs was ousted from Apple, the computer comes with a music kit, a word c)AH AD AS AC 6S 6D company he founded in his garage, he processor, database, electronic mail d)AH AD AS AC 3D 3S and four other ex-Apple designers began program, dictionary, thesaurus, Oxford

2. What is the only seven digit number creation on a new computer and Dictionary of Quotations, and the that, when its digits are reversed, becomes company, both named NeXT. complete works of Shakespeare. Also a factor of itself.' (excluding numbers that The NeXT computer was created to included is the Objective C Compiler and read the same forward ;ind backward). compete with desktop systems such as the a copy of Mathematica, the equation

3. Four people have ages that are all Apple Macintosh 11, the Compaq 386, solving program written by University of prime numbers and add to 50. Assuming and Sun Workstations. The NeXT unit Illinois Physics Professor, Stephan one of the ages is already known, how boasts a 25MHz processor speed and a Wolfram. old are the four people? standard 8 megabyte(Mb) of memory, The best part about the NeXT, besides 4. How many trees can be put on a 100 expandable to 16 Mb. The NeXT operates the wide variety of hardware and foot square field if, from center to center, on Motorola 68030 32 bit microprocessor, software, is probably the price of $6,500. no two trees are closer than ten feet apart? a Motorola 68882 math coprocessor for This price makes the NeXT very (assume trees can be centered on the extended number handling capacity, and a competitive with the other machines. The borders of the field). Motorola 56001 Digital Signal NeXT, for a time however, will only be

5. In order for Mary to take the shortest Processor(DSP). available on college campuses. After Jobs route to class, she crosses a street, then The 56001 DSP handles most of the has catered to the universities, he will crosses the same street again. How is this communication aspects of the computer begin to make it available to other possibly the shortest route? and allows the NeXT several extended customers.

6. How is it possible to lay a book fiat on capabilities such as speech synthesis, Jack A. Gidding the fioor of an empty rcwm in a place sound output in digital CD format (44.1 Creating Rehabilitation Devices vshere the book cannot be jumped over? kHz), and FAX output through the

7. A man is killed by a rock without the machine's built-in 9600 baud modem. A disabled man who could not talk or rock ever touching him. How is this The actual machine is black and has a move used one finger to type pages possible? black 17" Sony gray scale monitor. The describing his life into a computer. In the 12" black cube that contains the CPU is past, a caretaker had to help him by manufactured out of magnesium. This is moving the computer to his bed. said to dissipate heat buildup easier and University of Illinois engineering properly block electromagnetic radiation. students designed a mechanical table to The NeXT uses a 286 Mb move the computer to the patient's chest "Magneto-Optical" Drive for informtion level at the push of a button. The man storage. TTie optical drive has the now works for a computer company and capability to store approximately 100,000 manipulates data without leaving his bed.

pages on a disk that is similar to an audio U. of I. engineering students are compact disc. This optical drive, creating and modifying devices for developed by Sony and NeXT, disabled people in the community and implements two additional integrated nearby cities, thanks to a special program circuits that speed disk access. funded by the National Science The NeXT also contains an Ethernet Foundation. Mark Strauss, a University of interface for networking applications and Illinois FVofessor of Rehabilitation has available an optional laser printer. Education Services and General Rumored to be in development for the Engineering, received a five year

NeXT is an optional color graphics card. $109,000 NSF grant to buy supplies and advertise the service to disabled community people.

14 Cancer Detected By Magnet

The purpose of the grant is two-fold. A recycled magnet can help ANSWERS

Strauss said. "One is to provide technical University of Illinois researchers detect 1. Since all three hands cannot occur in the expertise for disabled people," he said. cancer in its early stages. same round, they must be taken as separate

"The other is to provide some real life Dr. Harold M. Swartz, Professor of cases. By counting the number of hands experience for engineering students. It is Medicine and Biophysics, received a that can beat each, choice c is the best. amazing how some common sense skills magnet previously used for magnetic 2. 9899901

are not taught in the classrooms." resonance imaging and applied it to 3. The ages are 2,2,3 and 43. The oldest Students volunteer to work on projects electron spin resonance. age must be 43 or there would be more

and receive college credit. The program "What is currently lacking in medical than one possibility.

started in June and students have already technology is a good way to measure 4. By alternating rows of ten and eleven helped another university student injured oxygen concentration in the tissue of trees each, forming equilateral triangles

in a car accident. The student can only animals," Swartz said. between them, 128 trees can be fit into speak in a whisper because his larynx was Many diseases, such as strokes, the field. damaged in the accident. The engineering tumors and inflammations, are 5. Mary walks on Goodwin, just south of

students designed a headset with an characterized by lower oxygen Gregory, where the road has a curve in it. amplifier and attached a speaker to his concentrations, he said. Electron spin By walking in a straight line, she will

wheelchair. The student can now actively resonance is used to measure cross the street twice. participate in class discussions. concentrations of unpaired electrons. "It 6. F*ut the book in a comer of the room.

Students are also devising a harness is especially sensitive to oxygen because it 7. The man is Sup)erman and the rock is for a Springfield photographer, after a has two unpaired electrons." Swartz said. Kryptonite. stroke paralyzed the entire left side of his Even the smallest cancer growth, the body. The harness will position the earliest collection of cells, will decrease camera in front of his face so the the oxygen concentration in that spot. Dean Wagner photographer can use his one free hand to Strokes and heart attacks decrease blood focus the camera and take pictures. flow and will cut off oxygen to the brain Other student projects range from a and heart. musical pH meter to check the water in a The magnet pinpoints the area of low swimming pool, to an instrument that can oxygen concentration. In the past, temporarily bolt a wheelchair to the researchers could only study small animals ground so a handicapped student can open such as mice by placing them between the the heavy doors of campus buildings. poles of magnets. The larger magnet

"After we build the device, we give it enables Swartz and his research team to to the needy person free," Strauss said. study the cells of bigger animals like The student who designs the best project dogs. will win a free trip to a national Paul C. Lauterburg, the inventor of engineering conference to present his or magnetic resonance imaging and the her work. director of the University of Illinois Currently, there are more projects to Biomedical Magnetic Resonance work on than student volunteers, Strauss Laboratory, gave the magnet to Swartz's said. Students interested in participating in Electron Spin Resonance Center. the program should see Strauss at 124 Rehabiliation Education Center or call him

at 333-4613. Iris Chang

Iris Chang

15 tech profiles

We;inng a smile as he teaches Bicx;hemistry 352, Professor Shec-Mang Yen, Professor of Aeronautical and Astronautical H.E. Conrad lectures over the structure of proteins. As Associate Engineering, has taught at the University of Illinois for 32 years. Head of the University' of Illinois Department of Biochemistry, He received his undergraduate degree at Chiao-Tung University Prof. Conrad has taught nearly every course offered by the in China. In 1947, he came to the University for graduate work,

BicKhemistry Department during his 30 years here. and later earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. Yen left Originally from Washington D.C.. Conrad received his B.S. the University for five years to teach at Kansas State University, from Louisiana State University, and went on to receive his but returned by 1956 to teach in the Department of Aeronautical Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1954. He came to the and Astronautical Engineering. Now his classes concentrate University of Illinois in 1958 to perform postdoctoral work and mainly on viscous flows and rarefied gas dynamics. received his first faculty appointment in 1962. He has lived in Professor Yen has many interesting accomplishments. He Dlinois ever since. has been a consultant, and has worked with many large Whether working on nutritional studies in the military during corporations, such as McDonnell Douglas, Boeing Aircraft, and the Korean War, or on vitamins during a period in which he NASA. Some of his past research has involved redesigning the worked in industry. Prof. Conrad has always been involved in propulsion system for the F-4 jet fighter, designing the nose biochemistry. His interest in science was stimulated by his cone of the MX missle, and calculating the wave drag of ship father, also a scientist, who worked for the Dept. of Agriculture hulls. Currently, he is working on two projects which involve studying the physical chemistry of cellulose. the study of aerodynamics for hyjjersonic aircraft and space Heading a research group consisting of five graduate students vehicles. and four postdoctoral suidents. Prof. Conrad concentrates on two One of Yen's goals is to become involved with more major areas of research stemming from his earlier doctoral work students working toward their Ph.D.'s. He has revived research on polysaccharides. in rarefied gas dynamics with applications toward a space

The first area of research regards heparan sulfate, a sulfated vehicle program, and established new research in hypersonic mucopolysaccharide that exhibits blood anticoagulant activity. flow programs to apply technology ft'om missies toward

Heparan sulfate is synthesized in hepatocytes, or liver cells, and airplanes. in all other animal cells. Prof. Conrad's research has shown that For 32 years. Yen has generally taught graduate students. He heparan sulfate appears in the nuclei of hepatocytes and changes likes teaching and working with students because he finds it an the growth behavior of the cells. Although studies on the interesting challenge. Professor Yen believes, "What makes life biosynthesis, secretion, maturation and degradation of heparan worth living is that you leam something new every day." sulfate continue, research at present concentrates on the possible functions of this polysaccharide in the regulation of cell growth and metabolism. Chondroitin sulfate and collagen represent the other area of Andrew Martens research for the Conrad team. Chondrocytes, or cartilage cells, pnxiucc the chondroitin sulfate and collagen which give rise to the extracellular cartilage matrix in which bone calcification takes place. Bones calcify from the center outward, depositing calcium phosphate in this extracellular matrix. This is one of the main reasons that bones break near the ends where they have not yet fully calcified. Research presently is directed toward the factors which regulate chondroitin sulfate and collagen synthesis prior to bone calcification. Outside of research. Prof. Conrad enjoys sporting events, but has long since retired from his active participation of earlier days on the BicKhemistry Department's softball team.

Mon Lee

16 Fellowships

"They are committed to continuing education. Working at Hughes will allow me to pursue itjy advanced technical degree.

-Member Technical Staff, EE Radar Systems Group

All of the technological advancements that have been Hughes Fellows work full-time during the summer During created at Hughes are merely an indication of greater things the academic year, Work-Study Fellows work part-time to come. while studying at a nearby university; Full-Study Fellows attend classes full-time. With a Hughes Fellowship, you could be creating a better future for yourself by studying for your Master's or Doctorate Hughes is involved in more than 100 different in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing), technologies and 1,700 different projects. This incredible or Physics. Computer Science diversity allows us to offer an Engineering Rotation Pro- gram for those interested in diversifying their work You'll tuition, books and fees, an educational stipend, receive experience. full employee benefits, relocation expenses, professional- level salary, summer employment and technical experience. earn- This package could be worth $25,000-$50,000 a year. Since 1949, more than 6,000 men and women have ed advanced technical degrees with the help of Hughes While you're completing your degree, you'll also have the Fellowships. Join us in creating the next generation of advancing the future yours opportunity to gain valuable experience at Hughes facilities technological wonders by — in Southern California, Arizona or Colorado. and ours.

Hughes Aircraft Company, Corporate Fellowship Office Dept. l\/IE88-9, BIdg. C1/B168, P.O. Box 45066, Los Angeles, CA 90045-0066 Please consider me a candidate for a Hughes Fellowship and send me the necessary information and application materials.

PLEASE PRINT; Name Home Phone & Hours Rob Bongiorno hardly ever shows up at the office.

_ 'laying out of the office is a big part of Rob's job. He's out in the marketplace working with customers. That's what he hkes and does best. leader- Rob is in GE's Technical Sales Program, an 18-month ship experience for engineers with strong interpersonal skills. It's a great choice for technical people who want to provide solutions to customers' problems. Rob stays on the leading edge. He anticipates change in highly competitive markets. He responds to customers with creative problem solving. His efforts are supported by resources that only a multi- billion -dollar company can offer. a On top of all that. Technical Sales has put Rob on track as office potential leader of C.P:. Did you ever think staying out of the could make someone look that good?

mark ofa leader.

An equal opportunity employer Winter«1^88 Newsstand

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314 MAIN LIBRARY UNIV OF ILL ATTN: PENNY BAILEY CAMPUS .930 "

Fellowships

"They are committed to continuing education. Working at Hughes will allow me to pursue my advanced technical decree.

—Member Technical Staff. EE Radar Systems Group

All of the technological advancements that have been Hughes Fellows work full-time during the summer. During created at Hughes are merely an indication of greater things the academic year, Work-Study Fellows work part-time to come. while studying at a nearby university; Full-Study Fellows attend classes full-time. With a Hughes Fellowship, you could be creating a better future for yourself by studying for your (blaster's or Doctorate Hughes is involved in more than 100 different Manufacturing), in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, technologies and 1,700 different projects. This incredible Computer Science or Physics. diversity allows us to offer an Engineering Rotation Pro- gram for those interested in diversifying their work educational stipend, You'll receive tuition, books and fees, an experience. full employee benefits, relocation expenses, professional- level salary, summer employment and technical experience. Since 1949, more than 6,000 men and women have earn- This package could be worth $25,000-$50,000 a year. ed advanced technical degrees with the help of Hughes in creating the next generation of While you're completing your degree, you'll also have the Fellowships. Join us wonders advancing the future yours opportunity to gain valuable experience at Hughes facilities technological by — ours. in Southern California, Arizona or Colorado. and

Hughes Aircraft Company, Corporate Fellowship Office Dept. ME88-9, BIdg. CI /B168, P.O. Box 45066, Los Angeles, CA 90045-0066 Please consider me a candidate for a Hughes Fellowship and send me the necessary information and application materials.

PLEASE PRINT: Name Home Pfione & Hours

Address City Zip

I am interested in obtaining a l\/1aster's Doctorate.

Rotation Program Interest: Yes No

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Minimum GPA-3.0/40. Proof of US Cilizenship l^ay Be Required Equal Opponunily Employer Winter 1988 Volume 104, Issue 2 Illinois Technograph

Editor-in-Chief: Kiet'er K. Mayenkar The Fifth Force

By Iris Chang Thinking they had discovered them all, Business Manager: Karen Vallero scientists find evidence that suggests a

fifth force exists in the universe. Production Editor: Victoria L. Degler

Features Editor: Iris Chang Solar Energy: A Light in the Dark

By Thomas Chuang As problems associated with fossil fuels Copy Editor: Scott M. Heydinger become more apparent, solar power becomes an attractive alternative. Asst. Copy Editor: Melinda Chen

EOH Editor: Jack A. Gidding Preparing for Mars... 11

By Deborah Zandell University of Illinois aeronautical students Photo Editor: Dan Powers design equipment to further explore the red planet. Design: Brian Switzer

Publisher: Michael Smeltzer Departments

Editorial 2, Techvisions 6, Production Managers: Mary Cory, Kit Technovations II. Techteasers Donahue Techprofile 12.

Editorial Staff: Thomas Chuang, Mina- ko Hashimoto, Laurie Heilmer, Calvin Huang, David Kenyon, Kinney Ludwa, Andrew Martens, Bradley Maurer, Julie Reyer, Bijal Shah, A.J.Singh, Ken Sko- dacek, Lorenzo Smith, Ketan Thakkar, Dean Wagner, Mon Yee, Deborah Zan- dell.

Illinois Technograph 57 E Green Si . Champaign. Illinoii., 61820. phone; (217) 333-6602. Photo Staff: Christopher Guy, Laurie

Heilmer, Ken Horlander, Julie Reyer, Copyright Illini Media Company. 1988. Illinois Technograph (USPS 258-760), Vol, 104 No, 2 Dean Wagner, Mon Yee. Winter 1988, Illinois Technograph is published four times dunng the

academic year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Published by the Illini Media Co . 57 E Green Si . Champaign, IL Cover/illustrations: Brian Switzer 61820 Subsripuons arc available for $7, 25 per academic year. Adver-

tising by Littcl-Murray-BarTthill. Inc . P,0 Box 1405. Momstown.

NJ, 07960-1405, Illinois Technograph is a member of Engineering College Magazines Associated, editorial

To Be or Not To Be Involved

Being an engineer at Illinois is certain- wisely and to discipline themselves to be The Dean's Student Advisory Com-

' ly no simple feat. You wake up around able to juggle ' a million different things mittee (DSAC) serves as a liason between eight o'clock for your eight o'clock be- " at one time? Chances are that the the deans of the College of Engineering cause you stayed up doing homework un- answer is simple: they can and you can't. and the students. DSAC also initiates new til 2 A.M. the night before. You skip If so, leam to use your time more effi- programs that benefit all engineering stu- breakfast and go to class until mxjn. Grab ciently. Otherwise that company's reason dents. Engineering campus leaders benefit " a burger and run because you don't have for not hiring you might be because from DSAC by using it as a source of in- time to go all the way back home. Go to they can and you can't." formation concerning current student opin- class until 5 P.M. Go home. Eat. Rest for In our previous issue, we listed sever- ions. Ten to thirteen students serve on fifteen minutes, but don't waste too much al engineering and engineering related DSAC and are chosen toward the end of time because you have to stay up until 2 clubs on campus. This time I would spe- the spring semester to serve the following

A.M. ( otherwise your schedule wouldn't cifically like to focus on Engineering year. be complete ). Council, which offers a wide range of Engineering Council Awards Commit- Imagine spending four years or more activities for students. tee is responsible for publicizing, tender- like this as some engineers do. You There is the Engineering Speakers ing nominations and applications, inter- graduate with a very impressive, technical Bureau (ESB), which links engineering viewing, and making the final decision on degree and attractive transcripts. But, to students here at the university with high awards such as the Everitt Award and the put it bluntly, you're litde more than an school and community college students Pierce Award. overeducated recluse. Do you have any across the state. Students who participate To make participating in Engineering social skills? Can you function with other in ESB gain valuable speaking and pre- Council even more enjoyable, the Social people from different backgrounds? How sentation experience. Affairs Committee sponsers events such will you talk to your firm's clients? How Student Introduction to Engineering as St. Pat's Ball, volleyball and bowling realistic are your perceptions of engineer- (SITE), is a two-day program held in tournaments, pizza parties, and blood ing and of the world? February and introduces graduating high drives. Today's engineer should more than school seniors to the College of Engineer- Being a successful engineer takes ever be a broad minded, diversified indi- ing. The program includes guest speakers, more than just a degree. Along the way, vidual who can effectively communicate a banquet, design competitions, and de- you must take advantage of the many and interact with others. Most of today's partmental tours. Engineering students opportunities available to you. Engineer- engineering positions require a team may serve as hosts or as guides, building ing Council is one such example, but the approach for which social and leadership their social skills in the process. list is endless. In order to make it in the skills are an absolute neccesity. Unfortu- Engineering Freshmen Committee rat race, to live life in the fast lane, to get nately, following a college career of a (EEC) provides essential information ab- that edge over other engineers, purely academic nature circumvents these out the first year of college life and about GET INVOLVED. essentials. the various majors in engineering. EEC The solution, which you've probably meetings feature speakers discussing many heard before, is to GET INVOLVED. In helpful topics such as how to: study and an engineering school of this size, let prepare for tests, apply for student and

size, there is a financial aid, find a job, and get involved ^ alone a campus of this ^/fA/y. plethora of activities to become involved in engineering student activities. EEC also Kiefer K. in. 1 know. You're going to ask, when organizes social events to give freshmen Mayenkar

am I going to have the time with all my the opf)ortunity to meet new people and

homework? This is a fair question, but I get away from the books for a while. Illinois Technograph inviics Icuers in response lo iis articles and

have to ask you, why it is that many The Knights of St. Patrick Selection cdnonals. or anv other items of inieresi to ii.s readership. Articles,

other engineers can perform well in Committee selects the recipients of the photographs, and other conmbuiions arc also welcome. Letters must I signed, but names will he withheld on request school as well as actively participate in highest nonacademic award offered by the extracurricular activities? They aren't any college. Each year, twelve to sixteen stu- smarter than you, nor do they have a dents who have been nominated by their

lighter course load than you. Is it that societies, departments, and deans, are they've learned to budget their time more selected based on their leadership and ser- vice to the college and University. The Fifth Force

University of Illinois physics professor Errede says if a previous unknown On one January evening in 1986,

Steven Errede slashes his blue marker fifth force exists in the universe, it must Errede and three other physics scientists across a page like a child with a crayon. be extremely weak. "The fact that we went into Loomis Laboratory "at the dead The young man sits on the edge of his don"t get sucked into the walls is a good of night" and made almost 200 gravity chair, rips out sheets of paper and scrib- indication of that,"" he says with a laugh. measurements. Errede, professor Leland bles blue formulas, webs of vectors and He says people hypothesize the force HoUoway, postdoctorate Sampa Shadra words like "quarks"", ""gluons" and "gra- works only for a short distance and then and graduate student Hovhannes Keutelian vitons."" Errede pushes his hair back and loses its grip exponentially as the distance worked from midnight to six in the morn- stares at the bleeding page. ""There's between the two masses increases. The ing. They rode up and down the elevators something beautiful going on here, but I range may be only a few thousand feet. in the four-story building, carrying a small don"t understand it,"" he says. ""We're too To help people visualize the properties electric scale and other equipment from dumb to figure it out."" of the weak fifth force, Errede says, floor to floor. '"The janitors got mad and Errede is one of more than a hundred ""Pretend God decided to make the fifth tried to kick us out of Loomis," Errede scientists in the United States testing a force a very strong one on this planet." said. new theory; Newton"s law of gravitation Imagine being so light on the surface Errede repeated the experiment a few may be wrong. A "fifth force" may exist of the Earth that you float down the days later in the CenUiry 21 building in in nature. So far, physicists have identi- street. You grab on to trees, pull yourself Champaign, 111., and then in University fied four forces in nature: gravity, electro- into a building and hover in the elevator. Inn. He says that, to his delight, the data magnetism, a strong nuclear force and a As the elevator goes up, you become seemed to show violations of Newton "s weak nuclear force. Gravity, defined as heavier and your feet sink to the floor. inverse square law of gravity. the universal force of attraction between After you reach a certain height above all matter, is the weakest of the four ground, you weigh as much as you do to- forces. It is also the least understood. day. You can take the elevator down

During the past few months, scientists again and become lighter as you hit have been finding data that appears to ground floor. But as you ride down to the violate Newton "s law of gravir\- that the basement, you grow heavier again and attraction between two bodies is prop- attain your full weight. This is an exam- ortional to the size of their masses and in- ple of the repulsive force, which pushes versely proportional to the distance be- you away from the surface of the Earth. tween them. If the fifth force is attractive, it will pull you towards the surface. Picture yourself weighing twice as much as you do now and losing weight as you go up or down on the elevator, losing until you

reach your normal weight. "Tlie force is like a fog that surrounds the Earth,"

Errede says. "It is denser on the surface, but the higher or lower you go, the more

it fades." Eirede's next stop was the John Han- Ephraim Fischbach, a physics profes- ccK-k Building in Chicago, on Januar>' 16, sor at Purdue University, said: "I encour- 1986. The tour scientists were escorted by age Errede to continue with the experi- a guard as they prowled the building after ments. In principle, everything will have midnight, measuring gravity, air pressure, an effect on their measurements. They temperature, line voltages, magnetic fields should make enough measurements to and the stability of the entire system. solve the problem. It's not necessarily a "Objects were heavier in Chicago than in sloppy experiment. It's hard to say." Fis- Champaign-Urbana," Errede says. "We chbach sparked woridwide interest in the thought we broke the scale on the way fifth force problem with a paper he pub- there." Errede never published his results. lished two years ago. He forgot there was an "anomaly" in Errede says he is designing better in- Chicago that could affect their measure- struments to measure gravity. He displays ments. "Lake Michigan," Errede says. the inexpensive equipment he used in his

"It's so massive it could have a powerful fifth force studies. The electronic scale effect on gravity. So we couldn't publish looks like a small record player encased the paper." in glass and glued on top of a keyboard. Errede's methods of testing the fifth The weight is placed on what looks like force drew both criticism and praise. the turntable. The scale slides under a Mark Ander, a geophysicist at Los protective magnetic shield, a grey sheet Alamos National Laboratory, credited that bends to form a Oinnel. The cables, a Errede and HoUoway with "reinventing tangle of rainbow garter snakes, link the the wheel." "They just can't jump into a machines together for multiple measure- field without proving that they know what ments. The equipment can be hooked up Physicist Steven l^rrcde, they're doing," Ander said. "I don't to a computer. proponent of the fifth think they realize they have to compile a As he talks, his eyes drift toward the force theory uses a the cel- computer screen on his desk. His fingers specially designed tremendous amount of data—about the "Sorry that electronic scale to lars, walls and other buildings." Ander keep itching toward keys. measure the mysterious recently finished gravitation experiments 1 keep playing with this computer." force. done on a hole drilling into the ice in Errede says, "but I'm really excited... we Photo by Dan Powers. Greenland. might be on the edge of discovering a new particle in the universe I"

Iris Chang Solar Energy: A Light in the Dark

During the oil shortage of the 1970"s Common to all applications of solar Since solar power is not economically the reahzation that fossil fuels are neither energy is the search for more efficient profitable, and because power generation inexhaustable nor forever economical ways of capturing light energy. There are and distribution systems are already estab- caused a widespread search for alternative two primary types of photovoltaic cells lished in industrialized nations, third power sources. Much was said at that used to do this. The traditional material world countries and remote areas stand time about solar energy and its possibili- used in photovoltaic cells is crystalline the best chance for solar power networks ties, but now discussion seems to have silicon, similar to that used in semicon- to be set up. Diesel generators and batter- diminished. Does this mean solar energy ductor chips. This is currently the more ies are currently being used in remote has failed? Probably not. but the urgency efficient type of cell, converting up to areas where establishing power lines is in- of obtaining a new energy source has thirteen percent of the sun's energy. The feasible. Solar panels are already de- been removed. There is no longer a shor- other type of cells being investigated is veloped to the point that they provide less tage of oil and the government has thus based on thin films of amorphous silicon expensive, lower maintenance electricity halted funding on major solar research alloys. Because these lack crystalline than these sources. In Thailand ten 500 projects that were started during the crisis. structure they are much more inexpensive watt arrays have already been installed to Many today are not as concerned ab- to manufacuire. give remote villages central power out the availability of fossil fuels as they Stacked amorphous thin films allow sources. are worried about the fuels' impact on the greater conversion of light energy by split- Serving the needs of the United environment. Last summer's record ting the sunlight into multiple band gaps. States, however, would require more adv- temperatures in much of the country' led The top stacks are manufactured to absorb anced technologies. During the oil crisis to increased discussion about the green- the higher-energy green and blue light the country looked toward space as the house effect. Increasing concentrations of while the lower-energy, longer-wavelength answer, proposing to build huge satellites carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to red light passes through and is absorbed composed of photovoltaic plates. Energy combustion of fossil fuels are acting as an by the bottom stacks. This not only would be converted to microwaves which insulator to the earth, not allowing heat to allows for more light to be absorbed but would be beamed to a receptor on earth. radiate back to space and thus raising the prevents performance degradation that (continued on page 8) temperature of the earth. Sulfur dioxide single thin layers suffer when used alone. by-products from factories lead to acid New techniques that increase efficiency in rain in both the United States and Canada, energy conversion are sure to be disco- destroying forests and contaminating vered. This will be an important factor in lakes. These are problems that are appear- determining the future role of solar energy ing after only a short period of widescale as a major power source. fossil fuel use in the world. The largest use of solar panels today If the siniation continues to deterio- is in the handheld calculator business. rate, solar energy may be a more attrac- Watches, portable stereos, and photo- tive energy alternative whether fossil fuels graphic light meters also employ solar are available or not. Solar energy causes power. The market for devices such as none of the environmental problems these grew from near zero in 1979 to associated with other forms of energy. more than S80 million by 1983. The role

Furthermore, the supply is inexhaustable. of solar panels in electronic devices will increase in the future as consumers dis- cover their economy and convenience over batteries and power cords. techvisions

The GM Sunraycer is one of the marvels made possible by solar technology. Pictured with the Sunraycer, opposite, are GM representatives Victor Rios. and Sandy and Richard McKenney. Photos by Chris Guy. GM SUNRAYCER

^Dimensions:19.7 feet long; 6.6 feet wide; 3.3 feet Motor: 3 kw,4 hp Magnequench brushless DC.

Bugh. weighs 1 1 pounds and was developed by the GM ^Veight: 390 pounds; Gross weight with driver: 573 Research Laboratories. Magnequench magnets were pounds. manufactured by GM's Delco Remy Division. Speed: Averaged 41.6 mph during 44.9 driving GM Sunraycer represents the development and

hours over 1,950 -mile race. demonstration of advanced technology as applied in Construction: Aluminum mbe spaceframe chasis; aerodynamic design, lightweight structures and body of composite sandwich materials. materials, high-efficiency batteries, lightweight

Solar array: 90 square feet; designed and built by electric motors, lightweight suspension, and steering

Hughes Aircraft; same type cells as used in systems, and high-efficiency solar arrays and power

satellites. electronics. techteasers

The energy system envisioned was Solar power does not have to provide 1 . From what nine letter word can called the Solar Power System (SPS). all of our power needs alone. It can be an you remove one letter at a time and even- Satellites the size of Manhattan were fore- effective, inexpensive auxiliary power tually get a one letter word? seen. NASA and the Department of Ener- source which would reduce the amount of 2. What catastrophy could put astro- gy completed extensive studies in the late fossil fuels consumed. Solar power will nomers out of a job? 1970's and concluded that the project was not become a major power source s(x)n. 3. How can six toothpicks be arranged technically feasible, economically viable, However, this does not mean research to form four exact equilateral triangles and marketable. Solar satellites would be should not be pushed. Work is being done (with no toothpicks broken)? able to gather and transmit energy night around the world, and progress is being 4. How much heat must be removed and day. regardless of weather conditions made in making solar power a practical from the earth's surface to freeze the wa- on earth. They would also be inexpensive energy alternative. ter on the surface to a one meter deep to maintain, and just one satellite could layer of ice? supply the electrical needs of an entire 5. Can you change SOFT to WARE city. NASA and DOE asked the National Thomas Chuang by changing one letter at a time in four Research Council to study their findings. moves? NRC agreed that SPS was technically 6. To reach a destination sixty miles feasible, but decided that there would be away on time, you must average sixty more practical alternatives available in the miles per hour. During the first half, you United States. The NRC repon led to the have car problems and average thirty abandonment of SPS. miles per hour. What must your speed be

There is no question that SPS would on the second half to make up for this have required vast amounts of money to slow beginning? develop. Large, lightweight photovoltaic cells would be needed. Transporting the plates would pose a formidable problem. Dean Wagner A space transport system much larger than (techleaser answers on page 13) the space shuttle would be needed; even then, approximately 190 flights would be necessary to construct one satellite. The Soviets have reportedly decided to pursue development of a simihir system by planning a $200 billion SPS program of their own. However, the level of

Soviet development is controversial. David Webb, a member of the National Commission on Space, believes that the Soviets are twenty years ahead and plan to use satellites to transmit energy to earth by 2010. Marcia Smith, a member of the United States Congressional Research Ser- vice, disagrees. She believes that Soviet development is in the same beginning stage of research as the United States. technovations

Vitamins vs. Pollution Fusion Technology

University of Illinois chemist Richard University of Illinois researchers are It is also possible to use hydrogen and Larson has found a new way to clean up working on ftision reactors that produce boron- 11 to fuel the fusion reactions, polluted waters-feed them vitamins. ver\' little or no radiation. Kembichler said. Both fuels are plentiful Larson, a professor of environmental George Miley, Professor of Nuclear on this planet. However, extremely high chemistry, said Vitamin B2 can be used Engineering, and Winfried Kembichler, temperatures would be required to ignite to soak up sunlight or lamplight and trans- Assistant Professor of Physics, are tr\ing the fuels. Just to start a conventional fu- fer this energ)' to other compounds, spark- to find a way to reduce the neutron pro- sion reaction, a temperature of 200 mil- ing a chemical reaction. duction from fusion reactors. Convention- lion degrees Fahrenheit is needed. It When riboflavin (vitamin B) picks up al fission reactors split the atomic nucleus would have to be about five times as hot light energy, it rises to a more excited to produce energy: fusion reactors com- for deuterium and helium-3. To ignite state and becomes more reactive, Larson bine lighter atomic nuclei to get energ>', hydrogen and boron- II , the temperature said. The energy can then be transferred Kembichler said. Both fission and fusion would have to be more than 50 times to compounds which activate a reaction to produce radioactive neutrons. greater. decompose unwanted chemicals. Scientists at the U. of I. are studying "Even conventional fusion requires Riboflavin works ver>' well for the "aneutronic" reactors. Today's fiision such high temperatures, walls would not disposing of compiounds like phenol and reactors use deuterium and tritium to pro- stand it." Kembichler said. Scientists use aniline. Phenol is found in contaminated duce neutrons, alpha particles and some magnetic fields to confine the reactions. water and is used to make pesticide; ani- energy. Aneutronic fusion reactors may Kembichler said that Japan and some line is used for herbicide. Methylene blue use nonradioactive deuterium and helium- countries in Europe are activeh working and rose bengal, synthetic dyes, can also 3 to produce protons, alpha particles and on aneutronic reactor research. In Dlinois, be used, but Larson said he does not very lev, neutrons. scientists are working primarily on the know how safe it would be to put the The problem is, there is not much theoretical side of aneutronic research. dyes in water. helium-3 on Earth. "There is lots and lots

"Riboflavin is a vitamin, so it's prob- of it on Jupiter and the moon." Kembich- iVIinako Hashimoto ably not harmful," Larson said. "It is ler said. He noted that one professor at found in ever>' living cell." Riboflavin is the University of Wisconsin believes there already present in water, so adding the ma\ be more helium-3 deep under the vitamin would simply be increasing the Earth's surface. Miley spoke of the f)ossi- amount already there. Riboflavin also de- bilitv' of mining the moon for the helium grades over time. and creating space filling stations on the Larson has conducted test tube experi- moon and Jupiter for fiision fuel. ments with riboflavin for the past two years. In a few months, he will test the vitamin in groundwater jx)lluted with coal, tar and other waste. The groundwater will come from an abandoned coal plant near Taylorville, Dl. Larson said his research "shows promise" for using vitamin B in conjunc- tion with another chemical to clean up hazardous waste. When water enters a

sewage plant, it is cleaned up before it is poured back into the rivers. "We want to

get it to the point where the river and other naniral processes can take care of it," Larson said.

Joseph EUiot Drawing of proposed designs of the Marsplane by Brian Sw-itzer.

10 Preparing for Mars.

As the United States considers explor- (Universities Space Research Association) The undergraduates used a prototype ing space, engineers are working to make to allow university students to investigate expert system developed by Lembeck cal- such a grand idea possible. The hardest various aspects of space technology. Pro- led MIND, Mechanically INtelligent De-

problem engineers encounter is not finding fessor Kenneth Sivier and graduate suident signer. The artificial intelligence of MIND solutions to technical problems, so much Michael Lembeck guided students in the proposes a conceptual design based on the as finding the funding to support research. design of a Marsplane and a spacecraft to algorithm developed by the user. Accord- In 1986, the National Commission on carry the plane to the surface of Mars. ing to Lembeck, this is " learning by Space anticipated a manned outpost on The University of Illinois was coordinated teaching". NASA headquarters uses Mars by 2017 and a space station with with the Marshall Space Flight Center in MIND to develop strategic plans for the full-scale manufacturing capacity by 2027. Huntsville, Alabama, to provide access to 1990's and beyond. The commission further assumed the ex- information and guidance for the project. The American Institute of Aeronautics istence of an operational space station by The plane would fly in the thin Mar- and Astronautics (AIAA) sponsors an

1995, and estimated the total long-range tian atmosphere, which is mostly carbon annual student design competition funded costs at $700 billion. Attainment of those dioxide and has an atmospheric pressure by Allied Corporation, in which teams of goals is contingent upon availability of of about one percent that of Earth. The three to ten students have one year to cre- these funds. Even though this amounts to Marsplane concept was initially studied in ate a spacecraft design. Students in Aero- less than two cents a day for every person the late 1970's by NASA's Jet FYopulsion nautical and Astronautical Engineering in the United States, engineers feel there Laboratory. The studies demonstrated that who elect to enter this competition fulfill

is no way to obtain such funds. Technolo- a vehicle flying in the Martian atmosphere their senior year AAE 241 requirement. gy has outgrown funding in the United had the capability to carry out useful ex- Already, a team of ten senior design stu- States space program. In spite of the ploratory missions. dents are participating in a project akin to logistical difficulties in creating a space High-altitude airplanes such as those an "America's Cup" in space. This station on Mars in the near future, some proposed tend to possess two common spring, the senior design project in AAE engineers have already taken a space sta- characteristics; large wing spans and prop- will be the design of a "solar sail". tion for granted in their work. eller propulsion systems. Students resear- Classes and competitions can encour- Before such a station could be built. ched various power sources, such as solar age aspiring engineers a great deal, but Mars would have to be explored further. power, fuel cells, and storage batteries. these can only continue while there is To do this, students at the University of Different possible combinations of power, money invested in research and discovery. Dlinois have begun developing the tech- engines and aircraft shapes were consi- Tliere seems no limit to the creativity and nology to investigate the planet's surface. dered in their designs. ingenuity of Man's reach for the stars; he Last Spring, aerospace engineering stu- is bound to Earth only by his limited re- dents in Aeronautical and Astronautical sources. Engineering 241 (Aerospace Vehicle De- sign), researched the use of a special lightweight airplane to survey M;irs. The Deborah Zandell research was undertaken as a part of a program developed by NASA/USRA

11 1

techprofiie

David Claude O'Bryant is an Associ- He watched engineering graphics ate F'rot'essor of General Engineering. evolve from "T-square and triangle to Although he has been teaching engineer- AutoCAD." He said graphics technology ing graphics for more than 30 years, he has shot up exponentially, with most of calls himself an administrator and not an the dramatic advances made within the

iirtist. last four years.

O'Bryant grew up on a farm in O'Bryant said when he isn't teaching

Bryant. 111. He said he wanted to be an engineering graphics, he's shuffling pap- engineer ever since he was four years old. ers. Some of this has resulted in the People would ask him, "You want to Minority Introduction To Engineering

drive trains?" program (MITE). O'Bryant was one of its "No," he would say, "build high- founders in 1969. Although MITE started

ways, design things." Indeed, he has at the U. of I., it branched out and be-

spent most of his life building things- came national in 1974. Today. MITE is having started with Erector sets and Tink- active in almost 50 universities, helping er Toys. over 2,0(X) new students a year. MITE fo- O'Bryant said he always wanted to go cuses on groups underrepresented in en- Photo bv Ken Horlander. to the University of Illinois. He majored gineering, such as blacks, Hispanics and

in mechanical engineering at the U. of I. American Indians. During the summer. and received his bachelor's degree in MITE exposes them to what engineering

1958. He earned a master's of science in is all about and demonstrates how their mechanical engineering in 1961, and then high school math skills can be applied to a doctorate in education in 1970. engineering. Although his training was in mecha- Said O'Bryant. "We would like to nical engineering. O'Bryant's career think the increase of minority students in

switched tracks and raced into graphics. engineering is attributable to our

When O'Bryant was an undergraduate at program." the University of Illinois, he noticed that pledges in his fraternity (Acacia) went to him for help in engineering graphics. Stephen Clark

"I thought, gee, maybe I can get someone to pay me for this," O'Bryant

said. As it turned out, the university needed more instructors of engineering graphics at that time. O'Bryant became an undergraduate teaching assistant in en- gineering drawing. Aside from some ear- lier summer jobs at Western Electric and Intemational Harvester. O'Bryant has been teaching engineering graphics for 3 years.

12 techteaser answers

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Illinois Technograph Spring 1989 Volume 104, Issue 3

Editor-in-Chief: Kiefer K. Mayenkar The Septillion Ton String By lack Gidding Superstring remnants from the Big Bang, Business Manager: Karen Vallero infinitely massive and infinitesimally thin, may hold the answers to creation.

Production Editor: Victoria L. Degler

Features Editor: Iris Chang The Eagle Has Landed By Mike Grimm The EAGLE FYogram offers American en- Copy Editor: Scott M. Heydinger gineering students the opportunity to inter- face with their Asian counterparts. Asst. Copy Editor: Melinda Ciien The Invisible Peacekeeper EOH Editor: lack A. Gidding By A.]. Singh The science of nuclear assault enters an entirely new realm with the advent of the Photo Editor: Dan Powers Stealth Bomber.

Designer: Brian Switzer Undergraduate Research At UIUC 9 By Lorenzo Smith Research enables undergraduate students Asst. Designer: Mathieu Nuygen to gain valuable work experience and put theory into practice. Publisher: Michael Smeltzer Departments

Forum 2, In Focus 6

Production Managers: Mary Cory, Kit Up Close 1 Donahue

Editorial Staff: Thomas Chuang, Mike Grimm, Minako Hashimoto, Laurie Hell- mer, Calvin Huang, Chi-ting Huang, David Kenyon, Kinney Ludwa, Andrew

Martens, Bradley Maurer, Julie Reyer, Bij- al Shah, A.J.Singh, Ken Skodacek, Loren- zo Smith, Ketan Thakkar, Todd Veltman, Dean Wagner, Mon Yee, Deborah Zan- Illinois Technograph. 57E. Green Si .Champaign. Illinois. 61820. phone: dell. (217) 333-6602.

Copynghl mini Media Company. 1988, Staff: Photo Christopher Guy, Laurie niuiois Technograph (USPS 258 760). Vol. 104 No. 2 Hellmer, Ken Horlander, Julie Reyer, Winter 1988. Illinois Technograph is published four times during ihc academic year at the University of Illinois at Uibana-Champaign Pub- Dean Wagner, Mon Yee. lished by the IlLni Media Co., 57 E Green St , Champaign. IL 61820

Subsnptions arc available for $7.25 per academic year Advertismg by

Utiel-Murray-Bamhill. Inc.. P.O. Box 1405. Morrislown. NJ. 07960- Cover/illustrations: Brian Switzer 1405 Illinois Technograph is a member of Engineering College Maga- zines Associated. forum

International Perspective

From The Wall Street Journal, Monday. majors at most universities are not even UIUC currently has exchange agree- February 27, 1989: required to take any sort of intemational ments with three universities in France: education class, let alone one in a foreign L'Ecole Nationale des Fonts et Chaussees ' The next century's corporate chief language. in Paris, L'Institut Nationale Polytechni- must have a multicnvironment, multicoun- Unfortunate also is the fact that here que de Lorraine, and Univerite de Tech- try, multifunction^, maybe even multi- at the University of Illinois, students and nologic de Compiegne. Interested students company, multi-industry experience." specifically engineers, have ample oppor- should be juniors or seniors. -Ed Dunn, Corporate Vice President tunity to take advantage of the growing The Colombian summer program is Whirlpcxil Corporation. trend of globalization but rarely do so. arranged through the Universidad de los Foreign languages and cultural courses are Andes in Bogota. Students work part-time

" Global, global, global, " is how only the beginning. The university also in Colombian industry for nine weeks, Noel Tichy, a professor at University of offers a wide range of intemational educa- which includes two weeks of travel Michigan's graduate school of business tion programs that are intended exactly for through Colombia and South America. describes the wider-ranging chief execu- the purpose of providing intemational ex- An exchange program is available for tive of the future. perience to students. students in ceramic engineering to study UIUC is the only college in the U.S. for one year at the Universidade de " With over half of Arthur Andersen offering an Intemational Minor in En- Aveiro in Portugal. Students should be & Co.'s revenue generated outside the gineering as part of a regular degree prog- juniors with some knowledge of Portu- U.S., the company's next chief executive ram. A major in mechanical engineering guese. will be a person with experience outside may have a minor in Far Eastern Studies, The college works with Yonsei Uni- the borders of the U.S...." an Electrical engineer may have a minor versity in Seoul, Korea to involve students -Duane R. Kullberg, Partner Arthur in Latin American studies and so on. The in work-study programs. The primary Andersen & Co. minor requires 21 semester hours of cultu- goals are to have students learn Korean ral and language studies in the area of through intensive language study and gain

A great deal of foresight is not neces- concentration. The student must also work experience. sary to conclude that corporate success in spend eight weeks working or studying in Additional information on these and the fuuire will very much be related to the the geographical area of concentration. other programs is available at 207 En- intemational experience posessed by a The Summer Opportunity in China gineering Hall. particular individual or firm. Even today, Program was developed to introduce stu- Although the future is seldom clear in many growing businesses are realizing dents to Chinese culture and to give them the volatile world of business, the fact that their continued prosperity is depen- a reasonable proficiency in the Chinese that globalization will be important in the dent on their ability to adapt to a world language. Students participating in the nineties and in the coming century is defi- market. program complete an intensive Chinese nite. Students at the University of Illinois We are now on the forefront of a new language course on campus in the spring, have the opportunity to become a part of age in business and the American ignor- which is then followed by six weeks at a this future. The choice is clear. ance of foreign cultures is no longer Chinese university and two additional acceptable. As great American companies weeks touring China. such as Arthur Andersen & Co., Caterpil- The college has an exchange program v^ with the Technische Universitat Munchen lar, and IBM ( to name only a few ) ex- /f/f^/y. pand both nationally and internationally, in Munich and Technische Hochschule in the extent of intemational exposure of Darmstadt, West Germany. Eligibility re- Kiefer K. Mayenkar

their employees is critical to their survival quirements include completion of universi- and success in foreign lands. ty-level German and an outstanding Illinois Tcthnograph inviles letters in response to its articles and

Unfortunately, American education in academic record. editonals. or any other items of interest to its readership Ailicles. photographs, and other contnbutions are also welcome. Letters must be general fails to take into account the great signed, but names wiii be withheld on request. importance of an intemational education. Some high schools require a semester or two of a foreign language. Engineering universe

The Septillion Ton String

string thin. I remember as a little boy staying outside This is comparable to the common phase what keeps the extremely The at night looking at the stars in the night transition of water to ice. No one actually strings with the most symmetric vacuums sky and wondering why they were in such knows how many phase transitions took (the fewest phase transitions) are the thin- random positions. I later learned that stars place at the time of the Big Bang, but it nest. The vacuum also causes the string to were really only components of a much is believed that they all occurred before be extremely massive. A string approx- larger object, a galaxy. Galaxies, like the universe was lEE—35 seconds old. imately 16 kilometers long would have stars, also seem to be distributed at ran- These phase transitions caused the "de- the same mass as the Earth. dom. Or are they? For many years, scien- fects" that occur within the equations that Newton concluded many years ago tists have searched for the reason that model our universe. that mass is the main component of grav- galaxies are distributed as they are. Now Astrophysicists such as Albert Einstein ity. As mass increases, so does its gravita- they may have found one: theoretical en- created equations to describe the creation tional force. A cosmic string, with its ex- tities, called cosmic strings. These are su- and expansion of our universe to a reason- treme mass, can actually bend the space perthin, supermassive strands which were able degree. These equations give the first surrounding it. This can be proven by created a fraction of a second after the support for the theory of cosmic strings. Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. If Big Bang. The solutions to these equations gave rise a cosmic string were to pass between two

it set the two A little over twelve years ago, to three types of defects: domain walls, objects at rest, would ob- T.W.B. Kibble, from the Imperial Col- monopoles, and cosmic strings. In our jects in motion towards each other at lege in London, concocted the concept of universe, we might have any combination 60,000 meters per second. In the bending cosmic strings. The response to his paper of these defects. of space, the string forms space into a on the strings was, however, a little lack- These defects can be thought of as cone around it (diagram 1). A similar idea luster. For five years the subject lay dor- "flaws" in the fabric of space. Occa- is the bending of light near the string. As mant until Yakov B. Zel'dovich, a Soviet sionally, when water freezes, air bubbles was proven some time ago, light can bend physicist, realized that cosmic strings become trapped in the ice. These air bub- in the presence of a very massive object. could explain galactic distribution. Cur- bles are analagous to the flaws that might If the cosmic string were to pass between

rently the theory of cosmic strings is occur in space. The first two theoretical pulses of light instead, the light would be flourishing as the theory of black holes defects, domain walls and monopoles, do bent as the string passed. This causes

did in the 1960's. With a httle anticipa- not fit with what is observed in the uni- what is known as a gravitational lens (dia- tion, the cosmic string theory might be- verse today. Cosmic strings are the most gram 2). If the conditions are just right, come as well known and as reputable as likely of the three theoretical defects be- two images of the same object can be the current black hole theory. cause of their subtle effect on the uni- seen. One of the images is a false image, Anyone who has had a basic science verse. and the true object is not in the position it

course is familiar with the event known as To imagine a cosmic string, visualize appears to be. the Big Bang. The universe was created a very thin wire with infinite length that Galactic formation and distribution is by the Big Bang and has continued its can turn, twist, coil or form loops on it- the most interesting part of this theory. outward expansion for some 15 billion self. Cosmic strings are said to be infinite- Wave theory says that the tension of a years. However, the most interesting time ly long and to span the entire universe. string is directly related to its mass per

frame to study is within the first seconds Strings do not have to exist only as unit length. This gives the cosmic strings after the Big Bang. During that time, straight or twisted strands, but can also a very high tension and makes them prone there existed a very high energy vacuum. exist as coils or separate closed loops. to oscillations. Loops of cosmic strings

As the universe began to expand, its uni- The thickness of the string is suspected to oscillate and radiate gravitational waves. fied force separated into the four known be about lEE-32 meters in diameter. That This causes matter in the universe to mi- forces (electromagnetic, gravitational, means that 3.7EE22 cosmic strings could grate toward an oscillating loop. Larger in turn, strong and weak nuclear force). It also fit within the radius of a hydrogen atom. loops attract smaller loops; the underwent several phase transitions refer- Trapped within a cosmic string are the in- smaller loops attract more matter. This

red to as the "breaking of symmetry." itial vacuum conditions of the Big Bang. could pull matter into galaxies, and galax- The four forces have not yet separated ies into clusters. from the unified force. This vacuum is (continued on page four) (conlinued from page 3)

In 1985, Neil Turok, from the Impe- rial College in London, linked his simula- tions of string behavior to galactic cluster distribution. Suprisingly. this was an accu- rate comparison. Many other calculations have been perfomied to verify that a cos- mic string, or more likely, a network of cosmic strings could match theory to reality. Besides the huge clumps of matter in the universe, there are huge areas that contain no matter. To explain these huge voids, Ed Whitten of the Institute of Adv- anced Study at Princeton University sug- gested that the strings might be supercon- ducting. His colleague, Jeremiah Ostriker, then idealized how the voids might have been formed. The string can have the property of superconductivity because, under the con- ditions of the Big Bang (contained in the string), electrons have no mass and can zip along the string without any resist- ance. This superconductivity would cause very powerful electromagnetic fields. These fields propagate away from the string and expand, creating heat. As the heat builds up, the pressure increases, and a '"bubble" of gas expands to create a void. The theory of superconducting

strings describes matter that is pushed away from the expanding "bubble." con- trary to the theory of gravitational waves, which attract matter to the string. If cosmic strings indeed exist, there is

still a problem of detecting them. The gravitational lens might be one method.

Astronomers can calculate the mass of an through the universe, the temperature of Above is a rendering of possible configurations of object required to produce a gravitational the gas surrounding the string will change. cosmic strings in the abyss of outer space. Of lens by the amount of separation that ex- The gas in front of the string would be infinite mass and infinitesimal thickness, these reinnants from the big bang hold the answers ists between the two images. Cosmic cooler than the gas behind it. With this, may to the beginning of the universe. strings could explain previously encoun- scientists might be able to detect strings tered double-imaged quasars which require by their motion. Several phenomena have

an unseen object between us and the ob- now been located that fit the description Drawing by Brian Switzer ject to have a mass equivalent to a cluster of cosmic strings in the center of the Mil- of galaxies. Also, as cosmic strings move ky Way Galaxy. If these objects move as expected, we may have a more solid basis for the cosmic string theory.

By Jack Gidding on campus

The Eagle Has Landed

After nearly two years of planning, the Specifically, the EAGLE member EAGLE initiative was announced at a schools will consist of eleven 'alliance' national conference in Arlington, Virgi- universities with strong engineering prog- nia, on February 13, 1989. EAGLE, the rams: SUNY-Buffalo, Lehigh, Cornell Engineering Alliance for Global Educa- University, the Georgia Institute of Tech- tion, will be an internship project involv- nology, University of Texas at Austin, ing several leading engineering colleges, Texas A&M, Rose Hulman, University of

in addition to American and Far Eastern Wisconsin, North Carolina State, Uni- companies. The Engineering College at versity of California at Berkeley, and the the University of Illinois played a leading University of Illinois at Urbana—Cham- part in the creation of EAGLE. EAGLE paign. Corporations from the United will take a group of engineering and scien- States as well as from the Pacific Rim will ce students and provide language training also be involved as host companies for the in either Korean, Chinese or Japanese. interns. This is the largest single internship When the language training is completed, project to date to involve universities and the students will receive a year-long businesses in the Far East. The importance Assistant to the Dean David J. Jones EAGLE internship with a company in of the project is illustrated by the funding Korea, China or Japan. of approximately $5,460,000 yearly, with the majority of financing coming from the Phase two, which will begin nearly EAGLE was brought about by the National Science Foundation and grants two years after the students have been growing economic emergence of the from private companies. selected as EAGLE participants, will be an "Pacific Rim" nations; Japan, China and 8-12 month internship for a company lo- South Korea. Presently, the general pub- The EAGLE Initiative itself will con- cated along the Pacific Rim. During this lic, especially the technical sector of the sist of 250 science and engineering stu- time, classes will be scheduled so that American society, is woefully ignorant of dents in a two phase program. The first interns can continue to refine their lan-

the Far Eastern culture, language, and phase is a language program for the stu- guage skills.

technical achievements. Already, the dents, while phase two is the actual in- The EAGLE initiative is a unique Asian advantage can be seen in everything ternship. The students, selected in their opportunity for today's engineering stu- from Hyundai cars (South Korea) to Sony sophomore year, will undergo a rigorous dent to learn engineering from a different Compact Disc Players (Japan). foreign language sequence consisting of a perspective and to live in a foreign culture. five hour class during both semesters of Students interested in the EAGLE Prog- For the United States to continue to their junior year. With every word having ram or any International Studies program produce quality goods at competitive a corresponding character. Oriental should contact David Jones, 207 En- prices, we must be aware of Asian prog- alphabets are notoriously difficult to learn, gineering Hall. ress. Recently, American business leaders and as students need to learn quickly how have been learning about the manangerial to verbally communicate, the emphasis of techniques of Oriental businesses, specifi- the class will be on the spoken language. cally Japanese. This trend has been During the summer after junior year, This article was based on an interview brought about by current books such as EAGLE participants will become involved with David Jones, Assistant to the Dean, Theory Z. The EAGLE project is geared in an "immersive" study of the language, and the College of Engineering document towards the technical side of the Pacific in which they will hone their language "Project Proposals for the Establishment

Rim phenomena; it will provide experi- skills. Phase one ends upon completion of of a U.S. International Engineering Prog- ence for a pool of young engineers to learn the summer session. ram - An EAGLE Initiative". I and communicate with their Asian coun- terparts. By Mike Grimm

Photography by Dan Powers in focus

The Deans of Engineering at UIUC

H ^f

Dean William R. Schowalter Assoc. Dean Chester R. Ganiner Assoc. DeanAJndergiaduate Affairs, Howard L. Wakeland

Asst. Dean Chalmers F. Seachrist, Jr. Asst. Dean Paul E. Parker

Assoc. Dean and Director Preston L. Ransom Assoc. Dean/Admin. Affairs, Anthony Graziano Asst. Dean Darwin M. Bang Asst. Dean Carl S. Lai^on Asst. Dean Hany G. Wenzel

"T K r.

'^^

Asst. Dean Donnell L. Hunt Assistant to the Dean Thomas E Glenn Assistant to the Dean William E. Harris

Presenting the Deans of the College of

Engineering at the University of Illinois at

Urbana-Champaign for 1988-1989 ( Assistant to the

Dean David J. Jones pictured on page 5 ).

Photos by Julie Reyer

Assoc. Dean/Placement Robert J. Mosberg Asst. to the Dean Jonne Brown technology

The Invisible Peacekeeper

What began as a mere thought during the four engines are cleverly concealed within signals but rather spreads them out over Carter administration has become reality the structure of the aircraft. This allows the surface. This coating is found to be with the introduction of the B-2 Stealth the turbine compressors, a source of great very useful on "hot spots" such as edges Bomber to the public. The destructive radar echo, to be shielded. It is believed and comers. purpose of the B-2 is to enter enemy airs- that each intake duct is divided into a top A highly sophisticated radar can detect pace undetected and execute a nucleiir and bottom section. The top section col- a plane with an RCS factor of 1 square attack upon military installations and other lects air which travels directly through the meter about 230 miles away. Engineers vital targets such as large cities. But the turbine compressor. The bottom section have learned that to reduce the detection Air Force proposed to spend nearly 70 collects air that bypasses the turbine com- range by 50%, the RCS must be reduced billion dollars on the B-2 as a peace keep- pressor and mixes with the hot exhaust, by a factor of 10. Since the B-2 RCS fac- ing project, reasoning that no country thus cooling it down. The mixture of ex- tor is one millionth of a square meter, the would be foolish enough to initiate a nuc- haust and cool air passes through a vaned bomber can come within 4 miles of lear attack if it would provoke a devastat- diffuser that flattens and spreads it out as enemy radar before being detected. At a ing retaliation. it enters the atmosphere. A cooler and typical B-2 speed of 720 miles-per-hour,

There is no question that a truly more dispersed exhaust makes detection this is about 20 seconds before overcom-

"stealth" aircraft would help discourage by heat-sensitive satellites more difficult. ing its target and probably long after it an attack. But the U.S. cannot be sure Much of the plane is composed of has released its bombs. that the B-2 will be able to slip past carbon fiber materials that are as strong as The B-2 Stealth Bomber is a clear enemy radar. However, with the amazing steel but reflect radar signals very poorly. illustration of the capabilities of modem innovations in the aircraft's design, the The structure itself actually absorbs radar science. As a result of this technology, Air Force boasts that stealth planes are waves rather than reflecting them. conventional strategies of both aerial com- very difficult to detect and nearly impossi- Moreover, the surface is coated with a bat and nuclear assault have become obso- ble to track. special paint that does not absorb radar lete. The major innovation behind the B-2 is its lowered RCS (Radar Cross Section) By Lorenzo Smith factor. The RCS factor is a measurement of how much an object reflects radar sig- RADAR CROSS SECTIONS nals. The more large flat surfaces and cor- The factor is dependent on shape and ners an object has, the greater the RCS RCS construction, not on actual size factor is. For instance, a semi truck and The RCS factors of various trailer would have an RCS factor of about bodies are shown here. 250 square meters. The original B-1 and o newer B-IB have RCS factors of 10 and B-52 40 square meters

1 square meters respectively. Considering the conventional shapes of these aircraft, these RCS factors are relatively good. To furthur decrease the RCS factor, it is necessary to omit as many radar "anten- B-IB 0.4 square meters nas" such as propellers, vertical stabiliz- ers, and abrupt angles as possible. This explains the radical shape of the B-2. With no vertical stabilizers and minimal abrupt edges, the B-2 is reported to have an RCS factor of less than one millionth Jumbo jet 100 square meters Stealth aircraft 0.01 square meters of a square meter. To compensate for the lack of vertical Drawing by Brian Switzer stabilizers, spoilers at the back of the air- craft are used for steering. By causing drag they give directional control. The education

Undergraduate Research At UIUC

There is no doubt that a great deal of a few students returned infonnation sum- example, a professor might be investigat- engineering research is carried out at the marizing their levels of experience. It also ing the use of computers to analyze stress University of llhnois at Urbana- seems a professor needing research assis- in bridges and may wish to hire structural

Champaign. The question is, however, tants prefers students from his own class. and civil engineering students. When it what opportunities do undergraduate stu- This system has the advantage that a stu- opens, the Beckman Institute will also dents have to get involved in such re- dent is already familiar with the professor, provide many additional opportunities for setirch? Most professors feel that freshmen his interests, and the way he likes things smdents to gain research experience. and sophomores usually lack the experi- done. Although it allows for increased Another important avenue for students ence necessary to actively participate in communication between a professor and to gain worthwhile experience is Coopera- such an activity: therefore, usually only his research assistants, it often prevents tive Education. A saident in this program juniors and seniors are invited to partici- students in other curricula from taking can begin working for a major company pate in projects. Students need the proper part in research outside their specific field after completing his freshman year. Once background knowledge (i.e. the necessary' of concentration. enrolled in this program, his work and courses) to be able to make a significant study schedules are "spliced" together so contribution to a theoretical investigation. Last year. Dean Hunt sent letters to he can continue to gain work experience Undergraduate research provides invalu- the heads of over 300 research projects to without neglecting his college curriculum. able experience that can broaden a stu- ascertain the level of interest in a ser\'ice This program has what some may per- dent's perspective on the infrastructure of that, if implemented, would serve to cen- ceive to be a major drawback; it requires engineering. Also, companies look favor- tralize research-related employment. Eigh- an additional year to graduate. However, ably upon prospective employees with re- ty percent of the respondents stated that one must consider that at the end of those sumes citing co-authorship of a published they would request only students of junior five years, he has already gained over a scientific report. level or beyond, thirty-two percent would year of work experience and has been

request only seniors, and three percent paid for it. In this program, study and Professor Clausing of the Mechanical only graduate students. Forty percent of work experience complement each other Engineering department remarked that in the respondents expected to hire non- and thus allow a student to gain a much order for the United States to be able to engineers, and the same number stated the more thorough understanding of theory sucessfully compete with such engineering service was not necessary. Dean Hunt and its applications. Students are constant- superpowers as West Germany, where an concluded that since the response toward 1>' reminded that they must make their re- engineer generally takes no fewer than six the service was only lukewarm, it would sumes stand out if they wish to have good years of higher education, undergraduates not provide a major service to professors, jobs when they graduate. Cooperative must be strongly encouraged to consider who are routinely deluged with requests education will certainly catch the eye of a graduate school. He further asserted that from their own sUidents willing to take company official looking though a large although undergraduate research is an ex- part in their research. Because the system stack of applications. cellent vehicle to that end, too few sui- would not be useful to the vast majority dents pursue a higher degree. of students. Hunt felt it unecessary to im- The National Science Foundation has plement his proposal. a program giving grants to professors hir-

Currently, there is no centralized sys- ing undergraduates. This at first seems an tem to assist students in finding positions Both University-operated laboratories excellent incentive for increasing under- for which they have the necessary training and independent organizations conduct re- graduate involvement in research. Many and experience. Last year, Donnell R. search on campus. Included in Dean professors feel, however, that the paper-

Hunt, Assistant Dean of Engineering and Hunt's inquiries were groups ,iuch as the work involved is simply too stifling. Ev-

Director of Cooperative Education, initi- Computer Based Education Research Lab, ery' aspect of a student's duties, as well as ated a pilot program to consolidate in- the Coordinated Science Lab, and the formation on available positions. The re- National Center for Supercomputing Ap- (continued on next page) sponse was far from overwhelming; only plications, all of which often hire universi- ty students. These laboratories are more involved with multi-faceted research. For )

a uwtine evaluation of his performance, The amount of credit given depends niusl he thoroughly diKumented. "Most on the approximate number of hours the professors just iiren't willing to put up student spends on his project each week. with the red tape,'" remarked Dean Hunt. The final decision, however, is reached

The physics department is one of the de- by the professor along with the student. partments actively t;iking advantage of Tlirough reguhir verbal contact and prog- these grants. Dean Hunt would like to in- ress reports, the professor can track the crease awareness of Engineering 110, a student's work. The rest is completely up zero-credit course that officially recog- to the student. nizes participation in a research project on a student's transcript. For the past few years. Professor Richard E. Klein, who teaches Dynamic A different appn)ach to gaining under- Systems in Mechanical Engineering 240, graduate research experience is to do an has used his class as a forum for investi- independent research project. Again, gating the fundamentals of bicycle func- underclassmen usually lack the experience tion, a field that has surprisingly not been and knowledge to ciury out such a study. well explored. He and his students have In most cases, seniors take on such an en- already dismissed several long-standing deavor. theories pertaining to bicycle operation. For example, many scientists thought a The various college departments at the bicycle stays upright because of the gyros-

University have budgeted amounts of copic effects of wheel rotation. By placing Pictured is student Mark Kaufrnan with his research money to be used for research. Once the counter-rotating wheels of identical mass project. student has obtained the support of a pro- on experimental bicycles. Klein and his fessor, he must usually create a budgeted students canceled those effects, but the While enrolled in Professor Klein's list of necessary materials. This requisition bicycles were no less rideable. Other areas class last year, Paul Kudma. currently a must then be submitted to the college for explored ranged from rear-wheel steering senior in Mechanical Engineering, con- consideration. If approved, the student to a naive (completely vertical) front fork. ceived the idea of a radio-controlled bicy- will be allowed to incorporate the re- cle. He was inspired by an old radio- quested items into his research project in The budget for the project was S600, controlled toy motorcycle. It was steered any manner he sees fit. immense compared to a usual budget of by shifting the front wheel assembly either

S20 or S30. Kudma initally worked with to the left or right. If moved to the left, The student interested in working in- Link Brandon, who did much of the tech- the center of mass of the motorcycle dependently must obtain the backing of a nical assembly. The first prototypes did shifted to the right, causing the moment professor willing to supervise his work not perform well because the steering due to gravity to increase to the right. As and lend him assistance if necessary. mechanism was imprecise and too slow. a result, the motorcycle leaned and aimed Often, a research topic is found in the As they continued to experiment and right. Simihirly, shifting the assembly to classroom. After the completion of a class modify the basic design, many of the ini- the right caused the motorcycle to turn

project, the student may wish to continue tial faults were worked out. Precision and left. Kudma wondered if he could adapt his research independently. If so. he can speed were achieved through the use of a the principle of this technique to a larger-

get credit by enrolling in an independent high-speed, high-torque steering motor scale working model. He concluded that it study. Such courses are offered in almost and a chain-driven steering mechanism, as was possible and suggested his idea to all departments. opposed to the shaft drive employed in Professor Klein, who showed much in-

earlier prototypes. In its present form, the terest and told Kudma to proceed with the bicycle functions quite well. Kudma and project. his current partner, Mark Kaufmiin, also hope to incorpwrate proportional steering (continued on page 1 1 into the prototype.

Photography by Dan Powers

10 up close

(continued from page 10)

treatment. Although it stiirted as a class project, with water and wastewater in the majority of work on the bicycle was More recently, he has been interested disinfec- done as part of an independent research virucidal chemicals used in the project. Kudma and Kaufman are enrolled tion of water and wastewater. Professor Engelbrecht has in ME 293, a blanket course which allows Since 1979, them to receive credit for their work and been director of the Advanced Environ- Cen- also gives their project official recognition mental Control Technology Research of I on their transcripts. ter (AECTRC), a multi-disciplinary U research effort studying the technology of They meet with Professor Klein for separation of contaminants from air and approximately one hour each week to dis- water. AECTRC is one of eight Centers cuss the status of the project. In addition, of Excellence funded by the Environmen- Klein requests a one page typewritten tal Protection Agency (EPA). He is cur- progress report every one or two weeks. rently involved with the National Research These reports include documentation of Council in advising the U.S. Geological work accomplished, experimental results, Survey on the possibility of mounting a plans for future modification, and a gener- national water quality assessment al overview of the project's status. When Dr. R.S. Englebrecht first program. took a position here in 1954, his advisor He was president of the 35,000 mem-

Such a project and the duties it en- at the Massachusetts Institute of Technolo- ber Water Pollution Control Federation in tails—experimentation, theoretical work, gy told him that the U of I would be a 1978. From 1980 to 1986 he served an field work, and compilation of technical good place to start his career but "he unprecedented three consecutive terms as reports-give the student invaluable experi- probably wouldn't want to stay there more president of the International Association ence for which companies are grateful. than a couple of years." Thirty- four years on Water Pollution Research and Control.

Whether done independently or as part of later. Professor Englebrecht is still enthu- Professor Englebrecht has also served a team, undergraduate research provides a siastically teaching and pursuing environ- on numerous committees, commissions worthwhile experience that will comple- mental engineering in a department that and boards of the national government as ment a student's understanding of theore- he has helped build into one of the most well as professional societies, including

tical principles, demonstrate the problems respected of its kind in the nation. the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation of putting theory into practice, give the Bom and raised in Indiana, Professor Commission (Chairman from 1980 to student a feeling for the level or responsi- Englebrecht received his A.B. in micro- 1982) and the Water Science and Tech- bility required of him in the job market, biology at Indiana University in 1948, nology Board of the National Research and instill a hunger for knowledge that where he remained for one year of gradu- Council fi-om 1982 to 1986. He has will remain with him for the rest of his ate work. He went on to M.I.T. in 1950. served as a consultant to the EPA, the Hfe. As a research assistant there, he was World Health Organization and the associated with one of the first federally National Science Foundation. funded research projects in sanitary en- His many achievements were recog- By A.J. Singh gineering ever to be awarded to a U.S. nized in 1976 when he was elected to university. The project included a study of membership in the National Academy of the activated sludge wastewater treatment Engineering. In 1987 he was appointed process. the first Ivan Racheff Professorship in En- After obtaining his Sc.D. in Sanitary vironmental Engineering. Science from M.I.T. in 1954, Professor Professor Englebrecht and his wife

Englebrecht took a position at the U of I, Mary live in Urbana. They have two sons where he has remained ever since. Over and four grandchildren. When time per- the years, he has taught many graduate mits, he enjoys reading historical biog- and undergraduate environmental en- raphies and playing an occasional game of gineering courses. above-par golf with his sons. At the same time, he has managed to make great research contributions to his By Bradley Maurer field. His early work at the U of I dealt with microbiological problems associated SUNDSTRAND We're a leading supplier of technology-based electronic and mechanical aerospace components. A Fortune 500 company with over a billion dollars in annual sales. An engineering and manufacturing firm with a reputation for quality design and quality products.

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In addition to our openings for graduating engineers, we have a highly successful cooperative education program for engineering students. Professor Ronald Adrian has been a WE WILL BE ON CAMPUS SOON! professor of fluid mechanics at the Uni- See your appropriate college placement office for further versity of Illinois since 1972. Raised in information or to arrange an interview during our Minnesota, Adrian received his under- campus visit. graduate and masters degrees from the An Equal Opportunity University of Minnesota for Mechanical Employer Engineering. He then received a Churchill Sundstrand Advanced Technology Group scholarship to attend university in Cam- bridge, England, where he studied in the Cavendish lab in the Physics department. There he had a chance to study with some of the foremost fluid dynamicists of that These needs led Professor Adrian to pur- organized structures. These simulations re- time. Initially intending to stay only one sue research in both areas. One of his cur- quire a vast amount of super computer year at Cambridge and then return to Min- rent projects is developing a new type of time, even for the simplest turbulent nesota, he instead remained in England to instrument which will be able to measure flows. receive his PhD. velocity vectors simultaneously at about Professor Adrian is also active in

In 1972 Professor Adrian came to the ten thousand points in the flow. This many organizations. He is on the Board University' of Illinois and continued his re- means the structure of the flow patterns of Directors of the Laser Institute of search into the structure of airbulence. His can be seen and associated with the be- America. He is also a member of The major objective is to understand the orga- havior of the flow. He also believes these American Society of Mechanical En- nized motions in turbulent flow fields that new experimental techniques will have ap- gineers, The American Physical Society, characterize various types of turbulent plications in other areas of fluid dyna- The American Optical Society and The flows. These organized motions are ran- mics. Another aspect of his research in- American Institute of Aeronautics and dom but are repctetive enough and occur volves the use of results from direct Astronautics. frequently enough that one can still numerical simulations of time dependent, observe trends. In order to study these three-dimensional turbulence to study 4 organized motions two things are needed. By Todd Veltman

The first is a method of looking at three dimensional velocity fields or temperature fields, and the second is methods of statis- tically extracting these organized motions from the chaotic ones.

12 Reflections on Leadership

After more than 100 years of successful equcd opportunity to excel. In an individual, it means operation, Anheuser-Busch has a clear understanding never giving less than your best to any endeavor. of the qualities of leadership. As a result, we look Team spirit also characterizes a leader. It is the ability for the Scime attributes in employees that we foster to acknowledge the contributions of all and the in our corporate culture. willingness to work toward a common end.

First and foremost, a leader requires vision. The If you share these characteristics with us, we vision to expand from a popular brewery to an would like to know more about you. We are especially international diversified corporation, and the vision interested in recent graduates or experienced to see the career advantages offered by such a professionals in the fields of Project, Electrical, corporation. A leader also needs determination. The Industricil or Chemical Engineering, Food Science, determination to continually ensure product quality, Auditing and Finance. Send your resume and cover and the determination to set and reach career goals. letter to: Manager, College Relations; ANHEUSER-

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ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES Mary mue doesnt rest until every part is perject.

.ary Blue expects a lot ftom herself. A software engineer at GE Aircraft Engines, she helps develop new manufacturing methods for the engine parts that power commercial and military aircraft.

Quality is her absolute top priority. Mary also expects a lot from the company she works for. As a member of GE's Manufacturing Management Program, she's found the environment that lets her achieve, and excel. Her support system includes CAD/GAM, robotics, new materials, and all the leading-edge technologies. Plus interaction with the best minds in her field. Talented engineers like Mary Blue are handed real responsibility on high priority projects from the day they join GE. Which is why only the most demanding, self- motivated people can be selected. Behind the truly successful engineer, there's a standout company. i

The mark ofa leader

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At IBM, outstanding people don't stand still.

k) multiple projects. IBMcrs have the option to you al \v.i> s tli( night IBMcin were a bunch of

. to So move from one area to another . .to relocate blue slrijvj miiIn wilh huttoiied down nunds track a variety of sites. . . and to follow a career Nolhing could Ix- lurlher lioni the truth. along purely technical lines or into management. They're movers and shakers. All the while moving up just as fast and as far Ftople who Energetic, anibitioas and smart. as your talent will take you because we're a there tkst. know uhere lhe\ 're going and get company that promotes from within. R.\iple w ith idea.'- who ehiH)se IHM because they Your education doesn't end know their ideas will be heard and put into action. "I can be a systeni-s when you get a job at IBM. It are sweep- engineer, marketeer, That's right. The winds of change just begins, ^iui can lake advan- IBM. educator, programmer ing the \ast corporate infni-strucUire of tage of both general and or generalist . . .all within streamlined oper- Today 's IBM is a leaner, more IBM. Where the people job-specific training, ation that reads more (.|uickl\. t;ikes more risks are high achievers with ranging from Grad- big dreams and toits of to the customer, . . and encourages . . . Ls closer uate Work-Study. enthusiasm. I would not IBMers to speak up. challenge old ways of change it for anything Resident Study ideas. thinking and initiate new in the world." and Special Stud- Ana Cruz Gonzalez ies Programs to This LS not a company that rests on its past Marketing We'rt sharing our blueprint for the Technical successes. Representative w ith both our staff Sabbaticals. ^ future Hartford. CT ^ yfand competitors. We're' expanding with the

marketplace. , and

Right from the start you'll get all the respon- sibility you can handle. Work in small project teams w ith the newest computer-aided equ ipment Involved in technologies that range from image

. robotics processing to laser-fiber optics. . from and computer controlled lastrunientation to electron-beam lechnokigy and satellite traas- mission. Applying the latest technologies. k and W(working with some of the industry's \A "The most exciting t **! oppor- in all fields. see unlimited Abobrightest people V is that were trying to be a different ago. < tunities for advaiKement company than we were ten years ^ recognition and have the allBM— iKiltiinttie ^ou'll earn early even last year There are opporiunites for technical and managerial opportunity for ^^^^ exposure making change happen." ranks. We have our shaa- of technical ctiallcnges Steve Czamecki Engineer. Owego. NY and our share of Itie Advisory Systems right people to meet them Ami h> the way, And there's more. IBM encourages its family of the>' know how to have prt)fessionals to exceed their own expectations. fun. too." "The thing that gets At all levels. IBMers may receive recognition AlisaB. Eaker me going the most is Manager, Software the possibilities, the and financial awards for outstanding eontribu- Design/ Development endless possibilities. This tioas, innovation and technical achievement. Research Triangle Kirk is a company where I can North Carolina within reason, call my Never has thea; been a more exciting time shots about my own to join IBM in development, programming, future. Career develop- research, manufacturing or marketing. If you ment at IBM Ls primarily the responsibility of the want to experience that sease of accompltsh- individual: the manager nient and self-hilfillment that sparks new ideas facilitate and LS there to and keeps you growing, step into IBM. You and counsel. Having that degree of control over your career will never stand still my own future

is terribly exciting."

lohnW. Webster even developing pnxlucts that easily hi.x)k up Communications & with systems outside the IBM environment. Systems Manage- ment Designer we're worldwide leader in com- An Hqual Opponunrly Employer After all. the Research Triangle municatioas. And with us communication begias Park. NC right here. Where individuality ls pri/t-d. Diversity applauded. And management Ls open-minded, progiussive and le-spoasive. Illinois Technograph Summer 1989 Volume 104, Issue 4

Editor-in-Chief: Kiefer K. Mayenkar Nothing But The Truth Dave Kenyon and Steven Phelps Growing reports of fraud in research and Business Manager: Karen Vallero teaching force administrators to take a hard line with fraudulent educators.

Production Editor: Victoria L. Degler

Features Editor: Iris Chang The Magic of Mathematica Jack A. Gidding University of Illinois Professor Stephen Copy Editor: Scott M. Heydinger Wolfram creates a software package that redefines mathematical software.

Asst. Copy Editor: Melinda Chen

EOH Editor: Jack A. Gidding A Closer Look At Undergraduate Research For students deciding to enroll in Photo Editor: Dan Powers Minako Hashimoto undergraduate research. Biochemistry Professor Conrad discusses possible Designer: Brian Switzer arguments and benefits to consider.

Asst. Designer: Mathieu Nuygen

But Is It Really Fusion? 10 Publisher: Michael Smeltzer Brad Shannon Recently two scientists have discovered a

new reaction that they believe is fusion. Is

Production Managers: Mary Cory, Kit it fusion or isn't it? Donahue

Editorial Staff: Thomas Chuang, Mike The Debate Over Toxin Research 11

Grimm, Minako Hashimoto, Laurie Hell- Iris Chang In the search for tests to detect mold mer, Calvin Huang, Chi-ting Huang, toxins, biological warfare implications David Kenyon, Kinney Ludwa, Andrew have emerged as a topic of great Martens, Bradley Maurer, Julie Reyer, Bij- controversy. al Shah, A.J.Singh, Ken Skodacek, Loren- zo Smith, Ketan Thakkar, Todd Veltman, Dean Wagner, Mon Yee, Deborah Zan- Departments Illinois Technograph. 57 E. Green St. , Champaign. Illinois, 61820, phone: (217) 333-6602 dell. Editorial 2, In Focus 6, Media 1988. On Campus 12. Copyright niini Company, mnois Technograph (USPS 258-760). Vol 104 No. 2

Photo Staff: Christopher Guy, Laurie Winter 1988 Dlinois Technograph is published four times dunng the Hellmer, Ken Horlander, Julie Reyer, academic year at the University of Dlirwis at Uttiana-Oiampaign Pub-

lished by the niini Media Co , 57 E Great St . Champaign, IL 61820

Dean Wagner, Mon Yee. Subsnptions are available for $7.25 per academic year. Advertising by

Ultel-Murray-Bamhill, Inc., P.O. Bon 1405. Morristown, NJ, 07960-

1405 Illinois Technograpi) is a member of Engineering College Maga-

Cover/illustrations: Brian Switzer zines Associalcd. Editorial

The Business of Engineering

Every engineering student I know has at entity to stock holders, creditors, and corporate strategy formulation and one time or another pictured himself as other external parties in order to assist in implementation from the CEO's the Chief Executive Officer of his own economic decision making. In perspective. Students learn general company or as having a seat on the board MICROECONOMICS, the program management skills and the methodology of a Fortune 500 corporation. teaches the principles of supply and of integrating and applying coursework to Undoubtedly, twenty to thirty years from demand with applications to business and strategic management problems. Subjects now, a few of the students reading this environmental problems as well as covered include competitive strategies, editorial will occupy exactly these consumer behavior and theories of global policies, and formulation and postions. production and markets. MARKETING implementation of processes. Additionally,

You may wonder: how do I get from courses introduce concepts in marketing in the second year, students must attend a Champaign-Urbana to that boardroom systems and encourage the development course on BUSINESS LAW. This course atop Trump Tower? Of course, there is no of the students' ability to make marketing analyzes the legal environment of guaranteed method of accomplishing this decisions. INTRODUCTORY business, including the legal system and

feat, however there are certain paths that STATISTICS courses emphasize the use the role of courts, government taxation, must inevitably be followed. of statistics in management decision regulation, antitrust law and labor laws, Many engineers prefer the technical making. and legal trends as they effect business path, developing their skills in engineering In the spring semester, more general policies. graduate school, and accordingly "rising business education courses are taught as a The remaining credit hours of the in the ranks" because of their technical requisite to more specific subjects selected MBA program consist of electives in expertise. by the student in the second year. which a student can choose his or her area The other most popular path is that of MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING is of specialization. These areas include: people and money management, which an introduction to the design and decision and information sciences, begins with the acquisition of a Master of evaluation of management's information international business, finance, Business Administration degree (MBA). needs, particularly accounting information accounting, organizational behavior, Many engineers choose to enhance their which is required for internal decision entrepreneurship, marketing, strategy and technical Bachelor's degrees with a MBA making and business planning and policy, as well as healthcare management and pursue careers in engineering control. MACROECONOMICS deals or agribusiness management. management, business, or even in with the theories of income determination, Certainly, the MBA is an alternative entrepreneurial exploits. inflation, employment, governmental to consider for engineering undergraduates Most students are knowledgeable fiscal and monetary policies, international who are more inclined to management about the implications of graduate finance, and exchange rate determination. responsiblity or for those who want to engineering school. However, a FINANCE provides an overview of "switch career tracks" altogether. Indeed, considerable number of engineers are coiporate financial management, valuation many engineers from Illinois have, with simply unaware of what an MBA actually theory, capital structuring and budgeting, their MBAs, entered into a wide variety entails. dividend policy, financing policy, and of fields and achieved a level of success At the University of Illinois, we are short run financial management. most individuals only dream of. fortunate to have one of the most highly QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF Whether your choice is engineering rated MBA programs in the nation. DECISION MAKING serves as an graduate school, a MBA, law school, or Generally a two year program, an Illinois introduction to operations research with even medical school, each form of MBA focuses on the development, in emphasis on the construction, analysis and advanced education has its unique students, of "information, innovation, computer-based testing of mathematical advantages and potential. Most important integrity, and internationalization", the models that simulate diverse managerial is the fact that before such a decision is

four themes of its core program. problems. Finally, PRODUCTION AND made, the implications of each such

In the fall semester of the first year, OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT option on career and goals should be duly students learn a variety of general examines the management of operations considered. business concepts. In FINANCIAL with topics such as production planning ACCOUNTING, students are introduced and control, quality assurance, inventory ^ to accounting and reporting for a business management, capacity planning, and /f/f^/y capital equipment acquisition. In the second year of the program, Kiefer K. Mayenkar students are required to take BUSINESS

POLICY, which is designed to explore I Nothing But The Truth

Recent reports and allegations have again director of the Ultrasonic Bioengineering the work. Perhaps the one hurt most by

brought up the issue of scientific Laboratory here on campus, "it is this was Charles Higgins, chief of

misconduct, and how it should be conceivable that data could be doctored so cardiological radiology at UCSD, who

handled. Problems in detecting and that it is nearly impossible to detect." had his name appear on three

dealing with the incidents have led to More commonly, inaccurate data is "fraudulent" and 21 "questionable" controversy over research regulation and often a result of incompetence or bias. papers (Science, 31 Oct. '86: p534-5) public policy. Many universities simply Yet, in cases of outright fraud the main The current policy for handling

lack experience in dealing with such motive is the desire for recognition. charges of misconduct here at the

charges and it is now necessary for them According to Dunn, importance of the University of Dlinois has been in effect

to establish firm guidelines for number of papers a researcher publishes is for about four years. When charges are

preventative and disciplinary action. sometimes overemphasized. The made, the University first checks to see if

Within the last year, the federal University of Dlinois, he continues, takes the charges are reasonable and if further

government has become involved in the precautions to ensure that the quantity of investigation is merited. This is followed topic of scientific misconduct. Legislators publications remains secondary to the by an inquiry by a committee consisting have done what the scientific community quality of publications. Before promoting of three people: a researcher standards could not: define the term, "scientific a researcher, for example, scientists from officer, a faculty member from within the misconduct."" According to the National outside the University evaluate the quality department, and a faculty member from Research Institutes Reauthorization Act of of his work. within the University but not that

1988, scientific misconduct is "any Chester S. Gardner, the Associate department. The current research fabrification, falsification, plagiarism or Dean of the College of Engineering and standards officer, Eugene Giles, says that deception'" with regard to scientific work. the director of the Electro-Optics Systems they report their findings to the Dean of

This act also assigns the authority to Laboratory, adds that the attempt to the College, who decides if a formal conduct both random audits of papers, as publish in bulk produces "far too much investigation is necessary.

well as onsite investigations of facilities, paper in the scientific community," and If a formal investigation is needed,

to the newly formed Office of Scientific that researchers should think carefliUy another three person committee is formed. Integrity. The responsibility to investigate about what they publish rather than This committee consists of a researcher

charges of fraud was formerly entrusted to publishing all research regardless of its from within the department, one from the National Institute of Health. importance or practicality. within the university, and one from Many scientists are weary of increased As a result of the importance placed another university. The results of this government intervention, claiming that in the quanitity of papers published, the formal investigation are reported to both increased government regulation would be practice of "honorary authorship" has the Dean of the College and the

more of a burden than a benefit. The fear been abused. "Honorary authorship" is Chancellor. The Chancellor then decides is that this increase in regulation would the citing of directors and senior what sanctions are warranted, and what inhibit scientific creativity, as well as slow researchers as co-authors on papers, even disciplinary actions will be taken.

the productivity of scientific research. though they had little or no direct This policy is now under some Another concern is that public officials involvement in the research. Gardner revision, says Giles, because of the fact

often lack knowledge of the inner states that authors should be cited only if that the University of Illinois at Chicago workings of the scientific community, and they have gathered data, provided data, previously had yet to adopt a specific

would therefore be unqualified for the built equipment, actually written the policy. The University felt a need to have task. paper, or contributed significantly to the one campus-wide policy, thus slight

In some instances, it is nearly research. Gardner also feels that changes were needed in order to deal with impossible to detect data that has been "honorary authorship" dishonestly credits the various possible circumstances that slightly altered. In physiological research, the "honorary" author by giving him an might occur at the two campuses. Before

for example, the systems are complex and unrealistically long bibliography. the fmal draft becomes official, it is the inconsistencies in the data are difficult Robert Slutsky, a junior researcher in reviewed by senate and departmental

to detect. It is easier to sf)ot falsified cardio-radiology at the University of committees to check for inadequacies. results in physical sciences since the California at San Diego, had apparently control variables are much more rigid, been turning out works at an unbelievable continued on page 13 and the experiments are verified through rate of one paper every ten days. Slutsky outside reproduction. Even in these fields had listed some 13 researchers on papers however, according to Royd Dunn, declared "fraudulent" and 25 researchers on papers declared "questionable", some

of whom contributed little or nothing to The Magic of Mathematica

Last semester, the Becknian Institute held Theory and Applications of Cellular Wolfram said that the original code served a pubhc open house. As I entered the Automata. He said that the primary goal as a good "prototype" just to see if it atrium, I was dazzled by the elequent of this book was to answer the questions would work. architecture, but something else there that were obvious. Recently, he let this Two develof)ers, Bruce Smith and really caught my attention. There was a research sit, but hopes to come back to it Tom Sherlock, have recently joined group of tables with several computers on later. Wolfram Research, adding to the original them. At first I assumed that it was just It was after the Institute for Advanced eight developers. Smith was already another computer manufacturer trying to Study and after winning the MacArthur interested in Wolfram Research when he promote their product. On the contrary, it Prize Fellowship that he came to the began reading the book Mathematica. was a small local company known as University of Ulinois. Initially, Wolfram Shortly after fmishing the book, he met

Wolfram Research, Inc. Seeing some was drawn to U of I by their offer to Wolfram at MacExpo, and was offered a

rather complex graphics I decided to stop create the Center for Complex Systems. job. Sherlock, a physics graduate student and watch. This was my first formal The Beckman Institute, just a concept at the University of Illinois, was taking a introduction to Mathematica. at the time, also proved to be a "relevant class that Wolfram taught when he

I watched for awhiJe and was factor" in his decision to relocate here. volunteered to write a graphical front end thoroughly amazed at the simplicity of Feynmann thought that the U of I was not for a machine. He was later invited to mathematica] operations. What? Simple a good location to start the Center for work over the summer and subsequently

math operations? Fascinated, I continued Complex Systems. However, ignoring left graduate school to work permanently watching as various geometric equations Feynmann 's advice. Wolfram decided to at Wolfram Research.

were solved, and functions were plotted. I make this his new base of operations. Bruce Smith, however, is not a kemel

was definitely addicted. Now, Wolfram is a full professor in programmer. Only being with Wolfram

As the name implies, Mathematica is Computer Science, Math, and Physics. Research since March 1st, he is currendy a software package that solves numerical, Until nine months ago, he was the improving the automated tester that runs symbolic, and graphical computations. director of the Center for Complex sample problems on Mathematica to The program was conceptualized by Dr. Systems. He gave up this position to detect bugs. He is ultimately interested in Stephen Wolfram, a University of Illinois dedicate his time to founding Wolfram working on the user interface. Shelock,

prc)fessor. Seven other developers, most Research and the completion of its on the other hand is on the

of them U of I mathematics professors, product, Mathematica. MS-DOS/80386 version of Mathematica. were also involved in the development. The name, Mathematica, had been Kemel programming is still underway. Initially Dr. Wolfram attended Oxford suggested by Wolfram's friend, Steve This is a formidable task since the University. There he found the classes Jobs, the famous designer of Apple program in its entirety consists of 150,000 unchallenging and withdrew after the first Computer's Macintosh and the NeXT lines of extended C (a computer year. After several published papers, he computer. Mathematica was one of programming language) source code. The attended graduate school at Caltech. There several names that they had proposed, and kemel is separated from the front end to

he came to know Nobel laureate Richard Jobs liked it the most. He would call allow remote operation. The front end Feynmann and also acquired his computer Wolfram once or twice a week to see if takes care of all the home computer's knowledge. With a group of fellow he had agreed to the name yet. Initially, operations while the kemel, possibly graduate students. Wolfram created the Wolfram felt that the name was too long. running on another machine, crunches the Symbolic Manipulation Program (SMP). As Wolfram said, "Mathematica just numbers. For example, this allows a user But due to legal disputes with Caltech, happened to be the least 'nerdy.'" on an Apple Macintosh to use a remote Wolfram lost his rights to the program. Eventually, the name grew on him. kemel on a Sun 4 workstation, a much Wolfram and Feynmann served The program consists of two parts, the faster computer, for quicker calculations. together as consultants to Thinking "kernel," the portion that does the While the kernels are designed to be Machines Corporation, the developers of calculations, and the "front end", which similar for every computer the fix)nt ends

the Connection Machine (a is used by the computer for user are unique to every machine. Specifically, parallel-jjrocessing sujjercomputer). After interaction. Many people believe that each version of the front end can utilize leaving Caltech, Wolfram joined the Wolfram wrote the entire kernel himself. the special quaUties that each computer Institute for Advanced Study, an institute Actually, eight people developed the posseses. Advanced Mathematica front of pure research. There he studied kernel of the program. Wolfram initially complex systems and wrote his first book, wrote about one third of the kemel. Most of that one third has, however, been rewritten during further development. ends allow full screen editing, cut and This is just an example of how already known. As an example, the paste items, and multiple windows. Mathematica treats symbols. It allows Laplace transform package ordinarily is

The list of functions and operations users to calculate huge symbolic problems incapable of transforming (Cos(omega that Mathematica can perform would that would otherwise take hours or weeks, t))squared multipUed by Sin(omega t). impress a Ph.D. Numerical calculations in a matter of minutes. As another Thus, in order to transform this are executed with ease. Facilities are example, determination of the dot product expression, a new definition would have provided for rational numbers, floating and determinant of two 3x3 symbolic to be written by the user. This could then point calculations, and complex numbers. matrices requires Mathematica only forty be saved for future applications. This type

Of course, the basics are all there: seconds, less time than is necessary to of flexibility is necessary to a good summations, products, numeric type in the original problem. scientific program since the applications of integration, and root finding. Yet Mathematica can also accommodate tomorrow will be built upon the Mathematica makes way for more many topics in calculus such as partial knowledge of today. complex functions in its code: Legendre, and total differentiation and integration. The graphics is one of the many

Chebyshev, Hermite, and Laguerre Series and limits, often a dreaded topic, is enhancements in Mathematica. One can polynomials, Bessel Functions, Airy handled with ease, even when the limits plot a function that has been calculated in functions, eUiptic integrals, beta, gamma, are infinite. Matrix and tensor order to obtain a comprehensive visual and Riemann zeta functions to name a manipulations such as eigenvalues, approach to the problem. Two few. eigenvectors, and generalized inner and dimensional plots show the function with These are just some of the numerical outer products are also available. various added features such as axies, computations though. Mathematica begins Sometimes, however, the program labels, and frames. The user can specify to show its true colors when symbolic may not know how to solve a problem. In various parameters such as Ticks, which calculations are desired. Many this case one can either load one of the adjusts the axis tick mark interval, and mathematical software programs deal several packages included on the program PlotPoints, which adjusts the number of solely with nimieric calculations. For disks, which provide extra definitions and sampling points, to create the perfect example, if the following is entered into routines, or one can create a new graph. Mathematica: definition to accommodate special needs. One interesting feature of Mathematica Packages are files with pre-written is its ability to recognize highly active

In(l): (ab) (cd) definitions. When a package is loaded regions of a graph. In the plot of Sin(x)/x Mathematica will take the product of into memory, the definitions are the function varies infinitely near the these two terms and yield: automatically installed for use. Separate origin, yet Mathematica adjusts its scaling packages allow users to conserve valuable to handle this comphcated region. Out(l): ac ad be bd memory space by only loading in the Two dimensional plots can also be necessary definitions. overlayed so that two or more graphs can

Now, to find the factors of these terms: One of the packages available is be compared. This is very useful when called Vector Analysis. This package analyzing scientific results. Lists of data In(2): Factor(%) defines other useful operations such as points can also be plotted (with or without divergence, gradients, and cylindrical and error bars). Scientific data can then be and Mathematica gives: spherical coordinates. Other packages also compared with known functions by exist for Laplace and inverse Laplace overlaying them and examining Out(2): (ab) (cd) transformations, Range-Kutta method for deviations. solving differential equations, Three dimensional graphics are not trigonometric identities, and Ring theory. only aesthetically pleasing but necessary These are just a few of the over forty as well. Often functions do not limit additional packages included with the themselves to two dimensions, and a three program. dimensional graphical analysis simplifies Although a certain package might visualization. 3-D graphics are simple to inviolve a specialized subject, the create. operation desired might not have been In(3): PloGD(Sin(x y),{x,0,3},{y,0,3})

defined previously. In this event, it will creates a three dimensional sine wave. In be necessary for the user to build a 3-D graphics, the current version does not definition for the operation. New continued on page 8 definitions can be constructed from ones In Focus

Images of Mathematica

Shown are a few of the complex mathematical functions that Mathematica can flawlessly generate.

An ideal hyperbolic Icosahedron Bessel Function JO

Stellate Icosahedron

Spherical Harmonic

Airy Function continued hv>m page 5 support axis labeling. However, version 1.2, now in development, has corrected this. Various parameters in the command can highlight the function. The parameter Viewpoint will change the observer's viewpoint so that he can see the plot at various angles. LightSources will place different colors of simulated lighting at specified locations. This will "shine" the light on the function which will retain the color depending on its orientation to the light. More complex tasks such as contour plots and density plots are also defined. How can Mathematica be used? In many ways it is generally the best aid that a scientist or engineer can own. In the field of science and engineering, calculations required for research often involve hideous integrals and time consuming number crunching. Steve Christensen, a Senior Research Scientist at the National Center for Supercomputing

Applications (NCSA), lent his testimony became clear that this would be a many Pictured is Mathematica to Wolfram Research's latest brochure by year project. When Mathematica came operating on a NeXT " computer. saying, With Mathematica, 1 repeated along with its very powerful programming in two days a calculation that had taken system and pattern matching facilities, I me two years by other means." Upon was able to produce Mathematica code consultation about applying Mathematica, that did far more that the massive C code woricstations in Altgeld Hall, and will

Christensen commented, "I have been that I had written. This code is now doing work independently toward the completion using Mathematica from its earliest test computations far beyond anything I can of various computation projects. Class versions. My area of research is quantum do by hand and should produce for the sessions will be devoted to lectures or to gravity theory, a field where very large first time, objects needed in curved space solving in small groups." Most of the tensor equations abound. Equations with renormalization theory - a subfield of subject matter covered in Math 35 1 will lOOO's of terms are common and in some quantum gravity - that have never been deal with the use of Mathematica. current theories, millions of terms can computed before." Richard Feyiunann once sent Stephen occur. Since these are symbolic rather Not only will Mathematica aid Wolfi-am a letter saying that Wolfram than numerical computations, the work research, it will also aid education. Also Reseach would be a waste of time and must be done perfectly or the result is from Wolfram Research's btx)chure, Jerry would drive Wolfram crazy. Contrary to meaningless. Hence, since a human Uhl, a University of Illinois mathematics Feynmann's beliefs, Mathematica seems cannot do these computations by hand, professor said, " Mathematica will change to be a success. Mathematica has brought they must be done on a computer. The the way that mathematics is taught." Uhl advanced math into a new dimension. ideal system for my work has proven to currently uses Mathematica to supplement Computations will become much easier, be very high speed workstations with a lot 100 level calculus classes. Likewise, and problems will be able to be of memory - in my case a 64 megabyte Daniel Grayson, one of the original eight understood without becoming lost in the

Sun-4. 1 had attempted for a number of developers, is teaching Math 351, a class algebra. Mathematica will become an years to produce code written in the C that details mathematical software. integral part of education and research. language that could do my calculations. Grayson commented, "This course is The age of Mathematica has arrived.

After thousands of code were written it recommended for seniors and graduate students in mathematics, engineering, and Jack A. Gidding the sciences. The student will spend several hours per week in the lab outside of class learning to use the Sun ,

A Closer Look At Undergraduate Research

The prospect of going to graduate school on their own. While they are in the lab, cover a good deal of groundwork that for many students, to be introduced to the other researchers of all levels, such as leads to a solution in later years. There is expectations of graduate school is to be graduate students and professors, are a monetary award donated by an alumnus involved in an undergraduate research available for help and guidance. So the that goes to the student presenting the best program. One such program at the students are continually learning new thesis each year.

University of Illinois is the undergraduate ideas and techniques as their project The belief that taking an biochemistry research program, unfolds. They meet regularly with their undergraduate research class such as Biochemistry 292. supervising professors and also share Biochemistry 292 will help a student get

Biochemistry 292 is a year-long class, information at meetings of all research lab into graduate school is sometimes of)en for approximately 12-15 students members, during which one member misleading. The criteria for graduate each year, depending on the number of presents his or her progress. schools are essentially undergraduate professors who have laboratory positions Time is essential to students in grades, G.R.E. scores, and letters of available. The admission process for 292 Biochemistry 292. The more time a recommendation. If a student fulfills these begins approximately mid-way through students has to dedicate to his or her requirements and has not been in an the spring semester. Students who will project, the better the outcome. It is not undergraduate research program, he or she have completed the Biochemistry 352, recommended that students try to be will probably be considered as qualified as 353, and 355 sequence by the end of that teaching assistants for first year chemistry a student who has equal credentials and semester are informed of the number of classes if they wish to be involved in the experience of undergraduate research. of)enings for the following year and are Biochemistry 292, due to the extensive However, once the students are in

invited to apply. The application is time commitments required by both. It is graduate school, the student with research usually only a page long; students submit also advantageous to complete as many experience will probably feel comfortable a list of the classes they have completed, core classes before senior year and to in the lab more quickly. As Dr. Edward their grades, and an explanation of why arrange other classes in a schedule that Conrad, the chief coordinator for they would like to be in Biochemistry allows for large blocks of free time that Biochemistry 292, explained, there is a 292, as well as some of their future plans. can be spent in the lab. It is up to the change in learning methods in the They also must include references, individual student to arrange his or her transition from undergraduate school to preferably from their Biochemistry 352 class schedule in a way that permits graduate school. In undergraduate school, and 353 professor; and students admitted success in Biochemistry 292, as well as bookleaming and groundwork is to the program are notified in time to their other classes. emphasized, but this changes in graduate advance enroll for 4-6 hours of At the end of the academic year, school. Dr. Cofuad pointed out, "When Biochemistry 292 for the following students are expected to compile all their you're conducting research in a lab, semester. Just before the finals of the work and results in a thesis paper. The you're learning what nobody knows." A spring semester, the students and quality of the paper is graded by the background in undergraduate research can professors meet and each professor professor with whom the student has ease the transition from bookleaming to presents the type of material with which worked. Professors look for effort and learning by experience.

he is working. The students then submit a commitment, the validity of conclusions For interested students. Biochemistry

list of their three preferences; most drawn, the ability of the student to 292 can be a challenging and rewarding

students receive their first choice, but if distinguish between valid and invalid experience. Students are encouraged to competition for a particular area of interest results, and the scientific format of the contact the Biochemistry Student Affairs

is high, the professor reviews the paper presented. A student with an overall Office (401 Roger Adams Laboratory) for applications and chooses the student who G. P. A. of 4.25 or higher who completes more information. seems most qualified. a senior thesis satisfactorily is eligible for Students in the program usually spend Departmental Distinction. Usually about

the first month or so reviewing half of the papers written in a year merit a Minako Hashimoto background reading and experimental degree of E)epartmental Distinction. A techniques. By the second month, most satisfactory thesis is not necessarily have begun indivual research. Yet, the contingent upon finding a solution to the researchers are by no means completely initial problem confronted, but on the amount of knowledge that was added to already known facts. For example, a student may not solve a problem, but may But Is It Really Fusion?

In late March of this year. University of A charging time is necessary before and omitting some details, such as Utah chemistry professor Dr. B. Stanley the reaction begins, which varies with the whether the beakers were sealed, and Pons distributed five advance copies of a cross-sectional area of palladium used. what electrical voltage level was used, scientific paper he wrote with Professor Thin wires require a few days, while Pons and Reischmann are reportedly Martin Reischmann, his colleague from thicker pieces may take several weeks. interested in supplying necessary the University of Southampton. Even After the charging time, the deuterium information to anyone trying to test their though the paper will not be published atoms fuse, and form helium and a large work. Their inability to completely until mid-May, copies of the paper have amount of energy, in the form of heat. explain the results of the experiment has spread the news of the two men's The experiment has been run with led them to hope another researcher may controversial cold fusion experiments varying shapes and sizes of palladium, discover exactly what is going on. around the world. As news reached Wall and results indicate that heat output is The scientists have said that tliis is not Street, the price of palladium jumped proportional to the volume of metal used. any sort of sign to cut back on other

17%, as investors reacted to reports that it In one version of the experiment, a rod 10 forms of fusion research, as this is all is the only catalyst known to work in the cm long by .8 cm in diameter melted. An very small scale energy prodution. It is reaction. earlier version was blown apart when part expected to take decades to find an

Nuclear fusion occurs in the of a 1 cm cube vaporized. economically feasible set-up for any high-temperature interior of stars, where A discrepancy has led to the large-scale application. Nevertheless, the nuclei of hydrogen atoms join to form conclusion that unknown reactions are speculators have come up with many helium and produce massive amounts of occuring in the experiment. As no known possible future applications and energy. Scientists have been trying to chemical process can explain the heat ramifications, including cold fusion-based achieve sustained hydrogen fusion in the generated, nuclear processes are assumed power plants and an overall reduction in laboratory since the time the hydrogen to be at work. However, traditional fusion air pollution. bomb was develof)ed. Until now, most theories require that large quantities of It appears to be too early to start fusion experiments have attempted to neutrons be emitted from the reaction. dumping coal and oil stocks, or to start duplicate the high-temperature conditions Pons and Fleischmann, however, detected buying up palladium futures. Those that found on the surface of a star. Pons and only a fraction of the theoretical quantity. do may be disappointed to hear that the Fleischmann hoped to use electrolysis to Results also vary with the way energy metal is used very slowly in the processes cause two deuterium (an isotope of output is calculated. In calculations being studied, and that it can also be hydrogen) atoms to fuse, forming an atom involving one experiment, heat output easily recycled. of helium and releasing energy. If varied from 48% to 839% of the point If room temperature nuclear fusion successful, the scientists would achieve where energy going in equals energy works, it may very well be, as Phillip nuclear fusion at or near room coming out (the break-even point). Ross (University of Califomia at temperature, thus the name "cold As mid-April approached, news of the Berkeley) commented, "The most fusion". yet unexplained discovery had feature significant discovery since fu^."

Pons and Fleischmann's experiment spots on both national and local news Unfortunately, it is at this time something involved a small piece of palladium broadcasts. Recent developments include to be more fully investigated, and time surrounded by a grid of platinum wires. It scientists at Texas A&M University, may show that, as Sam Hokin (Univeristy is then immersed in a beaker of heavy Georgia Institute of Technology, and of Wisconsin) commented, "Who knows? water (water made with deuterium in Moscow University claimed to duplicate Maybe Pons and Reischmann have place of ordinary hydrogen) containing Pons and Fleischmann's results. The State invented the world's most interesting dissolved lithium-oxygen-deuterium salt as of Utah has also pledged $5 million for battery." an electrolyte. The platinum and research and development of the palladium are attached to the positive and phenomena, if it is verified as a cold Brad Shannon negative terminals of automobile batteries. fusion process. This is good news to Pons and Fleischmann, who have poured $100,000 into the project from their private funds. They did not seek grants for the project, as they beUeved no one would take the idea seriously. Although the paper has been criticized for not mentioning a control experiment,

10 The Debate Over Toxin Research

William Buck, a University of Illinois treating humans poisoned by mold toxins. testing of mold toxins in harvested crops. veterinarian toxicologist, claims that It was alleged the Soviets were spraying Buck said this research can be used to animal poisonings wUl be more frequent "Yellow Rain" on villages in defend the United States from biological this season because of last year's drought. Afghanistan, Cambodia, Vietnam and attacks. "If terrorists wanted to hit this The dry spell stressed the grain stored last Laos. The U.S. Army collected samples country, they could spread spores of year (to be fed to livestock this year) by of YeUow Rain from tree leaves and molds on our crops or in feeid bins. We weakening its protective shell, thus identified it as T2 and DAS. But wouldn't know it until we did a test." making it more vulnerable to mold strangely, they could not find much T2 or Nachama Wilder, the executive invasion. DAS in the bodies of the victims. director of the Committee for Responsible

This year. Buck and other scientists at Buck and a team of at least 20 Genetics in Boston, said "it is difficult to the U of I College of Veterinay Medicine researchers found that T2 or DAS had the distinguish between offensive and developed a single test for the dozens of same poisoning effect whether the pig ate defensive warfare research. In order to chemicals that poison cattle, pigs and it, breathed it, had it injected, or scrubbed defend yourself, you need to know what other Uvestock. on its skin. you are up against and then create a

However, Buck's research was funded The U of I researchers also found the vaccine. The best defense is to strengthen by the U.S. Army ~ $3.1 million over bodies of the pigs destroyed the mold the Biological Weapons Convention of seven years. Some U of I professors say toxins T2 and DAS within minutes. The 1972." they are suspicious that the reseach may bodies' attempts to detoxify itself broke Democratic Representative Tenry be used for offensive biological warfare the poison down into metabolites, the Bruce of Dlinois said he was opjxjsed to which was outlawed in a 1972 chemical byproducts. They found 28 biological warfare. "But (Buck's research) international treaty, the Biological metabolites of T2 and half a dozen for sounds like it is not related to uses in

Weajxins Convention. DAS. Although the pigs broke down T2 chemical or biological offensive warfare. I Buck insisted his research is beneficial and DAS, some of the resulting see nothing wrong wth developing a to humans and animals. He explained his metabolites were equally toxic to the pigs. system that could help save lives if reseach as he juggled several phone calls It explained why the pigs were poisoned somebody else used chemical or at once: "You say your dog is without a trace of T2 or DAS in their biological weapons," said Bruce in a hypersalivating? What did he do, eat the bodies. prepared written statement. Bruce also whole pen?" or "So your cat ate the "Then we asked, if animals destroy said we cannot avoid scientific advances geraniam. Let me check how toxic it is." T2 and DAS, what do plants do?" Buck just because someone might misuse them Buck has about 100,000 animal case said. His team found metaboUtes of T2 in the future, according to Michael histories stored on computer. Ten years and DAS in plants, after surveying 176 Bushman, Bruce's press secretary. ago he started the Animal Poison feed samples last year. Another public official who supported Information Center at the University of The College of Veterinary Medicine Buck's reseach was Charles Smith,

Dlinois, the only center of its kind in has the technology to identify a quantity defense advisor to Democratic Senator North America. Veterinarian toxicologists of toxins in grain as small as ten parts per Alan Dixon of Illinois. He said the U.S. answer calls on the center's animal poison billion. According to Buck, ten parts per Army is required to look at biological hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a billion is about one fourth of an inch to offensive weapons used by our enemies. week. Every call is recorded on the the entire circumference of the Earth. "These are horrible weapons," Smith computer and the center receives over 100 One laboratory had sacks of com piled said. "But how do we protect our troops calls a day. in a Uttle hill next to the equipment. Urine from it? How do we develop defenses Buck said he suspected two mold colored extracts of grains sit in rows of against chemical weapons used by Iran, toxins — T2 and DAS — were the main beakers. Iraq and the Soviet Union.?" culprits for hurting herds of Livestock each "Anything under 20 parts per billion Some U of I life scientists applaud the year. However, researchers could not find is not likely to cause a problem," Buck veterinarians for doing the research, but either T2 or DAS in the feed or in the said as he discussed the mold aflatoxin. resent the fact that the money is tissue of poisoned animals. "But grain with 20 contaminated parts per channeled throught the Department of In 1980, Buck was approached by an billion can't even be shipjjed interstate, Defense instead of the National Institute army veterinarian who was interested in according to the Food and Drug continued on page 12 Administration. Remember, we're talking about very, very small quantities." Illinois and Iowa have aready begun statewide

11 1

On Campus

continued ftom page 1 Exceptional Advisors Honored of Health or the National Science The most often heard complaint at large Illinois. Then the guest speaker, Daniel Foundation. institutions such as the University of Metz, presented a few words of wisdom

"If the military funds too many Illinois is that the education students to help engineering students through life,

things, we can't wade through all of receive is very impersonal. The complaint as well as through school. His speech was

them," said Stanley Maloy, a U of I is not a suprising one considering that a a fine example of professors' concern for

microbiologist. "It would make it easier professor must lecture to a room of 100 students. Professor Metz demonstrated for them to hide research used for students or more. Students tend to be that he not only cared about how students offensive purposes from the public. All treated as just another face in the crowd. performed in class, but also about how

health research with no impact on The function of advisors is generally students performed once they left the biowarfare should be funded by the NSF to alleviate some of the impersonality in university. orNIH." large school systems. However, a problem Large universities do not necessarily

"I don't blame them for accepting the similar to the large lecture hall effect still have to be impersonal or uncaring. The money from the Army," said Abigail arises. A professor must also tend to his Advisors List of 1989 proves that there Salyers, a U of I biologist. "Research research and graduate students in addition are professors who are concerned about money is tight. My concern is that the to advising undergraduates. The problem undergraduates. Hopefully, this award will system is wasteful. It's bureaucratic. then arises of the professor not having encourage other professors to become Proposals must go through a duplicate time for the problems of the more concerned in their role as process, once for the NSF and one for the undergraduate. However, once in a while, undergraduate advisors.

Department of Defense." there is the advisor who puts forth an Democratic Representative Wayne extra effort to get to know his Grace Wilson Award Owens of Utah will present a bill to undergraduate advisees. He will receive Congress that will put all biological no extra grant money or accommodation Have you ever heard of Michelle Ohms? warfare research not purely military under for his efforts; rather, he invests the time Well, if you haven't, somebody has the responsibility of the National Institute in his students just because he cares. namely the board that selected her as this of Health. Under the bill, biological A student may receive an award for year's recipient of the Grace Wilson research with any non-military scholarship, activities or athletics, but Award.

applications will be funded by NIH. There rarely are students given the opportunity The award is presented in honor of

is one exception and that is the testing of to reward a particular professor for his Grace Wilson, the first female engineering equipment. outstanding efforts. On the night of March instructor at the University of Illinois. The "Under the bill, the U of I project on 7, 1989, there was such an opportunity as Women's Auxiliary of the Illinois Society toxic molds would be funded by the the Dean's Student Advisory Committee of Professional Engineers dedicated this National Institute of Health because the and Arthur Anderson Consulting award to Grace Wilson for her research is not sjjecifically military," said Company presented the first annual contributions to women in the field of Paul Warenski, press secretary to Owens. Advisors Award Banquet. Twenty-six engineering. Buck said the millions of dollars from advisors from engineering curricula, To receive the Grace Wilson Award, the Department of Defense provided him ranging from Agricultural to Theoretical a candidate must be one of the top ten with computers, biological equipment and and Applied Mechanics, were recognized women engineers in her curriculum. She more researchers, which pushed his team for their dedication to the undergraduate should be academically excellent, an

into finding a diagnosis for the mold students of U of I. This dedication outstanding contributor to the community toxins. involved not only giving helpful hints as and/or the university, as well as a Ten years ago. Buck received only to the best classes to take, or the best contributor towards her own education, $150,000 from the U.S. Department of companies or graduate schools to apply either by jobs held, internships, etc. On d * Agriculture "and then Congress cut the to, but also taking the time to listen and Febmary 25 at the Champaign Country money," Buck said. "We never would help out with students' problems outside Club, Michelle's father and sister watched have developed the test without the $3.1 of the classroom. as she was presented the Grace Wilson million. No way." The candidates for this year's Award by Dean Wakeland and Professor

Advisors List were first nominated by Jerry Dobrovolny.

final list decided Iris Chang students and the was upon by a student selection committee. The banquet was opened by Morton Weir, the Chancellor of the University of

12 So, what was it that Michelle Ohms did to deserve this award? Take your pick: she was a member of Tau Beta Pi,

which is the National Engineering Honor Society, a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, a member of Engineering Council, the Engineering Speakers Bureau, Homecoming Queen for

1988, a U of I Concert Band member,

and a Knight of Saint Patrick, which is an honor given by the College of Engineering for outstanding involvement

in extracurricular activities. If this were not enough to keep her occupied, Ms. Ohms studied abroad at the East China Institute of Technology in the summer of 1987.

So even if one had neither met nor heard of Michelle Ohms, her work and

achievements have shown up all over the

engineering campus, which is why she was bestowed the Grace Wilson Award.

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continued from page 3 gets larger with the IIT MBA.

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intervention and its immediate results will Tomorrow Starts Today at IIT. be inevitable. Call 312-853-5848 today for complete information. BQ Dave ILLINOIS NSTITUTE OF TECHNQtOGY Kenyon and Steven Phelps .. School of Business At3m tioojjl^o IL 60616

13 Georgette Dixon likes to push the odds.

eorgette Dixon admits she's a risk taker. As a woman, and a black, just becoming an engineer beat the odds. But she hasn't stopped there. She's a member of GE's Edison Engineering Program, one of the most rigorous training programs in the field. In less than two years at GE, Georgette's learned far more than she ever thought possible. She's working not just with new technologies, but new ways of managing, new ways of thinking. Best of all, she gets free rein to make a project go. Right now she's working as a project manager, automating processes for Appliances and other GE businesses. The budgeting, scheduling, robotic programming— Georgette has to coordinate

it all. That takes determination, and drive. GE hires people who have that extra push. Engineers who say "Can do!"...

and then give it their best. That's why we're the odds-on favorite in so many businesses.

The mark ofa leader

An equal opportunity employer. 620.5 s"rx THl in5:l FALL 193^ m f olume 105, Issue 1 leohx\ogra]pfi\

The Engineering Magazine at the University of Illinois Editorial

". . . why then should we give two leaking barrels of toxic waste about what happens to the environment?"

For those of you who missed the REM concert at the University of Illinois due to test, homework, lack of tickets or some other reason, hopefully you did not miss the objective in promoting their "Green" tour.

"Green" does not refer to the color you feel after taking a EE exam nor does it refer to Kermit the Frog; rather it refers to the color of the trees, flowers and other vegetation that is slowly being decimated by man. Rain forests are responsible for supplying about two-thirds of the oxygen for this planet and are also contributing factors in global weather patterns. The algae in the oceans supply the other third. So, even if all of the rain forests were burnt to the ground for Columbian farmland, we really need not concern ourselves. Sure, breathing may become a little difficult, especially with only one-third of our normal oxygen present, and large amounts of pollutants will enter our systems causing the incidence of lung cancer to increase, but the human race could probably still survive (albeit not in complete comfort). We will not all drop to the ground blue and twitching just because there aren't any trees left, but our quality of life will be greatly affected. The same is true of the hole in the ozone layer. There most certainly will be more mutations, eyesight will fail earlier in life and the wildlife will be annihilated, but the human race is much like the cockroaches; come acid rain or nuclear disaster, we will probably pull through.

Since it is not the human gene pool which is in jeopardy from our own actions, why then should we give two leaking barrels of toxic waste about what happens to the environment. After all, by the time earth begins to fall apart, most of us will be dead.

The answer that question is to preserve that essential quality that makes man human. Man is the only creature with the capacity to destroy or preserve the earth. Ordinary animals, such as elephants, may lay waste to many trees during a single feeding, but they cannot restore that which they have destroyed. Man is also the only creature that can appreciate the beauty around him and ensure its continuation.

If steps are not taken to stop the destruction of the trees and plants and the pollution of the atmosphere and earth, the future of this planet is a bleak one. The only wildlife that will remain will be giant sewer rats and cockroaches; the air will be toxic to all living beings; and the ground upon which we walk will be a sludge of toxic waste and garbage. So go ahead, plant a tree, but not because you want to contribute that millionth of a percent to the earth's flora or atmosphere. Plant that tree because you respect the earth and everything

with which it has provided you, but also recycle glass, plastic containers, aluminum cans and paper and do everything you can to become more environmentally conscious. Plant a tree. iU'i^^-^^ l^^^-\^

Chi-Ting Huang Editor iCCinois Fall 1989 Volume 105, Issue 1 TechnograpUl

Computer Illiteracy on Decline

As the American public becomes more computer literate, those who choose to ignore the computer revolution are

left behind.

Flexible Production Comes to U of I

A new Flexible Manufacturing System will allow a variety of engineering students to simulate real-life automation in manufacturing. Studying Abroad in Germany

One student relates his own experiences as a participant in the college's exchange program with Germany. 10 Perspectives in Space Technology

Space still holds many opportunities for technological advances. 16 U.S. in Engineering Crisis

Is the U.S. doomed to lose the technology race in the 90's?

Departments RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS

James Holobaugh CivU Engineering University of Missouri Co-oping with St. Louis Corps of Engineers

''THE DASE CO-OP PROGRAM IS LIKE A COURSE IN REAL LIFE/'

"The big thing it offers is experience, and that's what companies look for. There are things I've learned on the job that I couldn't learn in school."

The Department of Army Scientific and Engineering (DASE) Co-op Program provides ROTC students the opportimity to work in a Department of the Army facility while still in college. Each is paid while getting practical work experience in a high-tech facility. Selected students also receive up to $5,000 tuition assistance per year and the opportunity for continued employment after graduation. Tb be eligible, you must be a freshman in a baccalaureate program leading to a degree in science or engineering. For more information on application pro- cedures, contact the Chairman of the Co-op Department, or the Professor of Military Science. Students are selected on a competitive basis.

ARMY ROTC THE SMARTEST COLLEGE COURSE YOU CAN TAKE.

For more information, contact: Major Bill Dunlop, P.E., 333-1550 TheirWE^ Ourwc^

You can save literally days of Better algorithms and chip work between now and grad- design help you finish much uation. Simply by using an HP faster and more accurately calculator To keep you from than their way. So, whether endlessly retracing your steps, you're in engineering, busi- ours have built-in shortcuts. ness, finance, life or social Such as the unique HP Solve sciences, we've got the best There is a better way. function for creating your own calculator for you. For as formulas. Menus, labels and little as $49.95. Check it out prompts. Program libraries. at your campus bookstore HEWLETT Algebraic or RPN models. or HP retailer. PACKARD

© 1989 Hewlett-Packard Company PG12905 Computer Illiteracy on Decline

Seldom has technology re- they do. Because the minds of chil- computer may be, it is only as reli- quired the layman lo not only learn dren arc more open and have fewer able as its programming and its data a new language, but lo also learn a preconceived notions, they often do input, both of which involve the completely new style of thinking. pick up skills more rapidly than a human factor to some extent. Wc have arrived at perhaps the first teacher who may feel his workspace People also trust the printed major sophistication of thai type has been crowded with an intimidat- word. This may be because the edu- since the invention of the printed ing competitor. cational system relies so heavily on book. The computer, which once A more subtle effect of com- printed texts. People may place their heralded a new age of information, puter illiteracy is its effect on a trust in a laser quality document such has issued forth an age of confusion. The world now seems to be in a stale where those who arc "literate" with computers can truly claim a certain superiority over those who are not. The problem of computer illiteracy becomes more pronounced as com- puters continue to proliferate work, home, and social life at a breakneck pace. Much of the problem lies with those people who are forced into a confrontation with the compulcron the job. Workers who have had no previous experience with computers find themselves ill-prepared when they are under pressure to learn how to use a computer on the job. Some suffer what might be termed as keyboard paralysis. Even if they learn basic computer skills, some people will freeze before they touch a computer keyboard because of the anxiety they experience. They wonder if touching the wrong key could break the computer or erase person's power to believe or disbe- as a resume or a term paper without important information or programs. lieve. Computers possess two as- relying as much on its content as ils Those who get past keyboard paraly- pects which increase bclievability in appearance. Additionally, trusting sis may get so frustrated after a few their compulations and products im- in a computer-printed bank state- mistakes that they think they cannot mensely. Computers are close cous- ment might seem perfectly reason- master the computer. ins to machines, and they arc mas- able while trusting a hand-written Perhaps one of the biggest prob- ters of the printed word. bank statement would seem a little lems of job-related computer anxi- People trust machines. There is more absurd. Considering that simi- ety occurs in the teaching profes- little else to say. How often does one lar errors could be made in miscopy- sion. School districtsoftcn buy com- experience a faulty toaster or a tele- ing numbers, and that a number puter systems or networks but do not vision on the blitz? Machines have could be miskcyed, perhaps the spend time training teachers how to become so reliable in the 20th cen- printed output ought to deserve a use the systems or how to coordinate tury that society has placed a great second look. To continue living thccomputcrswiih theirclasses. The deal of trust in them. People natu- effectively in a computerized soci- teachers, told that they must inte- rally try to associate the relatively ety, people should learn to be more grate the computers into the class- new concept of computers with a skeptical of printed material since it room, attempt to do .so with their concept they are already familiar has become so easy to produce. limited knowledge, but may be in- with, and the concept of a machine The College of Engineering at timidated if their students pick up is by and far the one with the most theUniversity of Illinois has joined computer skills more quickly than similarities. However reliable a the effort to solve the problem of computer illiteracy by doing what it docs best — educate. The Strategic Planning Committee for Computing and Networking (SPCCN) plans to move forward with its renovative efforts based upon the recommenda- tions of an instructional computing workshop it hosted last year. Cur- rently, the SPCCN and other com- working toward two mittees are M.J. Reed * Est. 1897 definitive goals for the College of Your future is engineering and her. Engineering. The SPCCN, chaired by Dean Chalmers Sechrist, proposes the installation of high-performance workstations such as industry com- monly uses. According to Sechrist, many graduates of the University enter industry before familiarizing themselves with standard high-per- formance workstations. Since most industrial employers expect job applicants to be familiar with these workstations, Sechrist wants them to receive hands-on training at the University. Another goal recommended by the instructional computing work- shop is better education of freshmen about computers. Although this plan is not currently under the wing of the SPCCN, there are proposals to estab- The Diamond Engagement Ring lish an entry-level course to teach freshmen about computer basics, a revised version ofCS101,and pos- sible follow-upclasses which might teach computer usage specific to each student's major. From $450 The computer literacy problem C/ JEWELERS is definitely becoming less of a con- cern. More people learn every day that they have nothing to fear from computers, however, computer lit- eracy must continue to improve on a personal, university-wide, and M-F 9:30-6 9:30-4 nation-wide scale, for computers Sa Old Fami Shops Maltis and Kirby, Champaign All major credit cards and credit plans will continue to spread into more aspects of our culture even if some people are left behind. I Every engineer wants to make Flexible Production that once in a lifetime design that will earn him fame and fortune, but that product must be manufactured in a Comes to U of I quality and cost efficient manner to satisfy both the producer and the consumer. Henry Ford revolution- ized manufacturing with the concept of an assembly line; and in the 1980's, the revolution continues with a trend towards completely compu- terized manufacturing. One concept that is becoming popular among large manufacturers is the concept ol the Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS). Recognizing the importance of the FMS, the University of Illinois College of Engineering has begun offering a manufacturing option which affords students the opportu- nity to work in an FMS lab. A conventional manufacturing and stored on a CAD system, then the ing process and either makes the system is considered to be a system information concerning the design is proper adjustments during the proc- which integrates different processes read by another computer system ess (via the communications net- (machining, welding, etc.) and re- and is used to ensure the proper pro- work) or shuts the system down de- quires a properly defined input to duction and process plan along with pending on the complexity of the create the expected output. Setting the proper scheduling of events. In- problem. up a conventional manufacturing cluded in the process plan is the CNC After the part has been in- system requires process planning, se- code generated for each part to be spected, the part is transferred to an quencing and scheduling, and facili- machined. automated guided vehicle (AGV) ties layout for the production of a After all of this is completed, which brings the part to the robotic single batch of products. Also, many production is ready to begin. At this assembly station. Here a robot takes of the processes are performed manu- point, the supervisory control sta- the part and places it in a workpiece ally while some are performed with tion downloads the CNC part pro- buffer until there are enough parts the aid of computers (e.g. Computer- grams to the machining center via the present for the robot to begin assem- Aidcd Process Planning, Computer communications network. Once the bly. After assembly is complete, the Numerically Controlled machine downloading is complete, produc- AGV transfers the finished product tools (CNC), and Computer-Aided tion finally begins. Now, the super- to a product bin. Design (CAD)). visory control initiates the first The manufacturing cell will pro-

Oneof the goals of FMS is to use material handling robot to begin pro- duce robots such as the one in fig. 2 a computer (or Computer Integrated duction. The robot then transfers raw which was designed on a CAD sys-

Manufacturing (CIM) ) to fully inte- material to the machining center. tem. Small alterations in the design grate the electronic output and cre- Once the material has been ma- of the individual components of the ate the expected product. As ex- chined, another material handling model robot allow the robot to be pected, the FMS is very close to being robot transfers the finished part to constructed in different ways dem- fully automated. Another goal of an the metrology station where the part onstrating the flexibility of the

FMS is to have the ability to adapt to is inspected to see if it meets the manufacturing cell (fig. 3). any change in input parameters (e.g. required specifications. While all of The importance of this system product dimensions, configurations, this is going on, the supervisory con- to the College of Engineering is two- oroverall change in design) without trol is monitoringeverything. There- fold. Firstly, the construction of this creating many problems. fore, if the metrology station detects system draws from almost every dis- One good way to get a good grasp any problems with the machined cipline in engineering. For example, of what FMS is would be to examine part, it discards the part and notes the communications networks for the proposed Flexible Manufactur- that a replacement is needed. If there the computers as well as the CAD ing Cell for the College of Engineer- is a consistent flow of improperly system draws on computer science ing (fig. 1). machined parts, it senses that there and computer engineering. The

At first the product is designed is something wrong with the machin- control of the machine tools and robots draw from electrical engi- manufacturing option. neering; the machine tool and robot The program's director. Dr. structure draw from mechanical en- Shiv G. Kapoor, has designed the gineering; and the process planing program to allow the student a per- and scheduling draw from industrial spective of manufacturing from the engineering. By integrating almost point of view of his respective dis- all of the disciplines of engineering cipline of engineering. The program into a single laboratory, engineering consists of three levels. Level one students who take classes using this is a single course titled "Introduction lab can see how they relate to engi- to Manufacturing Systems" which Who says all students in the program are re- engineering quired to take. Level two will be a set of four 300 level courses under students can't the new manufacturing engineering (MfgE) classification from which write? If you would like to write for the student will have to choose. the Technograph, contact Level three will require the student Chi-Ting Huang at 328-6808 to choose from three courses in a or Minako Hashimoto at 332- group of technical electives. It will 4383. Earn approximately be required, however, that the level $10/article. Jobs also being three classes be related to the level taken for photography and two in order to generate a more layout. coherent study. The projected com- ^ ^ pletion date of this program and the

FMS cell that it complements is August 1990. For further informa- tion concerning the FMS cell or the manufacturing option, contact Dr. ShivG. Kapoor at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineer- ing, phone 333-3432. neers of other disciplines. --Allen Brandl Secondly, the manufacture of

designed products is the concern of engineers from all disciplines. By understanding basic manufacturing principles, the design engineer will be able to better communicate with the manufacturing engineer and vice versa. Enhanced communication will result in products of increased quality at a lower cost. Because of the need for engi- neering graduates with a basic knowledge of manufacturing proc- esses, systems, and issues, the Col-

lege of Engineering is currently designing a "manufacturing option" which will be available to all engi- neering students as a complement to the standard bachelors degree. The expression of this need for engineer- ing graduates with the basic knowl- edge of manufacturing came from General Motors Foundation which has provided some support for set- ting up the FMS laboralorv for the Studying Abroad in Germany

My lasi year (academic year88/ history, traces of which arc scattered surprises and disappointments go 89) was spent in Munich, Germany, all over the continent. hand in hand with the intrigue of as a participant in the exchange pro- Before arriving in Germany, my being in a foreign country. Once the gram between the UIUC College of goals were all very structured. My system is understood, you can start Engineering and the Technical Uni- main goal was to better my math to set realistic goals regarding versity of Munich. Studying abroad skills and come back as Einstein II. courses and work. Of course, the offers many opportunities to expand Some secondary goals were: to turn outcome of all this work is that just a students mind. I, myself, gained a into the bike touring nut of the north, as you have finally gotten to know variety of insights from my year to get into Olympic caliber swim- the system, and have become inte- grated enough to achieve some goals, you have to pack up, leave,

and readjust to U of I.

So, what am I saying? I am saying that my year abroad was an invaluable experience which taught me about both myself and the world.

The opportunity is open to everyone, and everyone should take advantage

of it. If you have not studied abroad, you have no idea how much you can get out of the experience and never

will unless you try it. If you have certain things you would definitely like to get accomplished, a more structured program is for you; but be warned, with increasing structure, you proportionately compromise the variability and flexibility that makes this such a good learning experience.

If I had to make the decision

again knowing what I know now, I would certainly go but would post- abroad. ming condition, to rip through pone my trip until after graduation A year abroad affords a variety France and Germany and to know the simply because going away in the of culturally different experiences. language and culture like the back of middle of Sophomore and Junior

These range from local cultural my hand. None of these goals were year is quite an inconvenience. It aspects (i.e. tomato fights in some actualized. I cracked open two of the most certainly would be far easier to

Spanish city), to regional traits (such thirty-seven books I shipped over; cruise through undergraduate years as language, food and festivities), to my bike got very little use due to uninterrupted, then switch gears general views of a different society. excessive rain and bike-damaging after the natural break of receiving

Some of the regional characteristics streets; I hurt my shoulder and a bachelors degree. But integrating of Bavaria were the mountains and started to get fat; and I came to dis- back into the old life has its merits, lakes, the smattering of dialects, like traveling unless I had a specific simply because you get back on yodeling, and a very strong pride in goal and itinerary. track, changed only in that you are Bavarian beer. A study abroad experience is an a broader, more developed person.

The main attraction offered by open possibility - a giant unknown I can imagine losing quite a few good Europe as a whole, can be summed with a good chance of being one of people to other countries, simply due up with the word "diversity" - a rich the best growing experiences in life. to them not wanting to start over diversity in its languages, political Having been partof a relatively un- again in America. But going abroad systems, and cultures, and the wide structured program, it has been my during your undergraduate years array of geographical areas existing observation that one leaves for a host ensures you an easier return and in close proximity. This diversity country with certain preconceived more importantly gives you a home results in a very full and interesting notions. Upon arriving, unpleasant base (your University) and a source of funding (again, your Uni- versity). Once you do return, you will see that the read- justment goes fairly smoothly and that you have magically become more at- tuned to what you want to get out of life and how to go

about getting it. You sud- denly begin to appreciate America's rich cultural and geographic diversity and to view nearly everything based more on its global impact as opposed to how yourown littlecornerof the world has been affected. You should think very carefully about at which point in your life you would most willingly get involved in a study abroad program. What you lose in continuity, you make up 1000-fold, in having limitless new oppor- tunities open up because you can now view things on a more global scale and assess them more fully. To sum up, studying abroad is certainly a break in your life's conti-

nuity, and I think that tran- sitions are almost always ac- companied by many disap- pointments, but also with a more worthwhile gain.

Guess where I work?

In my free time, you might see me knocking out a home run. But on weekdays, you'll definitely find me pitching new ideas at an international leader in communications systems. Since joining the team in 1983, I've been moving

up fast. Today I'm batting 1000 as an Advisory Systems Engineer and Team Leader. Meeting with clients, analyzing their needs and developing system design solutions. I'm reaching my goals at a company where teamwork, diversity, creative freedom and growth are

encouraged. This is a place that hits home with me. Perspectives in Space Teciinology

Technological advances in fiber solar power satellites for terrestrial edge of the universe. Remote sens- optic communications, robotics, energy production could supply ing of materials by space satellites

supercomputers, microelectronics large amounts electrical power with- is also an important application. For and new materials arc beneficial in out the chemical or thermal pollution instance, the Apollo missions were themselves and also in their interdis- associated with most conventional instrumental in obtaining the chemi- ciplinary applications. One applica- energy sources. Also, space manu- cal composition of lunar soil (by tion to which they all pertain is space facturing and materials processing weight, 40% oxygen, 30% metallic technology. Efforts in space explo- under variable gravity will make the elements such as iron, aluminum, ration and utilization have been building of large scientific instru- and titanium, and much of the re-

progressing remarkably in the post- ments like radios and optical tele- mainder is silicon). Remote sensing

World War II era, and fascinating scopes much easier. Further, satel- is also useful in the exploration of breakthroughs have contributed to lites and other exploration machin- the earth's oceans and other hard to the shape of modern living. ery made in space and launched reach areas. This is especially impor- The uses of space arc often from, say, the moon, would require tant for locating deposits of materi- thought of in military and defensive only one twentieth of the energy als that are becoming scarce. terms like long range reconnais- required for an earth launching. As with any mode of explora- sance and nuclear explosion detec- All this production in space tion, lessons learned from earlier tion, or in terms of communication would be even more efficient if the failures must be applied to future satellites for business. However, needed materials were actually al- efforts. The Challenger disaster there arc many other branches of ready in space. Theirexistence is just brought out the need for improved space research and application that one question to be answered as space safety in the future design modifica- arc less publicized. For example, technology tries to expand knowl- tions of space vehicles. The success

Leadership UALITY IMNOVATIOM

Inland Steel is internationally recognized as a progressive company; a vital cog in America's industrial community. Our strong growth offers challenging opportunities to dedicated people from a variety of disciplines: • ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS • METALLURGICAL ENGINEERS • MECHANICAL ENGINEERS • COMPUTER ENGINEERS/ COMPUTER SCIENCE • INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERS

If you are exploring your first professional challenge in the workplace or are investigating new directions in your career, consider a future at Inland Steel. Find out more about our state-of-the-art, future-minded company and the stimulating challenges we offer by contacting our Person- nel Department.

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"^•mm^MMM^^^^^mMmm^MMM^Ma.rt'fiii iMi^ 10 of the space shuttle Discov- ery after the disaster of Chal- lenger is a positive sign for future missions. Future space activities, to a large extent, depend not only on political, social and economic factors but also on public support and aware- ness. The future still holds the much awaited days of a permanent space station with opportunities to per- form experiments that may help produce new materials and gain new knowledge. The possibility of creating habitats on other planetary bodies such as the Moon, Ju- piter and Mars has posed dif- ficult yet intriguing chal- lenges to the creativity of investigators. Mining the vast amounts of resources of other planets and the har- nessing of the sun's energy are also subjects of investi- gation. Space exploration pushes us to the limits of our technological abilities. Many ideas have been real- ized, and the twenty-first century will hopefully pro- vide more pathways towards actualizing our space dreams.

—Karthik Nagaralhnam

Guess where I work?

Saturday night, you might see me rocking to the top 40. But Monday morning, you'll find me moving ahead at a worldwide leader in communications systems. In just five exciting years, I've leapt from Communications Products Assurance into the Network Control Program where I'm managing a software design/development department

specializing in telecommunications. This is a company that wants me to grow by leaps and bounds with early

recognition. . . plenty of responsibility. . . ongoing

education. . . and unlimited challenges in both the

technical and managerial ranks. This is a place that

keeps me jumping. . . and jumping for joy.

11 Tech Profiles

to help with the education of students equal level, education-wise, with there. In 1985, he became the head Berkeley and also that "the school of the electrical engineering depart- [the University of Illinois] will ment at a new school in Bauchi, maintain its standard of quality." Nigeria called Abubakar Tafawa When asked to compare the Balewa University. There he helped schools in the United States with the create their electrical engineering school in Nigeria, he said that there curriculum and set up the under- was only one major difference. In graduate laboratories. In the begin- Nigeria, professors are highly re- ning, their labs were modest. One of vered and respected and almost put their first labs consisted of injecting on a pedestal by the students. Ade-

signals into a torn apart radio; but sida believes that this high regard is now the school has grown and is able a good idea, but too high of a regard

to obtain much more sophisticated makes it difficult for students to lab equipment. approach a professor with questions.

In early February of 1987, he re- In the United States, there is respect

turned to the United States to teach for the professors, but there is also Professor Ilesanmi Adesida, and research at the University of a friendly bond between the student commonly known as "Adc," is a Illinois. So far, he has taught EE340 and the teacher which makes asking faculty member of thccleclrical en- and EE344 which are classes that questions and learning in general gineering deparlmcnl at the Univer- deal with semi-conductor theory and much easier. sity of Illinois. He first came to the production. His current research Professor Adesida is a person United States from Nigeria in 1971. project concerns physical electron- who really wants students to learn He attended the University of Cali- ics and microfabrication technology and wishes them the best of luck in fornia at Berkeley and earned his for high speed devices to be used in their future careers. This father of B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical en- future optical communication and five children and player of tennis and gineering. Adesida suggests that ea- computer systems. He believes that ping-pong has one down-to-earth ger undergraduates stay in school the transistor will eventually work message to students, "Hard work and earn their M.S. before beginning on the atomic level with single elec- pays in the end." Hopefully the stu- their career. "You really start to trons, and quantum mechanics will dents can use this bit of wisdom to learn in graduate school. In your have to be used instead of classical endure that next class assignment classes you don't use the results of physics to examine these devices. that seems to have no solution. your studies; the re- His laboratory is located in the base- you produce -Ken Skodacek sults," he pointed out. Another sug- ment of Everitt Lab at a place com-

gestion Vk'as that students find a part- monly known as Fab 2, but he will time job in their respective fields be moving to the Microelectronics while still in college. "If they can Lab behind Kenney Gym. Who says find a part-time job, the experience Adesida predicts a bright future engineering will be a good commodity in the for the University of Illinois with the future." In 1979, he went to Cornell new Digital Lab, the Microelectron- students can't and there he held such positions as ics Lab and the Bcckman Institute. write? a post-doctoral fellow, a research He believes that the opportunity for If you would like to write for assistant and a visiting assistant many professors to work together the Technograph, contact professor. Adesida stayed there until through the Beckman Institute will Chi-Ting Huang at 328-6808 his wife completed her residency as be extremely rewarding in terms of or Minako Hashimoto at 332- a physician. research possibilities. He views the 4383. Earn approximately In 1984, he returned to Nigeria University of Illinois as being on an SlO/article. Jobs also being taken for photography and layout. ^ ^

12 TechTeasers

1. What monosyllabic Eng- lish word has one vowel and eight consonants?

2. A man owns 23 rare exotic guppies. In his will, he des- ignates half of his property to his eldest son, a third to his middle son, and an eighth to his youngest son. Since these rare exotic guppies cannot be cut up without killing them, how can the three sons fairly divide the guppies?

3. A refrigerator is placed in a completely airtight and perfectly insulated room.

The door is opened and it is turned on. Will the tempera- ture of the room drop, remain the same, or rise?

4. In many video games, it is possible to go off one side of the screen and appear on the other (such as in Asteroids). What kind of mathematical object (ignoring distortion) would the screen be?

5. Is it possible to blow soap bubbles in outer space?

Guess where I work?

On weekends, you might see me warming up with my frisbee. But on weekdays, you'll definitely find me tossing around ideas at a worldwide leader in communications systems. In three terrific years there, I've moved from

Systems Engineer to Marketing Representative. And I know that's just the beginning. This company throws

everything I want my way. . . the freedom, diversity, responsiveness and opportunity to grow on my own terms.

This is definitely a company and a job you grab onto and hold tight.

13 Employment Expo CUMUG The October meeting of the The Tcchnograph, being an was the first central job fair Champaign-Urbana Macintosh entire College of engineering magazine, covers sponsored by the User Group (CUMUG) will Engineering as a whole. In past events sponsored by the College include a side by side comparison individual societies (SWE, of Engineering. Which is why, on years, of Hewlett Packard's New Wave IEEE, etc.) have held September 7lh of this Fall, I ACM, interface, a NcXT machine, and similar fairs on smaller scales. But decided lo frequent the Student the Macintosh's own Multi-finder. frequently companies were asked Union, to check out the Engineer- Representatives from HP will these smaller fairs on more ing Exposition. to visit demonstrate the New Wave felt than one occasion in one year. As I walked in, I initially software which is a graphical This being an inconvenience, somewhat out of place. I had interface for the IBM PC and other recruiters approached stopped by in between classes, corporate compatible machines and a new generation operating system. It is extended beyond MS-DOS in many ways other than just the visual interface, such as allowing multi-tasking (the running of multiple programs at the same lime) and linking between data from various programs. For example, a dynamic link would allow a word-processor to auto- matically have a chart from a spreadsheet program that auto- matically updates when the spread sheet is changed. Another purpose of this demonstration is to give the audience a chance to see first-hand the interface that caused Apple to sue HP last spring, though the case Engineering Placement office wearing my standard wash-n-wear the has not yet been completely suggested an all-college attire of l-shirt and shorts, and I and resolved. In addition there will be was surrounded by many well- affair. a NeXT machine, the product from Exposition was a student dressed students sporting suits, The Steve Jobs' new company. Steve organized project: the Chairperson lies and skirls. But I soon realized Jobs spearheaded the development Stanleyned Macasieb, a senior that actually there were others like was of the Macintosh while he was still in electrical engineering and the myself, non-senior students who at Apple, and now he has produced Vice-President of were just there lo check out the Executive a high-power UNIX work station Council. Organiza- scene and lo begin to get an idea Engineering with advanced windowing soft- began in late of what the job world has lo offer. tion of the Expo ware. 1989. Letters were Many of the seniors, however, February of There will be a Macintosh, as corporations, 72 were there to turn in resumes and sent out lo 350 well as these two other interfaces, Companies from all over to make a favorable impression attended. demonstrating that Apple's Multi- including DuPont, with the companies of their the country finder provides a much more Motorola, choice. The overall atmosphere Dow, IBM, AT&T, precise framework to judge the Caterpillar, and was not loo formal. Companies Intel Corporation, differences between the interfaces Livermore National were there to recruit by answering Lawrence and the software features. participated. student's questions and to show Laboratory Aside from the interface Engineering Exposition what they had lo offer as a busi- The comparison, there will also be a planned to be an annual event in ness. It is estimated that over 2000 is question and answer session Students interested students attended the fair. The coming years. before the start of the meeting at production Expo lasted from noon to 8:00 pm, in participating in its 6:30 p.m., and there will be a should contact Mall and a reception was held at the next year software demonstration for Vice-President Levi's Center afterward for Murphy, Executive Think's LightSpced 4.0 C com- Council, in 300 company representatives, student of Engineering piler with object oriented exten- Hall (333-3358). hosts and the Deans. Engineering sions.

The Engineering Exposition - Minako Hashimoto 14 .

All CUMUG meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in 304 Lincoln Hall. This semester's meetings are

October 1 1, November 8, and December 6. I Robert Frank TechTeaser Answers

1 Strengths, (as in strengths and weaknesses)

2. Add one normal guppy to the pool. That makes the to- tal 24 guppies. Then the eld- est son will receive 12 gup- pies, the middle son will re- ceive 8 guppies and the youngest will receive 4 guppies. 12-1-8-1-3 = 23. So the extra guppy is removed.

3. Rise. The refrigerator con- tinuously tries to lower the temperature inside the refrig- erator, and the heat removed

is pumped outside by the Law of Conservation of Matter- Energy. In an ideal situation, the temperature of the room would remain constant, however, the motor of the refrigerator also produces heat due to friction which would eventually cause a rise in temperature.

4. A torus. On a plane it is pos- sible only to keep traveling in one direction towards infin- ity. To visualize the torus, imagine "rolling" the screen Guess where I work? so that the top touches the

bottom. Then "stretch" it After work, you might catch me tossing a football. But around the tube into a torus. during work hours, you'll see me tackling new challenges

(This is ignoring distortion of at a global leader in communications systems. Within just

course.) five action-packed years, I scored a big success as

manager of a project I defined and got funded. Right now.

5. No. A bubble is formed be- I'm a Development Manager calling the signals for a

cause the pressure inside it critical inter-divisional development project planned to equals the outside pressure. affect both my home lab and other key software labs

Since there is almost no air in across the country. That's a game plan that offers me all outer space, any bubbles the freedom, diversity and challenge I want. blown there would explode. 15 U.S. in Engineering Crisis

Planetary and lunar explora- neers seems to follow the same trend. tion, the perfection of organ Last year the University had to de- transplants and the computer chip all cline 65 surplus aero applicants from represent some of the greatest achievements of American scientists. For decades, the United States has led the world in research and technology, but whether this trend will continue into the 1990's and beyond seems uncertain. The U.S. is faced with an engineering shortage in all fields of concentration. The numbcrof gradu- ating of physicists, chemists, mathe-

maticians is also on the decline. If this trend continues, the dominant position in aerospace and other engineering related manufacturing industries held by the U.S. may fal-

ter. The reduction in engineering graduates was preceded by a period of intense growth between 1977 and 1987. During this time, science re- lated bachelor degrees practically acadcmia that must be endured. doubled, and more importantly for Another possible reason for the the U.S. aerospace and defense re- decrease in engineering enrollment lated industries, degrees in engineer- percentages, compared to previous ing concentrations increased by an years, may be due to the decreases even greater degree. in college age Americans 18-22 The Engineering Manpower years of age, the main source of Commission of the American Asso- engineering groups. Theenrollment ciation of Engineering Societies rate of women has also decreased computed percentages of engineer- admittance to the College of Engi- from previous years. According to ing degrees earned from 1977 to neering. Overall, aeronautical engi- the Engineering Manpower Com- 1987 and found that the average neers represent only 4% of all engi- mission, the retention rate of women number of computer engineering neers employed, however, the num- enrolled in engineering has dropped graduates increased by 300%, aero- ber of aeronautical engineering from 17% in 1983 to a present 14%. space degrees increased by 200%, degrees granted has been increasing The result of this decline in en- industrial and manufacturing engi- at a faster rate than most other engi- gineering students could be a criti- neering by 150%, mechanical engi- neering disciplines in the past ten cal lack of U.S. scientists in a world neering degrees by 100%, and ma- years. that is becoming increasingly de- terials and metallurgical engineer- What are the reasons for the pcndcnton advances in technology.

ing degrees by 45%. The enrollment overall decline in engineering en- By the year 2000, it is estimated the of aerospace engineers has increased rollment? Perhaps a look through the U.S. will require between 450,000 from 1986 to 1987 along with the en- undergraduate course catalog can and 750,000 additional chemists, bi- rollment of electrical engineers shed some light upon this subject. ologists, physicists, and engineers while mechanical, industrial, and The curricula for engineering stu- than colleges arc expected to pro- materials/metallurgical engineering dents seem formidable. Earning an duce. Unless something is done to enrollment were on the decline and engineering degree requires dedica- stop this oncoming shortage, there computer engineering enrollment tion and discipline in studying hab- is the distinct possibility that Amer-

remained steady. its. Many students feel that the high ica will fall behind other countries At the University of Illinois the salaries of engineering graduates in the race for technological superi-

enrollment of aeronautical engi- cannot compensate for the rugged ority. -Elizabeth Peszynski

16 Steve Czamecki Alisa B. Ealcer Ana Cruz Gonzalez John W. Webster Advisory Systems Engineer Manager Marketing Representative Development Manager Owego, NY Software Design/ Hartford, CT Research Triangle Park, NC Development Research Triangle I^rk, NC

At IBM... there are lots of people like us.

We chose IBM because we know our ideas will be heard There's plenty of room to grow and get ahead because and put into action. Today IBM is a leaner, more stream- we're a company that promotes from within. IBMers have

lined operation that reacts more quickly . . . takes more the option to move from one area to another ... to relocate

... is the . . its blueprint risks closer to castomer . shares to a variety of sites and to follow a career track along for the future with both staff and competitors ... and even purely technical lines or into management, develops products that easily hook up with systems out- educational are tops, too. every side the IBM environment. Our programs At location, we hold training sessions, workshops, seminars. Today's IBM encourages its people to speak up, symposiums and lectures. IBMers are also encouraged to challenge old ways of thinking and initiate new ideas. ^Q„„„^g j^eir formal education. Right from the start you 11 get all the respoasibility you can handle. Work in small project teams with the newest Never has there been a more exciting time to join IBM computer-aided equipment, apply the latest information in development, programming, research, manufacturing technology, and be exposed to multiple projects. or marketing. So come and be one of us. ^ ^=^^ An Equal Opportunity Employer = -^^^ = "^ = Jejf Lime never turns down a challenge.

magine walking into a management opportunity straight out of school. Ihat's what happened to Jeff Lime when he entered (iE's (Ihcmical &• Materials Leadership Program. i'W needed a replacement for an experienced engineering manager— someone to set up the new waste treatment system for a major manufacturing plant. Jetf was asked to step in and he did, right into a leadership role. Jeff helped (ip^ plant managers and environmentalists join forces

with the LPA to ensure a clean operation. It challenged not just his technological skills, hut also hisahilitv to conuiiunicateand take charge.

1 hat mav seem like an aw ful lot of res|)()nsihilil\ foi^ a job right out of college. Hut that's the (.K wa\. We hire exceptional peojjle. Then we give them the chance to show just how exceptional they are. If you're looking lor a ciiallenge to live up to, start looking at GE.

GIFT &: EXCHANGE DEPT. 314 MAIN LIBRARY •^ UNIV OF ILL ATTN: PENNY BAILEY CAMPUS The

An equal opportunity employer. V- .^. v^^^ — —^^,^ - --^^ •'--•- \^..#,:f:*>:^>.^^y^:.

Illinois Winter 1989 Volume 105, Issue 2 Techno^rapm

620.5 STX THl 105:2 WIN 1989

^0' Of ?>,,

||||||g|j|gg^g|jgi|jg|gy|g|mMj|M| .r Nrf?'— rfT r ^jaW^'VS* At Ericsson, )our future has worldwide connections.

Our name may not nng a bell But since 1876, Encsson has been making connecQons

iround the world, quietly leading the tele-

LommunicaBons industry in innovative new products. We developed the first automatic switchboard, the rotary dial telephone and the one-piece handset

Today the world knows us as one of its largest telecommunicanons companies, with three US divisions producing products and technology recognized and preferred worldwide Encsson Network Systems designs, markets and supports complex switching systems for central office applications used by major telephone companies

For over 100 years, we've built our success around innovahon But ultimately, success lies in our people Because with those who share our vision, vigor and mnovanve spirit, we connect with the world. Our rapid expansion into the US communi- canons industry has created a variety of new career opportunities for top-notch Computer Science and Electncal Engineenng graduates.

With )our degree, )0u could |oin the Encsson u \m as a Software Design Engineer or Test

I ngineer

If worldwide connecnons are in )our future,

Encsson has a connecnon waiting for )ou

Send yjur resume to College Recruiting,

Ericsson Network Systems, Inc., 730 International Parkway, Dept. UlT, Richardson, Texas 75081. ERICSSON

Ericsson is an equal oppoftunitv employer, m-f'\'h 8

lUinois Winter 1989 Volume 105, Issue 2 Tech no^rapn\

Bioenvironmental Engineering 4

Engineers and botanists worl< togettier to create ideal experimental conditions for studying the effect of the environment on plant growth. Aerospace Technology 6

At the forefront of aerospace technology: the B-2 stealth bomber and the space plane.

Fractals: A Descent Into Chaos 10

Fractals are a mathematical model which can be used to describe many phenomena of nature. Various theo- ries and applications are examined. The Latest In Gourmet: Food Engineering 14

Food Engineering: what it is, what an undergraduate stud- ies, and industrial opportunities.

Spreading Viruses: The New Common Cold 1

A look at the growing problem of computer viruses: differ- ent types of viruses, detection of viruses and prevention from infection. Departments

Techvisions 8 Techteasers 13 Techprofiles 16

Editor-in-chief: Chi-Ting Huang Business Manager: Jack A. Gidding Production Editor: Minako Hashimoto Copy Editor: Victoria Degler EOH Editor: Kiefer K. Mayenkar Photo Editor: Julie Reyer Designer: Rachel Weaver Publisher: Michael Smeltzer Production Manager: Mary Cory, Editorial Staff: Judy Hsu. Kit Donahue Tani Chen. John Fultz. Bill Hughes. Photo Staff: Chris Guy. Katherine Kim Bhavini Patel. Elizabeth Peszynski. Dean Eric Smith Kristin Ringland. Joy Vallesterol llllnoij Tcchnogrsph. 57 E. Grccn Si.. Champaign. Illinois. 61820, phone: (217)333-6602 Copyright Illini Media Company. 1989. Illinois Technograph (USPS 258-760). Vol. 105 No. 2

Winter 1989. Illinois Technogiaph is published tout times during the academic year at the University of Illinois at Urbanaj-Champaign. Published by the Illini Media Co., 57 li. Grc St., Champaign, IL 61820. Subscriptions are available for $7.25 per academic year. The Technograph is a member of Engineering College Magazines Associated. XT ditorial

'I hate broccoli." This statement began our high school's valedictorian's commencement

speech, and strangely enough, it still seems to apply to the University of Illinois. How? This statement summarizes the number one thought on most college students' minds... well, maybe the number two thing... FOOD! Food is inescapably essential to life and also seems to raise some im- portant social issues such as botulism, salmonella poisoning, anorexia and bulemia, and pesticide use on food. Some of these issues often make head- lines such as "Demon Toast Possesses Housewife" or on a more normal track "Americans are the Most Overweight People in the World." Anyway you look at it, though, food is central in man's thought and to his survival. In the dorms, "late night study snacks" are an integral part of finals week, and the Domino's man is a regular in the lobby. Both campus organizations and corporate recruiters have capitalized on students' fixation with food by offering food at their meetings. Many a rookie recruiter has found his information session empty due to lack of appropriate refreshments while a more experienced competitor is speak- ing to a full house next door due to his better equipped pizza budget. There are also some engineering societies that offer pizza after every meeting as a lure to members. Food-offering societies often find their meetings packed while non-food -offering societies usually proceeed with at most seven individuals. Food seems to provide one of the greatest incentives to students to get involved. In attending informational meetings and regular club meetings, these students will be fed for free. However, this use of food as a lure also brings up an important point. If these organizations feel it is necessary to lure people to their meeting with the promise of a food reward, it may be that their society does not promote activities that are of interest to stu- dents. The answer to their attendance problem then does not lie in serv- ing food at their meetings but rather in changing the goals of the society to ones that will make students want to become involved. Scientists offer food rewards to their laboratory rats to motivate them to perform a desired task. Societies offer pizza to motivate students to at- tend their meetings. Perhaps the key to unlocking students' minds lies in food rather than knowledge. Hence it would probably be beneficial if food were offered at all lectures (especially at tests). A candy bar may be found somewhere in this magazine.

Eat and Be Merry,

chocolate 1 . . . .

At IBM, outstanding people don't stand still.

So you always thought IBMers were a bunch of to multiple projects. IBMers have the option to suits with n niiiuLs blue striped buttoned dou move from one area to another . . to relocate to truth Nothing could be further from the a variety of sites. . . and to follow a career track along purely technical lines or into management. They're movers and shakeis. All the while moving up just as fast and as far Energetic, ambitious and smart. Ftople who as your talent will take you because we're a know where they're going and get there fast, company that promotes from w ithin. ftople with ideas who choose IBM because they know their ideas will be heard and put into artion Your education doesn't end "I can be a systems when you get a job at IBM . It That's right. The winds of change are sweep- engineer, marlteteer. just begins. You can take advan ing the vast corfwrate infrastructure of IBM educator, programmer

or generalist . . .all within tage of both general and Today's IBM is a leaner, more streamlined oper- IBM. Where the people job-specific training, ation that reacts more quickly. . . takes more risks are high achievers with ranging from Grad . . . Ls closer to the customer. . . arxl encourages big dreams and tons of

enthusiasm. I would uate Work-Stud>. IBMers to speak up, challenge old ways of not change it for anything Resident Study thinking and initiate new ideas. in the world." and Special Stud This is not a company that rests on its past Ana Cruz Gonzalez ies Programs to Marketing successes. We' it sharing our bluepnnt for the Technical Representative future with both our staff Hartford, CT Sabbaticals. w 'and competitors. We're' expanding with the

marketplace. . .and

Right from the start you'll get all the respon- sibility you can handle. Work in small projert teams with the newest computer-aided equipment Involved in technologies that range from image

processing to laser-fiber optics. . . from robotics and computer controlled instrumentation to electron-beam technology and satellite trans-

mission. Applying the latest technologies. . and working with some of the industry's "I see unlimited "The most exciting thing about IBM oppor- ^4^brbrightest people in all fields. tunities for advancement is that we're trying to be a different company than we were at IBM—both in the You'll earn early recognition and have the_ ten years ago, or technical and managerial ^ even last year. There are opportunities for opportunity for exposure ranks. We have our share ^^^^ making change happen." of technical challenges Steve Czamecki and our share of the Advisory Systems Engineer, Owego, right people to meet NY them. Arid by the way. they know how to have And there's more. IBM encourages its family of fun.toa" professionals to their "The thing that exceed own expectations. AlisaB. Eaker me going the most At all levels, IBMers may receive recognition Manager, Software the possibilities, the and financial awards for outstanding contribu- Design Development endless possibilities. This Research Triangle tions, innovation and technical achievement. l^rk is a company where I can, North Carolina within reason , call my Never has there been a more exciting time own shots about my to join in development, ftiture. Career develop- IBM programming, ment at IBM is primarily research, manufacturing or marketing. If you the responsi'bilitv' of the want to experience that sense of accomplish- individual; the manager ment and self-fulfillment that sparks new ideas is there to facilitate and counsel. Having that and keeps you growing, step into IBM. You and degree of control over vour career will never stand still. my own future career is terribly exciting."

W. Webster even developing products that easily hook up John Communications & with systems outside the IBM environment. Systems Manage- ment Designer After all , we're the worldwide leader in com- Research Triangle An Equal Oppt;)rtuni[\ Employer munications. And with us communication begins Pari<, NC right here. Where individuality is prized. Diversity applauded. And management is open-minded, progressive and responsive. jDioenvironmental Engineering

New organisms are con- fects plant development. The equipment available on the stantly being developed and optimal air velocity for market; the implementation improved with the accelera- growth is under investiga- and development of sensors tion of biotechnology. Re- tion. and controls; and an under- searchers have defined en- Dr. Christianson, Dr. standing of air movement in gineering of the exotic envi- Crawford, and Dr. Knight are the environment. ronments needed to support now working to build a Across the country such forms of life within a growth chamber for this many types of ventilation and building or room "bioenvi- experiment (a refrigerator heating equipment are ronmental engineering." sized device in which plants tested. The data from these Bioenvironmental engineer- can be grown and environ- tests will answer the engi- ing is used to design a system mental conditions carefully neering question, "How do for growing plants in space, controlled.) This growth you transform a theoretical or a method of increasing the chamber will be designed to design into a real building or production of food indoors. set and monitor air velocity room and retain a system that Because it is such a creative, and motion over the plants. still behaves like the theo- complicated science, bioen- With such precise control of retical model?" Dr. Chris- vironmental engineering the environment, much in- tianson constructed a fan test involves many diverse areas formation can be learned chamber in 1987 for evalu- of research. about how plant growth can ation and measurement of The research by plant be most enhanced by air ventilating equipment. This scientists to maximize plant velocity. chamber is used for testing growth, for example, in- The engineering used to and evaluating ventilation volves deter mining what en- produce such an environ- fans used in the livestock and vironmental conditions are ment involves three major greenhouse industry and best for a given species of areas: measurement and gives information on the plant at a certain stage of its evaluation of heating, venti- quantity of air that the fan growth. For such research lation, and air conditioning will move against a given collaboration between the Plant Science Department and Engineering Department is necessary to deter mine and control the experimental environment. For example, at the University of Illinois, Dr. Sharon Knight of the Plant Science Department is working with Dr. Leslie Christianson of Agricultural Engineering and Dr. Roy Crawford of Mechanical En- gineering to determine the effects of air velocity on plant growth. Variations of air ve- photo by Julie Reyer locity affect the exchange of Plant experiments arc performed all year round at the Uofl. carbon dioxide and oxygen in a leaf which in turn af- these models has been done at the University of Tennes- see. Dr. Christiansen would like to test their mathemati- cal models by building mod- els of buildings of different sizes and shapes and measur- ing the air movement in them. Comparing these data to the results derived from the mathematical models will either confirm the accuracy of the mathematical models accuracy or lead to an altera- tion of the models. The ultimate result of all areas of bioenviron mental engineering research is that an engineer can, given knowledge of what type of plant is grown and its needs, design a building or room which will provide the cor- rect environment. The sys- photo byjulie Reyer tem size and shape can be de- An agriculture student tests a ventilating fan on Dr. Cliristianson's fan test chamber. termined, and through the use of the mathematical mod- els of air movement, the theo- of pressure and the amount strictly controlled environ- retical capacity shape and electricity that it would re- ments is another motivation location of the equipment can quire to move that quantity for constant improvements be found. Comparing these of air. These data can be ap- to sensors and sensing meth- theoretical values with val- plied in engineering to aid ods. ues from equipment test data, in the choice of fans for a de- In the past, the move- the correct equipment for the signed building or room. ment of the air was measured system can be chosen. Fi- The environment must in a greenhouse or livestock nally, the sensor and con- be maintained with a great building and changes in the trols can be added to the sys- deal of precision if plant or equipment were made to tem which will result in the animal growth is to be accu- match the actual air currents proper system control nec- rately analyzed. Environ- to the preferred motions. But essary to keep the environ- mental systems, no matter now, the size and shape of ment at the correct setting sophisticated, how are lim- most green houses and live- for maximum plant or ani- ited in accuracy to the preci- stock buildings are different mal growth. This is how a sion of the sensors which than those designed in the complete system, wliich will give information about the past. This means that the air provide for maximum plant condition of the environ- movement in these new growth, is "bioenvironmen- ment. Though the measure- buildings must be redeter- tally engineered. " ment of very low air velocity do this, an engi- mined. To —Bill Hughes can be accomplished with neer would need to consider very expensive equipment, mathematical models of air the accuracy of the measure- currents in the design of a ment is still questionable. new building to assure that Hence there is a great de- the ventilation system would mand for an accurate, low- perform as desired. These cost low velocity sensor. De- mathematical model predic- velopment of sensors that tions are atill in their in- will last for many years in fancy. Much of the work on erospace Technology

Original ideas and the initiative to build these ideas into reality has jettisoned technology to the far reaches and beyond. Engineers and scientists are working to- gether to advance the avia- tion and space industry. Two projects have recently liit the news: the B-2 stealth bomber and NASA's National Aero- space Plane. The B-2 has come off the drawing board as a full-scale working prototype. Although the defense depart- ment has succeeded in drap- phixoby Lhris buy Future ing the bomber in secrecy, aerospace ciiginccrs hard at v/ork in the lab at U of I. reports concerning the modern "flying wing" have been released to the public. types of aircraft. This is due The space plane serves a in the Now public eye, con- to its lightweight frame and more practical purpose than troversy has engulfed the its even weight distribution. the B-2 in that it can be used fledgling prgram. The stealth It's maximum payload is as a cargo carrier for space bomber far exceeds its esti- enough to carry sixteen satellites and space stations. mated total cost; Congress is nuclear bombs or eighty One of the issues with which questioning it's worth and conventional 500 pound researchers are faced is find- considering cancelling the bombs. ing a propulsion unit that program altogether. How- All the positive attrib- will allow the plane to fly as ever, other administrators utes of the B-2 have been fast as Mach 8, which is ap- have voted in favor of fund- higWighted, but its purpose proximately eight times the ing the program because of has not been emphasized. Es- speed of sound. The plane will the B-2's advantages in war- sentially, the B-2 is a major also have to be constructed of fare. defense weapon against nu- materials that can withstand The high-tech flying clear attack. The defense stresses at 3000 degrees Fahr- machine is a flying wing department has come up with enheit. The space plane is configuration with no verti- a way to build a better argues to be cheaper to main- cal surfaces in order to re- bomber. "The rationale is that tain in comparison to the duce enemy radar detection. the Soviets would never risk space shuttle, and will be able The cooling system on board a first strike if they were to take off and land from any aids in reduced infra-red de- convinced that the B-2 would airport. Its weight will be tection. This particular aero- come in afterward and de- one-tenth the shuttle's dynamic structure is sub- stroy its reserve mobile weight and its payload will sonic with a ceiling of 50,000 forces and the bunkers hous- be about half that of the feel. The airplane flies with a ing the military and civilian shuttle. Researchers say the reported lift-to-drag ratio of leaders," reported the jour- plane will only require 100 24, to 9 - 1 compared 8 for other nal. Popular Science. people to service it, versus

6- space vehicles, among other areas. The required courses train aspiring aeronautical engineers to think analyti- cally in order to handle the problems that may arise while dealing with various aerospace systems. The knowledge gained from these and other advanced courses gives aeroengineers a strong foundation for participation in projects such as the de- sign and construction of the B-2 or the space plane. Hope- fully the fruition of their dreams in science will en- rich many lives in the fu- ture. —Joy,,.,,,(Vallesterol

•••••*•*•******* ^ 1* * r~— —— V, For the ? big story * Drawing of proposed designs of the Marsplane . the shuttle's 15,000 people. Aeronautical Engineering * The research and develop- program shapes the minds of • ment for the construction of future enterprising engi- • the plane has been estimated neers by providing a well- • to be five billion dollars. Five rounded curriculum and a * ~J * companies have been con- highly capable faculty. The if-kitifkicirir-k-k-k-k-kirifif tracted to complete the space four-year undergraduate plane by 1997. program includes classes While Congress ponders such as Aerospace Dynamic over whether or not to con- Systems, Aircraft Propulsion tinue funding projects such and Flight Vehicle Design. as the B-2 and the space plane, These classes cover flight and engineers around the world stability control, the funda- will be working to provide mentals of propulsive devices the technology of the future. and the preliminary design The University of Illinois' of airplanes, missiles and

-7 FROM THE DRAWING BOARD ...

THROUGH THE SKIES «.

AND Techvisions A N AND I G H T

INTO THE HEAVENS %% Photos by Cliris Guy .

ractals: A Descent Into Chaos

"Fractals" is the name of objects as forest fires and phase and are sometimes a concept that has existed for snowflakes (1, 2). These ob- colored accordingly to the quite a whiile, but is very hard jects may or may not be frac- root it approaches. Usually to define. Originally, the word tals depending on the defini- this is done with a computer, was coined from the words tion used and who is answer- to quickly generate a large fractional dimension. How- ing the question. number of distinct points. In ever, this does not even be- The fractal originated analyzing these computer- gin to describe the concept from an application of generated pictures, one finds of a fractal. Many mathema- Newton's Method. Newton's some interesting patterns. ticians, physicists, and other Method is an algorithm Near the roots of the equa- scientists continue to dis- which can be used to find the tion, the surrounding points agree on the precise defini- roots of a function. This are attracted to that particu- tion of a fractal. The term, method will not only find the lar root. However, where the fractals, in fact has many real roots, but also the com- "attractions" of two or more different definitions. One plex roots as well such as in roots approach each other, definition relies on the proc- the equation: the boundary is not a line or ess that generates a fractal. x2+ 1 =0 a simple curve, as one might Another definition stresses A complex number is de- guess, but a complex region their property of being self- fined to have a real number of interaction. These regions similar. Yet another defini- part and an imaginary part. are called "fractals" and the tion uses the concept of the The imaginary part consists idea of fractals originated "fractional dimension" from of a multiple of i where i V^ from these regions between which the term was Newton's Method can be de- the different roots that were

derived(as opposed to a whole fined to be: ^ / X approximated by Newton's number dimension). Various Method ( 1 ). other definitions stress other i^^' ^ fix,) As one might guess, the

aspects of fractals (1). One where x , is some initial study of fractals quickly important distinction that guessed value which can be expanded from Newton's can be made about fractals is real or complex. The limit if Method to other different that the word "fractals" is these successively approxi- types of methods, some of generally used for the more mated values is a root of the which used the complex mathematical side while the equation. To find a different plane. The concept of frac- word "chaos" is used for the root, a different initial value tals likewise expanded as new more scientific side; how- is used. Usually the root found mathematical objects were ever, the two terms are very is the root closest to the ini- discovered and studied. Cur- closely related. tial guessed value (3). How- rently, no one seems to agree Scientists and mathema- ever, in some instances this on any one particular defi- ticians continually disagree is not the case. Some initial nition, but there appear to be on the definition of a fractal. values will approach a dif- three main definitions ( 1 ). Some of the mathematical ferent root other than the In general, the first defi- objects which are being closest one. Other initial val- nition depend on the process debated as fractals are the ues will not approach any that generates that fractal. cube, the square, the line, root at all, but will cycle Nearly all fractals developed

the point, the Mandelbrot Set, through a series of nu mber s. and studied arise from a the Julia set, a dragon curve, All of these initial values can "recursive" definition, or a and even such commonplace be plotted onto the complex definition where the value

10 Many objects in nature arc fractals. leaves are one example.

ter and prevent their occur- also No. this is not Number 3 from the Rorschach ink blot series on obsessive- rence. Chaos theory compulsive behavior. ..tliis is a computer-generated Mandelbrot set. predicts that weather predic- tion is impossible much to of a certain function relies geometry that a line has one the dismay of many meteor- on the value of the previous dimension, a plane two di- ologists. Fractals can also be one. For example, in Newton's mensions, and space three used to reduce movies onto a Method, the next successive dimensions. The concept of smaller film. In fact, fractals value, x^.,,, is calculated by fractional dimensions states are being used a large vari- using the previous value, x ^ that a mathematical object ety of fields ranging from Many other fractals use a may have a dimension that is medicine and geography to geometric recursive proce- not a whole number (e.g. a meteorology, chemistry and dure, or some other different dimension of 2.5^8). metallurgy. recursive mathematical al- These tlvee definitions The research into gorithm, some of wliich use are rather vague and indefi- Newton's Method was the the complex number plane nite, and even though the catalyst that spawned the (1). study of fractals is a rapidly field of fractals, but much of A second definition is growing field, an overall tliis study could not have been that most fractals are "self- definition may still be years developed without the aid of similar," meaning that a part away. computers, which were used of the fractal look similar to In current leclinology, to calculate the values of the whole fractal. This tends however, fractals are find- Newton's Method at every to be a vague concept since ing wide applications and single point. Before the use in some cases, the smaller many more applications may of computers, much of this self-similar parts are only open up in the future. Much research would have been slightly mathematically of these application have nearly impossible, since it similar to the whole object. been given the term "chaos" would take much more time The Mandelbrot Set is a good or "chaos theory." In medi- to calculate these individual

example of tliis concept! 1 ). cine, chaos theory is being values, even with the aid of a One other definition uses used to examine the pattern slide rule or a calculator. the concept of a "fractional of heart fibrillations in or- Ironically, it is the very use dimension." It is known from der to understand them bet- of tools such as the computer

-11 pletely precise. For example, and criticis m both inside and a representation of the frac- outside of mathematics and continued from p. 11 tion 1 /3 on a computer will science. It seems likely that always be incorrect. Addi- in the future, fractals will or calculator that causes some tionally, these scientists also become an important branch scientists to reject the con- felt that fractals have little to of mathematics. cept of fractals. These people do with the rest of the well- At the University of Illi- felt that a computer, along established body of mathe- nois, there are several pro- with calculators and slide matics. fessors working on chaos and rules, should never be used The field of fractals con- fractals across campus. in mathematics since none tinues to grow and expand Among them are H. Benzin- of these tools can be com- despite a lot of speculation ger in the Department of Mathematics, E. A. Jackson in the Department of Physics, Reed M.J. and A. Hubler and N. Packard Est. 1897 at the Center for Complex Your future is Systems Research at the Beckmann Institute. engineering and her... A special thanks goes to Harold E. Benzinger for his ideas and support. --Tani Chen

ENDNOTES

Personal interview with Professor Harold E. Benzinger. Department - The Diamond Engagement Ring of Mathematics University of Illinois. Urbana. October 28, 1989.

Ivars Peterson. The Mathmatical Tourist: Snapshots of Modern Mathematics. New k0eU From $450 York: \V. H. Freeman 1/ JEWELERS I and Company, 1988.

3. C. H. Edwards. Jr. and M-F 9:30-6 Sa 9:30-4 David E. Penny. Old Farm Shops Mattis and Kirby, Champaign Calculus and Analytical All major credit cards and credit plans accepted Geometry, 2"'' edition. Englewood Cliffs. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1986.

-12 Q: TECHTEASERS A certain school has 2000 lockers and 2000 students. The first student goes through the school and opens every single locker. The second student goes through and closes every other A: locker. The third student goes through 44. ^1.4.9, 16... 1936. Only perfect and reverses every third locker; i.e. if squares have an odd number of fac- it is closed, he opens it, and if it is tors (16: 1, 2. 4. 8. 16) while others open, he closes it. The fourth student numbers have an even number of goes through and reverses every factors (IS: 1. 2, 3. 6, 9, IS), so only fourth locker, and soon, until all 2000 perfect squared numbered lockers students have gone through. How would remain open. many lockers are open, and how are they ordered? Two. Divide the widgets into sets of three. Weigh two sets of three on the You are given 9 identical widgets. All balance. The heavier set contain the widgets weigh exactly the same. imposter. If both set are equal, the odd However, there is an imposter in their set out contain the imposter. Within midst. It is known that the imposter the set weigh two of the individuals. will be slightly heavier. You are Once again, the heavier widget is the given a two pan balance. What is the imposter. If both widgets are of equal minimum number of weighings weight, the odd widget out is the im- required to determine the imposter? poster

Engineer Bob has three daughters. 5, 3. and 3. For the set of factors of 72, College Joe wants to know what the each combination has a unique sum ages of his three daughters are. except for the combinations S, 3, 3 and Engineer Bob says, "The product of 6, 6. 2. If the number on the mailbox my daughters ages is 72." were one of the unique sums, the ages College Joe says, "That is not enough would be known. Since the College Joe information." cannot figure out the ages from the Engineer Bob then says, "The sum of number on the mailbox, it must be one my daughters ages is on my mail- of the two sets stated above. Engineer box." Bob's eldest daughter likes apple pie: College Joe says, "That still is not hence, he has only one eldest daugh- enough information." ter. Therefore the correct combina- Engineer Bob says, "My eldest tion is S. 3. 3. daughter likes apple pie." What are the ages of the three 2)^ - 7x + 6 ^ 0. This is the notation daughters? mathematicians used during the fif- teenth and sixteenth centuries. The 0" What does "2Se. - 7Pri. + 6N. aequator roots of this equation and 2 and 2/3. mean? What's the answer? —Tani Chen

-13 T,he Latest In Gourmet: Food Engineering

Food Engineering. You neering: process design, degrees in both engineering may have heard about it re- equipment design, instru- and agriculture. It only re- cently from the publicity mentation of controls for the quires an additional thirty given to Orville Redden- processes, and facility design. semester hours of agricul- bacher's donation to the Process design involves de- tural courses. University of Illinois' College signing entire systems to Finally, the Department of Agriculture. Food engi- either preserve, process, or of Food Science has a food neers are going to use tliis produce foods. Equipment industry curriculum wliich donation to research how to design requires making ad- emphasizes engineering. obtain greater volumes of vanced equipment to imple- Thirty-three semester hours popcorn. But what are food ment a certain process by of food science courses and engineers? What do they do? using new technology. Food fifteen hours of food science Food engineers use engi- engineers also need to de- courses and fifteen hours of neering and scientific prin- sign instru mentation to con- engineering courses are ciples to improve the preser- trol operations of food pre- required. vation, production, and proc- cesses. Finally, food engi- The Department of Agri- essing of foods. The food in- neering involves designing cultural Engineering is hop- dustry is the largest industry entire food processing facili- ing to offer food engineer- in the United States. Food ties. These four categories re- ing as a minor this spring processing and related indus- quire both engineering and semester. Students can re- tries account for about one food systems knowledge to ceive a Bachelor's degree in fifth of the nation's gross implement. Engineering and a minor in national product. Techno- There are three methods Food and Process Engineer- logical developments in this to obtain a food engineering ing. The requirements for the industry have created the degree. One method is minor are eleven semester need for professionals with tlirough the Department of hours of required courses technical skills. The food Agricultural Engineering like Food Microbiology and engineering program at four year program. This Food Engineering. Also, an University of Illinois is fairly requires completion of gen- additional four hours of tech- new. Although food engi- eral engineering and science nical electives. Finally, an in- neering has only been of- courses like food chemistry, ternship is required. It is fered as a major for four years food microbiology, and th- automatically guaranteed to now, the greater demand for ermodynamics. In addition, all students enrolled and the food engineers has resulted there is academic training internship also counts as one in the option of food engi- which includes laboratory semester hour. This intern- neering as a minor. courses. These laboratory as- ship provides financial sup- A degree in food engi- signments include designing port and valuable work expe- neering was first offered as a unit operation and food proc- rience. The courses taken for major in 1985. The program esses. In advanced courses, the minor can be applied as was started by Dr. Emol Rodda students are even able to electives in the student's and Professor Marvin P. design food processing major. Steinberg who are professors plants. Besides undergraduate in Agricultural Engineering. The second method of ob- degrees, the Departments of Food engineers use their taining a food engineering Agricultural and Food Sci- technical and scientific skills degree is through a five year ence also offer Master's and to process foods. There are program which enables stu- Doctoral degrees in food four aspects of food engi- dents to earn undergraduate engineering. Food engineers -14- have high entry salaries. With a bachelor's degree, entry-level salaries average $30,000. With a master's de- gree, salaries are about $35,000, and a Ph.D salary begins around $45,000. The work opportunities for food engineers is grow- ing. Since the food industry is the largest industry in the

U.S., there is a high demand Do You Qualifyjor International? for food specialists with tech- nical knowledge. Food engi- ^fi^% CHEMISTS, neers usually work for com- panies that process and pre- ^fS^' LIFE SCIENTISTS, serve foods, chemical and CHEMICAL ENGINEERS pharmaceutical companies, and government agencies. Besides having a wide job ...The World is Yours! market, food engineers have ...iSMundoesTuyo! great opportunities for ad- vancement. Food engineers ...Le Monde est a Vous! can work as production su- pervisors and managers of ...DieWfeltistDein! companies, in research and development, and in techni- cal sales. Furthermore, it is with an categories include beauty care, beverage, projected that there will be a Return Home detergent, fabric care, fc>od. health care, Exciting Career Ahead household care, paper, and phamiaceutical 22% increase in the number consumer products. Our technically -based of You! corporation spent over 600 million dollars of engineers employed by a in research and product development several enlr>' level Procter & Gamble has last year. hundred of the largest food product and process development openings for BS. MS or PhD Chemists, Life Scientists offer stimulating environment for and Chemical Engineers in Asia. Europe, We a companies by 1992. professional growth, highly Mexico and Soutfi Amenca personal and competitive salanes, and excellent benefits is Food engineering To readily qualify, you must be bilingual package including pension, health care (including English) and possess and paid relocation growing rapidly at Univer- appropriate Citizenship, Immigration \nsa or Work Permit from one or more of sity of Illinois since its start If Interested, send your resume, including the following countries: country qualifications and language Belgium. Braztl Chile. is Austna. fluencies, tO: in 1985. The Department Columbia. Denmark. Egypt, France. will pro- Germany. Holland. Ireland. Italy. expanding and be japan. Lebanon, Mexico. Nether F,0. Schulz, Ir. viding the option of taking lands. Peru. Portugal. Puerto Rico. Internationaf Openings Saudi .Arabia, Spam, United Kingdom The Procter & Gamble Company food engineering as a minor and Venezuela Ivorydale Technical Center (#1UMIL) Ave, and |une St. Procter & Gamble total sales are over 20 Spring Grove as well as a major. The wide billion dollars world-wide- Major product Cincinnati, OH 45217 job market and future job opportunities provide a great incentive for students to PROCTER & GAMBLE enter this field. For further information about food en-

gineering contact J. Bruce Litchfield at the Department of Agricultural Engineering, phone 333-9525.B —Bhavini Patel

15- 1

echprofiles: Robert E. Miller

methods in mechanics with "a lot of interesting and applied problems." He notes that students often do not pose questions during big lectures because they get intimidated by the size of the class. When asked to compare today's engineering students to those of the fifties when Wagner he was a student himself, Inspired by building and as a T.A.,", he explains, "and Miller, who describes him- flying model airplanes in his I never get bored since it's self as old-fashioned, ac- youth, Robert E. Miller, a always a new group of stu- knowledges that, "On the professor and advisor in the dents and fresh faces every positive side, the present University of Illinois' semester." Miller taught students' academic potentials Department of Theoreti- courses in elementary me- are higher since the en- cal and Applied Mechanics, chanics while earning his trance requirements have has dedicated almost forty masters and doctors degrees toughened throughout the years of his life studying, re- years. But he also notes that, searching and teaching such "On the negative side, I've related topics as statics, dy- detected less motivation from namics, solid and fluid me- "I do, at times, the kids." It seems to him that chanics and numerical meth- students today are not work- ods. get students who ing at the peak of their per- Smiling with reminis- complain that formance levels. According cence. Miller recollected his to Miller, this phenomenon memories of the fifties dur- the program could be accredited to the im- ing a personal interview. The personal nature of big current professor of TAM 22 isn't challenging classes, which often leads to launched his college career poor class attendance. "I here at the University of Illi- enough!" strongly encourage students nois. Majoring in Aeronau- to come in and talk with me,"

tical Engineering as an un- Miller said, "but I only get to dergraduate, he received his here at the University. know the few that come back Bachelor of Science degree The advisor of both un- consistently." The TAM pro- then he concentrated his dergraduate and graduate fessor holds regular office

studies in TAM, where he was students continued, "If I had hours at 1 1 IB Talbot Lab. rewarded with a M.S. and to choose, my favorite class Miller has been a Cham- Ph.D.. "I've always enjoyed to teach would be TAM 416." paign-Urbana resident since flying model planes, but I Miller prefers s mailer classes beginning teaching in 1955. never intended to teach.". where he is more accessible Still single, he enjoys jog- Miller recalls. "The deciding to students for interaction ging, reading, golfing and of factor for my staying as a during class than large lec- course, and flying model air-

professor was that I really tures. TAM 4 1 6 is a "good size" planes when he's not busy liked teaching when I worked graduate class on energy with class work. Miller has -16- /^ % done research in the area of solid mechanics, more spe- cifically, finite elements. You can This involves the dividing of complicated structures into parts, and then using simple analysis of each piece to get and overall picture for the help! study of the problem. His present research project concerns finite elements for composite structures. This serious leisure Can you vi^rite? golfer and jogger intends to continue teaching here un- til retirement. He said, "Champaign-Urbana is not a The iCCinoisTechnograpfi IS bad community to live in; it's good for at least two-thirds of looking for qualified writers to the year." Professor Miller concluded the interview by write about any engineering praising the excellent Engi- related topic. You can join the neering curriculum at the University. He left us with staff as a full-time writer or this quote, "I do, at times, get students who complain that freelance as many articles as you the program isn't challeng- ing enough!" And we will wish. Writers arcpaid for their leave this to your imagina- tion." Professor Miller con- interesting and fascinating ex- cluded the interview by praising the excellent Engi- poses of engineering events on neering curriculum at the University. campus and off. --Judy 775 u Call Chi-Ting Huang at 328- 6808 or Minako Hashimoto at 332-4383 for more information.

Why ^ivait until you ^i^in the ]\obel prize to see your name in print? % ^ 17- spreading Viruses: The New Common Cold

As the turn of the cen- have a different use. Where a ees have been known to re- tury approaches, many virus could attach itself to lease viruses into their people will let their minds any program, the trojan employer's computer systems wander into the future, horse acts as a stand-alone to be activated a couple of where anything is possible... program. A trojan horse days after their termination. a cure for AIDS, fusion power, could be disguised as a useful Viruses have excellent util- or a way to reduce sleep re- utility program, a game, an ity where espionage and ter- quirements for those late application, or any other rorism is concerned. If a night study vigils. Computer conceivable computer pro- virus infiltrated computers scientists, however, will look gram. The trojan horse de- in any country's defense ahead wishing for one thing- pends completely upon installations, they could a cure to the potential scourge where the program is dis- paralyze national defenses in of computer viruses which tributed for its range of in- a blink of an eye with no will likely plague computers fection. The program could warning whatsoever. Viruses and computer networks for be widely distributed by elec- could also be used for corpo- years to come. tronic bulletin board systems, rate sabotage as well as ex- The computer virus national networks such as tortion and a nu mber of other earned its name for its re- CompuServe or Delphi, or by felonies. markable similarities to its hand. Once these programs Many programmers re- biological counterpart. The are run on a system, they lease viruses out of malicious virus is a program which may reveal their real pur- intent or pure pride, how- attaches itself to another pose. ever. Some of these viruses program or disk. The first Another example of a pose a tangible threat to per- purpose of the virus is gen- common computer infesta- sonal computer users. The erally to spread as widely as tion is the worm. The worm viruses have been known to possible before it activates acts much like a virus in the be relatively benign, such as itself. This generally includes respect that it deliberately the "Christmas card virus." copying itself to hard disks spreads itself, but it is a pro- This virus was programmed and any disks placed in the gram in itself rather than a by a West German student to floppy drives, attaching it- set of subroutines attached to send to his friends. The pro- self to individual programs another program like the gram was an innocent greet- which may be uploaded to virus. The worm is most ings card program, but it was bulletin boards or other elec- common on a computer net- designed to copy itself to tronic networks, or seeking work where it can spread other computers, classifying out ler minals on a network to itselffrom terminal to termi- it as a virus. The virus even- infect. Although this is the nal as discretely as possible. tually spread so far that, in technical description of a Because the network allows December, 1987, it infected virus, the ter m has been used the worm to spread by itself, IBM Corporation's network, to describe a variety of other it does not need a "host" pro- causing it to shut down its programs which accomplish gram to which to cling like networks for three hours to similar goals in vastly dif- the virus. disinfect its computer sys- ferent ways. The purpose of these in- tems. The virus was designed The trojan horse is one festations generally depends to be benign, but it cost example. This infection dif- upon the goals of their pro- money in terms of computer fers from a virus in the re- grammers. Sometimes virus down time and disinfection spect that it is a complete programmers have a specific of computer systems. Viruses program which appears to intent. Disgruntled employ- have also been known to be -18- extremely threatening, such programmer commands ulti- tion in free memory. Finally, as the recently publicized mate power and hires his many commercial virus de- Friday the 13th,orDatacrime, services out like a mercenary tecting and removal pro- virus. This virus stays com- to the highest bidders. In fact, grams are available, al- pletely dormant while it the motivation to many vi- though they can generally spreads itself to as many IBM ruses can be traced back to only detect known or fairly compatible computers as fantasy fulfillment. unsophisticated viruses. possible until it finds itself Eugene Spafford was Even so, frequent usage of on a computer where the quoted as saying, "The only such programs is definitely internal clock is set on any truly secure system is one recommended by experts. It Friday the 13th. When the that is powered off, cast in a is also wise to have back-ups computer is booted up on that block of concrete and sealed for all important data, in day, it syste matically destroys in a lead-lined room with event of total loss of disk or all accessible files. Many ar med guar ds—and even then hard-drive memory due to a viruses are even more dan- I have my doubts." There are virus. gerous by not causing out- certainly more feasible ways Although viruses do not right mass destruction, but of protecting personal com- present an optimistic view of quietly corrupting files or puters, although none may the future, they are certain singularly erasing files at be quite as effective. As most to play a part in it. Whether large time intervals. If a of the viruses written have they play a major role or a person finds a single files been for the Macintosh and minor one will depend corrupted or erased, he/she IBM computers, most other largely on not only the pro- may think that it was simply users need not worry. There grammers who combat tliis human error and never even are several for the Commo- menace, but also on deter- consider that it was the work dore Amiga and the Atari ST, rence of the criminals by ofavirus. Evenworse, auser although they are not ex- those who can impose penal- could use corrupted informa- tremely widespread. ties on them. --John, , Fultzr^ , tion for months before real- The first and main line izing that the files is errone- defense against viruses ous. This could be especially should be prevention. Users disastrous with spreadsheet should carefully choose and database files, where where they get their soft- previously entered informa- ware. Public software is by tion may be seldom proof- far the most common target. read and present and future This software can be passed statistics may rely on infor- by hand or over any elec- mation garbled by a virus. tronic network. Simply bor- The computer virus is rowing software from a said to have its roots in a work friend can transmit a virus. of science fiction written by The best source for uncon- John Brunner called Shock- taminated software is com- wave Rider. In this book, the mercial, shrink-wrap soft- hero detains a computer by ware. Safe software may be

writing a worm to occupy it. obtained from reputable In fact, Robert T. Morrison, dealers and distributors who

Jr., the man who programmed carefully screen their prod- the worm which upset the ucts. ArpaNet and MilNet systems Users should watch for in November of 1988, had a any strange computer be- copy of this book which had havior which may be attrib- been read so many times that uted to a virus. Some symp- it was nearly in pieces. This toms include a screen which book and others like it which blanks out or acts strangely, have followed have inspired disk access when there some computer programmers should be none, a definite to live out their fantasies in a slowing of computer proc- world in which the computer esses, and an unusual reduc-

19 mJBLm rofiles:J[ Campus Honors Program

Universities make an a topic of interest to him, and ter for the Performing Arts. effort to provide opportuni- the program provides a con- The Krannert Dress Re- ties for students which best text in which he can create hearsal series, as it is called, meet their acade mic and pro- such a class. Most of the allows students to attend fessional goals. Many of these classes deal with the humani- rehearsals of plays, musicals, opportunities take the form ties and social science due to and operas. An introduction of special programs created the fact that it is difficult to to the behind-the-scene to expose students to people offer any upper level tech- production is usually given and ideas that may otherwise nical classes to a group that by the director. have been inaccessible to represents so diverse a group. Beyond the activities them. The University of Illi- All of the classes are accept- available to the students in nois Campus Honors Program able for use in fulfilling the program, they are also (CHP) is a program geared general education require- assigned a professor in the toward oustanding students ments, however, and are university as a mentor to and introduces them to a wide encouraged to be used as such. guide them in their studies. variety of disciplines and The main advantage of these Students consult these advi- people. The CHP consists of courses is that they have a sors on topics ranging from four hundred students, one maxi mu m class size of fifteen simple class selections to hundred fromeach year, that students, allowing for one- determining the entire are chosen as incoming to-one interaction with the course of their studies at col- freshmen on the basis of professor. lege. Some students have academic achievement and The lecture series called also found positions working interest in gaining a rounded the "Scholar Adventurers with their mentors. The education. In the interest of Series" allows both Univer- availability of these profes- keeping the program di- sity of Illinois faculty and sors provides an excellent verse, each class has repre- outside speakers to come contact between students and sentatives from all of the speak about their work to the some of the most knowledge- colleges at the university. members of the CHP. Topics able people in their respec- Upon graduation, those stu- range from technical and tive fields. dents in the the program scientific, like a recent lec- The CHP has a house have completed a set of re- ture on the applications of which includes a small but quirements, including spe- ultrasound, to the humani- growing library, PLATO ter- cial coursework and extra- ties and social sciences, like a minals, computer labs, and curricular activities, which lecture on changing views lounges in which to study or aims to provide them with a of the Vietnam War. Also, relax. broad educational back- once a year an open convo- The Campus Honors Pro- ground. cation lecture is given by a gram provides an excellent The classes offered well regarded lecturer in- opportunity for students to through the program are vited by the CHP. The lec- make use of the resources either special sections of tures provide an excellent op- available to them through classes that already exist or portunity for the students to their university. It opens sometimes classes that are meet and talk with people in doorways to extra experi- created exclusively for the all types of fields. ences that can maximize their program. By and large, the The CHP students are also academic rewards while at- latter is the result of profes- offered dress rehearsal tending college. sorial interest in teaching a passes to a number of per- --Kristin Rmgland course that directly relates to formances at Krannert Cen- -20- "

Fellowships

"They are committed to continuing education. Working at Hughes will allow jne to pursue my advanced techtiical degree.

—Member Technical Staff, EE Radar Systems Group

All of the technological advancements that have been Hughes Fellows work full-time during the summer During created at Hughes are merely an indication of greater things the academic year, Work-Study Fellows work part-time to come. while studying at a nearby university: Full-Study Fellows attend classes full-time. With a Hughes Fellowship, you could be creating a better future for yourself by studying for your Master's or Doctorate Hughes is involved in more than 100 different in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing), technologies and 1,700 different projects. This incredible Computer Science or Physics. diversity allows us to offer an Engineering Rotation Pro- gram for those interested in diversifying their work You'll receive tuition, books and fees, an educational stipend, experience. full employee benefits, relocation expenses, professional- level salary, summer employment and technical expehence. This package could be worth $25,000-$50,000 a year. Since 1949, more than 6,000 men and women have earn- ed advanced technical degrees with the help of Hughes While you're completing your degree, you'll also have the Fellowships. Join us in creating the next generation of opportunity to gain valuable experience at Hughes facilities technological wonders by advancing the future—yours in Southern California, Arizona or Colorado. and ours.

Hughes Aircraft Company, Corporate Fellowship Office Dept. ME-89/90, BIdg. C1/B168, P.O. Box 45066, Los Angeles, CA 90045-0066

Please consider me a candidate for a Hughes Fellowship and send me the necessary information and application materials.

PLEASE PRINT: Last Name

Address City Zip

I am interested in obtaining a Master's Doctorate.

Rotation Program Interest Yes No

DEGREES NOW HELD OR EXPECTED

Bachelor's School Field

Master's: School Field Grad Date HUGHES Minimum GPA.30/4 Proof of US Citizenship May Be Required Equal Opportunity Employer Cindy Mouton keeps lookingfor trouble.

s a new member of GE's Field Engineering Program, Cindy Mouton trouble-shoots equipment in some pretty wild places. Like the day she spent dangling six stories above the Mississippi River, trying to fix a crane. C'indy's also gone trouble-shooting at chemical plants, paper mills and steel mills. She's been called on to repair everything from a vintage 193()'s motor to the newest progi-ammable controllers. Field Engineering is not a job for the timid. You need the confidence— and broad-based knowledge— to walk day after day into new situations where you face the unknown. If, like Cindy, you've got a sense of adventure, then Field Engineering could be the field for you. In fact, if you're guLsy, outgoing, and capable, GE has opportunities c for you no matter what field you're in. So while you're out there looking around, take a good look at GE.

An equal opportuntty employer STX 620.5 Spring 1990 Volume 105, Issue 3 lo5:3 3PR 1990 Tech x\ograpf\ Bioengineering

GIFT ?y. EXCHANGE DEPT 314 MAIN LIBRARY UNIV OF ILL ATTN: PENNV BAILEY CAMPUS

Clean EDITORIAL

The first thing one might picture when thinking of a scientist is a pleasantly insane man with a shock of Einstein hair draped in a lob coat soaked with various cancerous chemicals working feverishly in a secluded laboratory towards some obscure goal that only he understands. Although some scientists today may still sport a stylish Einsteinian head of hair, the truth is that scientists today neither work alone nor are their goal obscure. Here at the University of Illinois and many other universities, as well as in the corporate world, scientists ore expected to work in teams on a goal of universal importance. However, in order to insure that their research is actually of some importance to the public, a scientist must know not only his own area of interest well, but also hove a general knowledge of other areas of science. After all, if the scientist at DuPont was so oblivious to the world that he missed World War II, he would not have known that there was a need for a silk substitute and today nylon would just be a scientific curiosity.

Research is supposed to benefit everyone, not only those of a limited scien- tific community. The excitement Fleischman and Pons created with their an- nouncement of the "discovery" of cold fusion and the heat generated as a result was not because scientists wanted to warm their hands around a test tube on those cold winter nights or even because they could boil water for their cof- fee faster, but because the cold fusion signified that energy (electricity) could be generated more cheaply and with less hazardous wastes that could benefit everyone. The application was seen to be more useful than in just heating up obscure reactions for chemists.

Especially in modern society, knowledge is power. Among engineers, this is becoming even more important. A commonly voiced complaint about scien-

tists and engineers is that they do not hove enough of a humanities background.

However, it is not only humanities that ore lacking, but knowledge in other sciences. When students first come to the University of Illinois, they ore herded into classrooms of 100+ students majoring in subjects varying from English to Electri- cal Engineering. As junior year approaches, however, these students ore expected to become more specialized within their own major and conse- quently they end up in in smaller classes with people of similar majors. Engineers ore expected to know a lot about one particular subject due to the sheer volume of information to be digested, but in order for their knowledge to be most beneficially applied, they should also know about the developments

in other areas of research. This is the reason for some of the interdisciplinary projects between departments. Knowledge between departments con be shared to achieve a common goal. Engineers should not only participate in these interdisciplinary projects but also try to take classes in areas otherthan their major, so that their contribution to society con be more than a scientific oddity.

Rather it con be something to actually improve on the quality of life of all people not just those who want to heat up their coffee in lab.

•'''n ^P- ^l' 4

UCinois Spring 1990 Volume 105, Issue 3 Techr\0£[rapli\

The Latest In Atom Smashing 2 A general overview of the on-going research in high energy physics. The search for the smallest components of matter.

Ceramics - Into The '90's 4 A lool< at ceramics: their uses, properties and drawbacl

Bioengineering Clean Water 8 Using bacteria to purify water contaminated with industrial pollutants.

Term Papers Made Easy... 12

New technology is developing a computerized method of organizing the information of libraries, research labs and

current events in a simple way that puts all of it at our fingertips.

Pressure Tuned Spectroscopy 1 The principles and applications of using high pressure to study molecular structures and interactions.

Departments 6 Tech-visions Tech-teasers 11 Techprofile 16

Editor-in-chief: Chi-Ting Huang Business Manager: Jacl< A. Gidding Production Editor; Minako Hashimoto Copy Editor: Victoria Degier EOH Editor: John Fulfz Photo Editor: Julie Reyer Designer: Rachel Weaver Publisher: t\/lichael Smeltzer Production Manager: Mary Cory, Editorial Staff: /"on/ Chen, Alexander G. Guarin, Kit Donahue Jacqueline MacDonald, Photo Staff: Chris Guy. Katherine Kim Elizabeth Peszynski, Geoff Ryder, Dean Wagner, Eric Smith Mark Russell

Illinois Tcchnograph. 57 E. Green St.. Champaign, Illinois. 61820. phone: (217)333-6602 Copyright lllini Media Company. 1989. Illinois Tcchnograph (USPS 258-760). Vol. 105 No. 3 the lllini Media Co.. E. Ore Winter 1989. Ill inois Tcchnograph is published four times during the academic year at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Published by 57 Champaign. IL 61 820. Subscriptions are available for $7.25 per academic year. The Tcchnograph is a member of Engineering College Magazines Associated. The Latest In Atom Smashing

Experimental high-energy protons. When this collision oc- The next generation, or pair, of "charm" nuclear physics is a complicated curs, new particles are formed, quarks are known asthe branch of an often confusing and it is these particles in which and "strange" quarks. These science. Researchers in this field researchers are interested. The quarks have masses which are try to determine the fundamen- University of Illinois Physics Depart- much greater than that of a in solar tal forces of nature and answer ment is currently working on an proton and are only found the questions concerning the experiment known as the Col- systems that are just developing beginning of the universe and lider Detector Facility (CDF) which and theoretically in the very early the construction of matter. in essence uses a very large universe. They combine to give Experimenters from the Uni- microscope to detect various exotic types of matter not found versity of Illinois at Urbana-Cham- sorts of information such as the in the earths natural environment. poign are working in teams with type and energy of the particles The last generation of quarks are other universities from this and formed from proton-anti-proton the "top" and "bottom" (or other countries such as Japan collisions. "beauty") quarks. These quarks and Italy in trying to discover a In the most recent run of are much heavierthon the charm theoretical division of matter experiments at CDF, (from June and strange quarks, and so far known OS the "top quark". A 1988 to June 1989), data was only the bottom quark has been

is postu- quark is a composite of matter taken in search of the top quark. found. The top quark

six it several that is smaller than a proton. It is This is the last of a group of lated because finishes now considered to be one of the quarksto be found. Quarks come complex symmetries seen in ele- basic building blocks of matter, in pairs- "up" and "down" quarks mentary particle physics. The just OS Aristotle believed the atom combine to give us normal mat- problem with finding this quark is to be. ter such as protons and neutrons. its mass. The larger the mass of

Most of this research is car- ried out at Fermi National Accel- erator Laboratory located in Batovia, Illinois, currently the world's largest atom smasher. This

is a large physics laboratory run by a conglomerate of universi- ties for the purpose of investigat- ing high-energy physics. The question which spurs this research

is simply, "What do you get when you break opart the smallest pieces of matter you con find?"

The answer is smaller pieces of matter. This done by taking a hydro- gen nucleus (a proton) and then

accelerating it around a large

ring while giving it electrical

energy, and then smashing it into something. This something can

either be a fixed target, usually photo by Todd Aibetter II. some metal, or other acceler- An aerial view of the Fermilab complex in Batavia . ated particles, known as anti-

-2 The University of Illinois is also involved in the Superconducting

Supercollider (SSC) which is a particle accelerator that has been proposed to be built in Texas. This new accelerator will use a ring of magnets 53 miles in circumference to accelerate protons to energies twenty times that available at Fermilab. This

higher energy is needed to an- swer fundamental questions of particle physics which cannot be answered with the existing equip- ment. Another particle which has

been postulated is the Higgs

Boson, but its mass is too great for

it to be produced at Fermilab, but the SSC might be able to

generate it. More power is needed to answer the ver/ fun- damental questions of the universe. — Mark Russell

photo by Todd Arbetter The CDF can detect particles resulting from proton - anti-proton collisions. the particle to be created, the more than a proton even though more mass the original protor^ they are smaller parts of matter. needs to have, because only a The researchers will try to find the small fraction of the moss of the top quark again in 1991. proton will go into any one par- Besides looking for the top ticle. Also for this reason the quark the CDF experiment made heavier particles are produced precise measurements of the lessfrequently. The top quark has masses of the W and Z particles. for not yet been found , but the 1 988/ They are also looking data

fit 1989 run of U of I experiments set which does not the "standard

a lower limit on its moss of about model" of high energy physics. 77 GeV (77 billion electron volts), CDF is also involved in a or 77 times the mass of a proton. number of other experiments at

This mass is derived from the fun- Fermilab. One experiment is look- damental equation of Simple ing at the production of charm Relativity (E = mc2) where the and beauty quarks as photons energy of the proton may be decay, and another is looking for

related to mass. As the proton is particles called axions which are accelerated around the ring at low mass neutral particles pro-

Fermilab, it will increase in mass duced by the decay of -e+e photo by lodd Arbetter Dr. Stephen Ewede is one of the many due to the energy it accumu- (electron, positron) pairs and UofI professors studying quarks. lates. Hence a quark may weigh photon pairs.

feature c eramics - Into The '90's

Originally from the ancient Greek word "keramos' for ob- jects fired from clay, ceramics t^ave a longer history than might be apparent at first glance. Struc- tural clay products, whitewares and glass encompassed the extent of the original definition of ceramics. Since then, the defini- tion has expanded to include engineered materials, namely structural and electronic ceram- ics and gloss. Each of these classes of ceramics have unique photo by Chris Guy properties. These unique proper- A stress fracture in a ceramic. ties ore attributable to the local bonding between the atoms, and strain than their traditional pears to be o possible solution to which in most coses is ionic, or in metal counterparts, but if they averting failure. This process in- some exceptions covolent. Other do foil, the results ore devastat- volves the introduction of zirco- properties include electrical resis- ing. This failure is the subject of nio to retard crock development. tivity, high temperature stability continuing research at the Uni- A composite ceramic using zir- and strength. These properties versity of Illinois at Urbono-Chom- conia has significantly improved mode ceramics uniquely appli- paign. mechanical properties. As a cable in specialty situations. Elec- One of the biggest chal- crock propagates at a certain trically, most ceramics (except lenges facing engineers today is critical temperature, zirconio in superconducting applications) the tendency of ceramics to foil undergoes a volume expansion, offer exceptional electrical resis- cotastrophicolly. While many of pushing in on and effectively tivity, making them useful in a the ceramics' other properties sealing the crock. Not alone, zir-

conio is of ever- number of non-conducting are on par with, if not superiorto, a member on applications. Stability under high theirtraditional counterparts, this increasing number of "transfor- mation tougheners' that temperature applications is also problem is a major hurdle in the have on advantageous result of the implementation of ceramics in the common characteristic of ceramic bonding characteris- load-bearing structures. Specifi- undergoing o volume expansion tics, enabling them to withstand cally, this failure involves brittle due to certain conditions of pres- temperatures two to three times fractures in the ceramic. Having sure and temperature. those of metals (ceramics: 2000 reached a critical size, a crock It is hoped that this growing to 3000 degrees Celsius, metals: will propagate exponentially, body of knowledge will in the around 1000 degrees Celsius) rupturing the otherwise high- future moke a significant contri- and four to six times those of strength atomic bonds. This may bution to the advancement of polymers (around 500 degrees be contrasted to a metals supe- materials research in general, Celsius). This high temperature rior ductility. Before o cata- and to ceramics in particular. stability makes ceramics suitable strophic failure occurs, a metal With a growing number of mate- OS refractories into which molten will endure more stress, often rials in the world being replaced by the newer, sophisticated metals may be poured. A final accompanied by its own set of more will beneficial property if the ceram- caution sounds. counterparts, ceramics cer- ics strength. Many ceramics con A process known as trans- tainly be a port of the materials endure higher factors of stress formation toughening now ap- revolution. — Alexander G. Guarin ftlf

\ "S I

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Southwestern Bell @ Corporation feature TechvisiQn$^ Can You Identify These Buildings?

photos by Eric Smith mAnswersm on back inside cover.

tech -visions 13 ioengineering Clean Water

I enrolled in the University of municipal sewage (what you plants unchanged, ending up in Illinois' environmental engineer- flush down your toilet) through a rivers that may serve as a down-

ing graduate program with a deep rock bed, it emerged stream community's drinking

naive goal: I wanted to solve the clean. Later scientists discovered water supply. Consequently, a world'swoterpollution problems. the mechanism that cleaned the major challenge environmental

I hod heard about studies linking sewage water: microscopic engineers face today is devel- water pollution to high cancer organisms attached to the rocks oping bacteria that con digest rates in industrial regions. In were digesting the pollutants. the ever-increasing range of Woburn, Massachusetts, for ex- pollutants. ample, several children died of leukemia after barrels of toxic New hazardous Using genetics to clean water waste leaked into their chemicals are My research team com- neighborhood's ground water. I bines genetics and environ- being wished to help prevent such created mental engineering. In a nutshell, tragedies by learning how to faster than engi- we ore studying a way to supply detoxify industrial waste. neers can discover bacteria with genetic material After a few months in gradu- that would enable them to di- ate school, I realized that envi- safe ways to gest new pollutants. The pieces ronmental engineers cannot dispose of them. of genetic material ore called remedy every pollution problem. plasmids. They are the key we New hazardous chemicals are f t hope will unlock the door to a being created faster than engi- Today, microorganisms are whole new range of solutions to neers can discover safe ways to still the primary tools for removing environmental problems. dispose of them; according to pollutants from both municipal Plasmids ore mode of DNA, one estimate, 1000 new chemi- sewoge and some industrial dis- the substance that encodes the cals enterthe marketplace each charges. The organisms grow basic life functions of every living year. The rapid pace of chemi- either in filters, similar to the his- being, from microscopic bacte- cal development has forced toric rock beds, or in large vats ria to humans. Plasmids ore not environmental engineers to called "activated sludge' tanks. essential for cell life in on ordinary undertake research in sci- basic But there is a key difference be- environment; all of the DNA a ences like biology and chemistry tween modern and historical cell needs to grow and repro- to unearth new phenomena that environmental engineering: duce is stored in the chromo- might aid pollution control. I hove Modern pollutants are much somes. Instead, plasmids con- spent much of my time as a harder to degrade than human tain extra genetic information graduate student researching a sewage. Millions of years of evo- that allows a cell to survive in a frontier of modern biology — a lution created microorganisms harsh environment. discipline I once thought fell far that easily degrade human Plasmids con contain infor- afield of engineering. waste. But evolution lags far mation that allows bacteria to behind the pace of synthetic survive in the presence of antibi- A bit of history chemical development. The otics (like penicillin) that would understand To how biology natural bacteria upon which otherwise kill them. In fact, the relates to water pollution, you environmental engineers have first scientists to discover plasmids need to know some environ- relied for decades have not were medical researchers inves- mental engineering history. Inthe adopted to digesting all of the tigating why penicillin was no late nineteenth century, early man-made chemicals. The most longer killing certain disease- environmental engineers discov- hazardous pollutants travel causing bacteria. More impor- ered that when they trickled through sewage treatment tant for environmental engineer-

8 photo by Todd Arbelter Bioengineering may be used to clean up many polluted water such as Champaign-Urbana's Boneyard.

ing, plasmids can contain infor- filament draws the two cells close temperature and lack of nutri- mation tt^ot allows bacteria to together, somehow allowing a ents). But the special bacteria digest extremely toxic sub- copy of the plasmid to transfer. could transfer their plasmids to stances, converting thiem to To understand how remarkable the cells that ore native to the carbon dioxide and harmless cell the plasmid transfer phenome- treatment plant, outfitting the byproducts. For example, biolo- non is, consider a large-scale plant to remove trichloroethylene gists at California genetic a analogy: What if a cow could from the waste stream. engineering firm discovered a extend a filament to a human, plasmid that permits its host donating DNA that would en- Speedy plasmids bacteria to degrade trichloroeth- able humans, like cows, to thrive My research relates to the ylene, the most common con- on a pure grass diet? speed of plasmid transfer. Speed taminant at hazardous v^/aste The capability of DNA trans- is a key factor in determining sites. fer between bacterial species is whether a particular plasmid What is especially unique what makes plasmids potentially could be used for waste treat- about plasmids is that one bac- useful for environmental engi- ment. If a plasmid transfers too terium can transfer a copy of its neers. Engineers could develop slowly, plasmid-containing bac- plasmid to another bacterium of a strain of bacteria with a plas- teria would wash out of the treat- on entirely different species. mid that allows it to degrade a ment plant along with the pol- Microbiologists hypothesize that target pollutant like trichloroeth- luted water, rendering a lost ef- plasmids species move between ylene. It is likely that these special fort. when a plasmid-containing cell bacteria not well in would grow I am trying to verify a simple filament grows a long that at- a sewage treatment plant's mathematical equation that sci- taches to a plosmid-free cell. The unique environment (because of

feature continued from p. 9 entists have proposed to describe plosmid movement. In my experi- ments, I mix two species of bac- teria — one with a plasmid, the other without — and count the number of bacteria that receive plasmids in a given time interval.

I have discovered that the pro- posed simple eauation may be inadequate to describe plasmid behavior, because the amount of food energy available to the bacteria affects plasmid trans- fer. Many more researchers will need to study plasmids before environmental engineers can use them. In addition to finding accurate equations that de- scribe plasmid transfer speed, scientists must develop new plas- mids to handle the ever-increas- ing number of pollutants. Other scientists can then construct small-scale waste treatment sys- tems to test whether plasmid transfer will work in realistic pollu- tion situations. With so much fun- damental research incomplete, we are probably more than a decade oway from being able photo by Kathenne Kim to enlist plasmids in environ- Jacqueline MacDonald counting the number of bacteria that recieved plasmids mental clean-up. after an experiment to determine the speed of plasmid transfer. Environmental engineering has not taught me easy solutions

towaterpollution. Instead, I have learned that solving water pollu- tion problems is infinitely more complexthancreatingthem. We continue to seek ways to clean up the environmental mess we have created. But the true solu- tion to the environmental crisis • I lies in lowering our chemical dependency — in finding non- !j< toxic alternatives to the hazard- .V ous chemicals we now take for granted. t» --Jacqueline MacDonald

photo by Kathenne Kim A petri dish showing colonies of bacteria that recieved a plasmid to let them grow in the presence of an antibiotic.

10- .

M.J. Reed Est. 1897 Your future is engineering and her.., Tech- Teasers

1 On the periodic table,

Tellurium, Te is elemer^t number

52. Iodine, I, is element number 53. Whiichi has the greater gram molecular weight?

2. A boat is made out of a solid

piece of silver. Will it float or sink in mercury?

3. Ten boxes are labelled to 9. Digits are placed in each box

so that the digit in the first box

The Diamond Engagement Ring stands for how many 1 's, etc. to

9. What is that number?

4. Instead of ten boxes, 16 boxes are used (the hexadeci- mal number system). What

number is needed to fill the boxes? From $450 - Tani Chen ( 1/ JEWELERS

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-11 - fech-teasers rn

M ermI Papers Made Easy...

Imagine using a computer- This means that the sequence in late 1960's. During 1968, a primi- ized encyclopedia to look up which the user viewsthe informa- tive hypertext system (similar to John F. Kennedy. The computer tion is completely up to the user. hypermedia, but without the displays, among other things, a The user need not even view all concentration on graphics and brief synopsis of his assassination. of the information, only that sound) was created to organize

You decide to learn a little bit which is relevant to his/her proj- NASA documents for the Apollo

more about the assassination, so ect. Additionally, information is a moon mission. During the same you use the mouse to click on the term which does not apply ex- year, Douglas Engelbart intro- subheading. Instantly, an in- clusively to the printed word. duced the NLS (oN Line System), depth article appears detailing Information con come in theform allowing the Stanford Research the assassination. Of course, of pictures, graphs, charts, mops, Institute scientists to link docu-

seeing is believing, so you de- sound, music, and even moving ments in their mainframe com- cide you wont to see film clips of pictures. All of this is available at puters. the assassination. You click on one computer terminal, instead During recent years, the the video icon, and you have of having relevant information introduction of the optical disc instant access to film clips of the spread out in different filing as a form of mass storage, with its assassination and relevant press cabinets, sections of a library, capabilities to easily store the

conferences. If you would like to sections of the country, or even massive amounts of information learn a little bit about th assassin, disks on a computer. that represent digitized pictures you could simply click on the The concept of hyperme- and sounds, has made true name, Lee Harvey Oswald, dia can be traced back to a hypermedia much more acces-

wherever it may be mentioned paper introduced in August, sible for practical use. Improve- in the articles, and you would see 1945, in which Vannevar Bush, ments in software have contrib- his picture as well as a biography director of the U.S. Office of Sci- uted a great deal as well, for two and film clips of his assassination. entific Research and Develop- packages, Apple's HyperCard Possibly you are interested in the ment, proposed a machine he and OWL International's Guide, results of the Warren Report— all called a memex: are widely available for home

that information is available at a computers which alone do not single click of the mouse as well. ...in which an individual have access to this kind of stor-

It almost seems that the com- stores all his books, records, age.

puter is anticipating the way you communications, and The hardware required for

think and associate. which is mechanized so that future hypermedia systems still

This is exactly the goal of a it may be consulted with looks uncertain. So far, compa- new form of media, hyperme- exceeding speed and flexi- nies seem to hove taken two

dia, which could become the bility.... With one item in its different approaches, and it is

first original and popular form of grasp, it snaps instantly to far too early to tell which will be

media since television. The con- the next item that is sug- more popular at home, some cept behind hypermedia in- gested by the association computer companies pair a CD- volves sequencing by associa- of thoughts, in accordance ROM player with a personal tion. Instead of sequencing in- with some intricate web of computer in an approach that formation alphabetically, nu- trails carried by the cells of Apple calls "interactive media." merically, or in some other ob- the brain. Other companies, such as Sony scure fashion that has absolutely and Philips, sell interactive CD nothing to do with the informa- Although his machine was players with the hopes that they

tion itself, information is con- completely imaginary, the con- will attract computer-shy people. nected to other information cepts Bush proposed were util- Although hypermedia seems to

which can be associated with it. ized on computers as early as the be definitely keyed towards the

12- a

storage and retrieval of informa- currently available. Eventually, it information is associated as it

tion, this does not mean ttiat its may be possible to use optical should be, and so on. Also, the purposes are solely dedicated fiberstolinktogethercomporable newer hyperware systems with to reference information, as in libraries at several different loca- their more advanced and flashy the beginning example. In some tions into a large Telesophy net- features pose certain problems. working examples, of hyperme- work and retrieve the informa- Just OS people have overdone dia, medical schools at Stanford tion over the phone wires. fancy fonts and art on current

and Cornell ore using hyperme- Hypermedia may also bring desktop publishing programs, it is dia "textbooks' to study human another revolution in itself— certain that they will overdo anatomy. The Shakespeare revolution of new computer pro- fancy graphics and sound ef- project at Stanford allows stu- grammers. Hyperware uses fects which may only serve to be dents to watch rehearsols and "buttons" in order to navigate boring, repetitive, time-consum- compare scenes from different about associable material. Even ing, and memory-consuming. plays, as well as browse through the most inexperienced program- Programmers may also attempt the wardrobe and prop rooms mer can easily program these to program an application which for each of the plays. The Na- buttons on most systems to point has no business in a hyperware

tional Geographic Society is wherever and look like any icon environment. presently completing a set of they wish. In fact, for a simple, The applications of hyper- hypermedia field trips that would non-interactive hyperware appli- software are so numerous that

allow students to travel foreign cation, all a user needs to do is they cannot be adequately rep- lands and nations in their own tell the buttons where to point. resented here. However, these

rooms. Ford, Boeing, and Re- There is no written program re- applications are not readily ob- nault are all using hyperware quiredtodothismuch. Although vious and require some thought maintenance manuals to diag- an interactive application does as to the abilities of the software

nose repair problems. Broder- require segments of written code, being used. If, however, the

bund software is working on a the code required in most sys- general computer-using public

hyperware version of the Whole tems is easily learned and very orthe multi-million dollar software Earth Catalog. Some authors English-like. The simplicity of pro- companies begin to realize the are even experimenting with the gramming on a hyperware sys- ramifications that hypersoftware

system and writing in nonlinear tem additionally facilitates a could have on our society, it is fashions. Imagine reading a plentiful supply of "public do- certain that hypermedia will novel-length story tailored to your main" applications, or applica- become the fourth major form of

own interests— be it romance, tions that people may have writ- media along with the printed science fiction, or maybe a ten for themselves, and the gave word, movies/television, and western; written from a male's, away freely. Apple and radio. - Fulfz female's, or third person' s point HyperCard'sauthor, Bill Atkinson, John of view; or dozens of other possi- have especially encouraged this,

bilities. as the HyperCard program is It would seem though, that packaged with the Macintosh, Do you know the ultimate application for allowing for as wide of distribu-

hypermedia would be "the ulti- tion as possible forthe program in something we mate library," where information the home and business environ- on any topic could easily be ments. don't accessed from any magazine, The ability to program hyper- If you just happen to know newspaper, film, record, cas- ware applications easily does about a neat engineering sette, or book source ever pub- have its drawbacks. Many topic, or you would like to lished. As a matter of fact. Bell people not accustomed to pro- the world to hear about Communications, Research is gramming may be unaware that that scintillating research currently working on such a sys- their applications still need to be experiment you happen to tem called Telesophy. A proto- debugged just as any other be performing, tell us about type of the system has been developmental program. In it! pay for articles on running for over two and one- addition, because there is no We half years. Telesophy contains simple way to view the links be- just about any engineering wire service reports, magazines, tween all of the information, there topic. Call Chi-Ting at

journal abstracts, and digitized is no way to be sure, outside of 328-6808 or Minako at 332-

pictures to which it can refer. trial and error, that all buttons 4383 for more infomiation. About 300,000 such items are point to the right place, that all

13- feature pressure Tuned Spectroscopy

condensed phase is based on polorizability and the repulsive spectroscopically measuring force of electrons, a shift to higher vibrational energy levels of mole- or lower energy in vibrational cules and/or the interaction of excitations could be achieved. molecules with a medium. This Specifically, a red shift, polor- spectroscopic data establishes izability, was characteristic at low a foundation for defining pressures and a blue shift, repul- boundaries between intensity sion, at high pressure. These re- and lifetime in luminescence sults hove provided opportuni- energy, outlining the principles ties for new theoretical analyses and the interactions of molecules of molecular interactions in solu- within the environment, and tion.

photo by Chris Guy describing semiconductors and According to Professor H. Drickamer working in the lab on G. a metals. Drickamer, properties of liquids Ai/gh pressure experiment. In condensed phases, such as volume, viscosity, dielec- The application of high pressure, or compression, en- tric constant and refractive in- pressure in laboratories all over hance the overlapping of atoms dex con be altered over large the world enables scientists to and molecules. Because of the pressure ranges when there are moke many advancements in different spatial characteristics of large discrepancies in the liquid such diverse fields as chemistry, orbitols, they are disturbed to properties, (with the exception

If physics, biochemistry , and engi- varying degrees by the increas- of refractive index). molecular neering. It's extensive use within ing overlap. Therefore, it is pos- properties ore measured in the the field of science is spurred by sible to "pressure tune' electronic identical medium and over the the realization that pressure is on and vibrational energy levels. some pressure range, one con effective and fundamental in- Through pressure tuning, exten- directly establish a relationship strument for exploring both mo- sive changes can be made in between bulk, volume, viscosity, lecular and electronic proper- electrical, magnetic , and chemi- and dielectric constant, and ties of matter. cal properties of matter over a molecular properties. Percy Williams Bridge- range of pressures. These altera- Peripheral studies illustrate man the forerunner of research tions in the properties of matter the relationship between inter in high pressure physics is cred- increase understanding of cer- and intramolecular forces of ited with the invention of appa- tain types of properties observed absorption and emission on ratus for obtaining very high pres- in molecules at a pressure of one bonding and anti-bonding mo- sures. His principles are still the atmosphere. lecular levels. It was found that basis of modern day improve- With the use of pressure this difference in energy in- ments in high pressure cell design tuning. Professor Drickamer has creased with bond compression. and devices for measuring over performed extensive liquid phase However, since polorizability in- high pressure ranges. spectroscopic research. Initially, creases when molecule has on Here at the University of experimentation involved meas- excited electron, the von der Illinois, Professor H.G. Drickamer uring C=0, C-H, N-H, and 0-H Wools forces stabilize the anti- and his staff are incorporating stretching frequencies for diverse bonding orbital. According to high pressure into modern sci- molecules in solvents such as Professor Drickamer, "For excita- ence with the use of "pressure C2CI2 and CS2. In a paper tions like pi and pi* or gamma - tuned spectroscopy'. entitled "Pressure Tuning Spec- gamma* where the anti-bond- The ability to investigate troscopy', Professor Drickamer ing orbital interacts strongly with molecular properties and inter- concluded that depending on the environment as pressure is molecular interactions in the the relationship between bond applied, a shift to lower energy is

-14 '

^^c f=ma Q^^^ ^^ ISFCU=Your Formula for Smart Banking .\^ CALCULATE THE BENEFITS: %+^ •The convenience of a campus checking and share account Zrilllni ZS Student • 5$ minimum balance ^^ Federal ^Z Credit •No monthly service fees TT Union

•Direct Deposit of U of I pay- checks and personal checks UNIVERSITY YMCA BUILDING 1001 SOUTH WRIGHT OPENING NEW ACCOUNTS NOW CHAMPAIGN, IL 61820 Weekdays: 12-5:30 Saturday: 11-3 328-SAVE observed which increases with weak, the probability of mole- and packing as well as changes increasing solvent polarizability. cules rearranging is less than one in molecular bond length. Pro- Professor Drickamer notes that percent, but greater than the fessor Drickamer also notes that there is also an importance in the probability predicted by the since the occupied electronic differences in dipole moment energy difference existing be- states of the molecule are al- between ground and excited tween the two geometries. Pro- tered when rearrangement states. A red shift results upon fessor Drickamer explained the occurs, changes in electronic

first in- increase of excitation . and a blue occurrence in pressure spectra caused by pressure "form shift is observed where the di- duced rearrangement lying be- a diagnostic of the type of pole moment decreases upon tween the stochastic and first change occurring in the pres- excitation. order transition as "extent of sure range over which this rela- Further studies of high pres- cooperativity". tively drastic pressure tuning sure by ProfessorDrickamerwere Although there is no coop- occurs." conducted in the solid state. erativity in the gas phase, liquids In conclusion, the use of Pressure induced rearrange- exhibit intense centralized coop- pressure tuning of electronic ond ments on the molecular level erativity. Crystal cooperativity is vibrational energy levels has produce many conclusions basically macroscopic. Poly- greatly enhanced our knowl- about solid state chemistry. In mers, glasses and weakly inter- edge of molecular properties in the gas phase, or in solution, a acting molecular crystals lie be- liquids and solids as well as many molecular rearrangement at a tween these two limits. other forms of matter of which given temperature and pressure If intense molecularinterac- were not discussed. Its use in relies solely upon the existing free tions exist, rearrangement often both physics and chemistry energy between two molecular does not result in the lowest free exhibit its power and versatility. geometries, (stochastic proc- energy of the "free molecule". Future use of pressure tuning esses). Since crystal molecules This is not a problem as long as spectroscopy may increase our interact strongly, any rearrange- the rearrangement results in knowledge of delicate molecu- ment that occurs must occur lowering the free energy of the lar properties as well as bring simultaneously (a cooperative crystal. In addition,the cause for insight for further use of high process called a first order phase pressure induced molecular pressure in scientific experimen- transition). However, if interac- rearrangements in solids is asso- tation. - tions between molecules are ciated with intermolecularforces Elizabeth Peszynski

15- feature Techprofile: Jean-Pierre Leburton

include diodes, transistors, semi- arsenide." conductor lasers, and the like. Besides doing research. Dr.

With each new reduction in size, Leburton is a student advisor, and the physics of making and using teaches several courses related these tiny devices becomes more to microelectronics, such as E.E. complex. Dr. Leburton and his 229 (Introduction to Electromag- students use a bank of Apollo netic Fields) and E.E. 340 (Solid workstations in order to crunch State Electronic Devices). Com- out answers that are impossible paring European and American to obtain analytically. educational systems, he says

that, "In Europe it is more human- photo t>y Chris Guy ^^ istic; you get a broader back- Outstanding technical ground. In science, the course- work is broader, and stu- people from around ttie world much math and fun- tiave ctiosen to come and pur- The cornfields were dents take more damental physics courses. In the sue tt^eir work at thie University of not too appealing. U.S., training is more practical, Illinois at Chiampaign-Urbana. And also thie speed more industry-oriented. This is very One suchi scientist is Jean-Pierre apparent in graduate study. Leburton, a native of Belgium limit; I'm used to driv- (U.S.) graduate students work on and an expert in semiconductor ing mucti faster. of practi- electronics. problems immediate cal concern." Dr. Leburton, who is an As- As an undergraduate stu- sociate Professor of Electrical and =rr Computer Engineering here at dent. Dr. Leburton received a

Physics degree , and he achieved the U of I, says, " It is the goal of Although silicon has been his Doctorate in Physics from the many European scientists to the material of choice for the University of Liege in Liege, Bel- spend some time in U.S. labs.' He semiconductor industry thus far, gium. HeworkedforSiemens,the came here for the first time in new candidates such as gallium West German electronics giant, 1981 forooneyearappointment arsenide, which is a compound for two years before coming here. as a visiting scholar. The appoint- of elements in the third and fifth Concerning his arrival in (jham- ment was renewed for another columns of the periodic table, poign-Urbona, he soys, "The year, and following that he are the focus of most of his re- cornfields were not too appeal- accepted a faculty position in search. "I originally came here ing. And also the speed limit; I'm the physical electronics group in because the lll-V compounds used to driving much faster. But the Electrical Engineering de- research group is known around after one year, you like it here. partment. the world as a leader in the field. The people are nicer here than His chief scientific interest is The latest developments in mi- I've lived. And the physical understanding of croelectronics, optoelectronics anywhere else another thing- it doesn't rain all semiconductor devices. He and (traditional circuitry combined during the summer, like histeam of sixgraduate students, with optical elements to speed the time it in Belgium. Here, you can guided by known physical prin- up performance) and nanostruc- does picnics and play tennis ciples and the results of previous ture devices (electronics with have rained on." Dr. laboratory testing, develop geometries lOto ICXDtimessmaller without being lives in Chompaignwith models which describe the ac- than those currently produced) Leburton his wife. tion of such devices under vari- require the use of high purity lll-V — Geoff Ryder ous conditions. These devices compounds like gallium

-16 ••••••••••• A /V TECH-TEASERS TECH-VISIONS

/. Surprisingly enough, tel- / . Ceramics building lurium is heavier than iodine. backwards Tellurium has a molecular weight of 127.60, but iodine s 2. Transportation Building has a molecular weight of

126.90. Other similar "rever- 3. Transportation Building sals" are argon-potassium (again) and cobalt-nickel. 4. Levis Center 2. Float. Silver has a density of I0.5g/cm3 and mercury w 5. Krannert (The Foellinger has a density of ]3.5g/cm3. Great Hall)

3. 6,210,001,000. This is 6. Altgeld upside down unique.

7. Loomis 4. In the hexadecimal E number system A is 10, B is 8. Student Union sideways ll,Cisl2,Disl3,Eisl4,and

F is 15. The number is

C,2 1 0,000,000,00 1 ,000. This is unique. (Martin Gardner. Mathematical Circus. New York: Vintage Books, 1981.) K

17- fech-profile/ answers WhatJoe Johnson wants, Joe Johnson gets.

ven as a young boy, glowing up in poverty on a Seneca

reservation, Joe Johnson knew he had what it takes to be a success. And with fierce determination he found his opportunity — at GE. As a member of CiF.'s renowned Manufacturing Management Program, Joe's fulfilhng his potential in a big way. PYom his very first assignment lielping to IjuiUl the top-secret control panel of a nuclear submarine, to his current supervisory role in (iE's aircraft engine manufacturing plant, he's had a chance to develop the skills that mark him as a leader. Less than two vears onto his career path, Joe's experienced the thrill of seeing his ideas come to life. His energ) and drive have plugged into the kind of global support svstem most graduates just dream about. i.¥. wants people like Joe. And people like Joe definitely want (iK.

An equal opportunity employer. UCinois Summer 1990 Volume 105, Issue 4 Techno^rapm

620.5 S-PI FHl ^ X 05:4 SUM 1990 Je£^

AliEALTHIER

PENNY BAILEY GIFT 6< EXCHANGE DEPT UNIV OF ILLINOIS 314 MAIN LIBRARY MC522 EDWQRIAL The 80's and the 90's have seen an increasing consciousness of the Ameri- can public about health. Not only health of the body, but also health of the mind (psychiatric evaluations), and academic health (more children ore going to college now than in the past). Finally, we are seeing a consciousness of the environment. With the popular slogan " Think Globally, Act Locally," environmental activist groups are now taking a prominent place in getting Americans to improve the health of their environment.

At the University of Illinois, this is especially noticeable in the many waste recycling stations around campus. In the university housing as well, many students have begun a separate waste recycling project of their own. In fact, so

much is being recycled, that many of the recycling centers in Urbana are near full capacity.

Recycling is one of the major steps toward smaller landfills and less garbage. Chicago residents will soon be required to separate their garbage and many other cities require lawn or organic wastes to be separated from ordinary household garbage. Biodegradable materials are also a hot topic in environmentalism. The current "biodegradable plastics" are not really biodegradable in the plastic sense. Most of these plastics are made of cornstarch and regular plastic so that

the cornstarch biodegrades but not the plastic itself; it just disintegrates into tiny plastic pieces rather than one big piece of plastic. Other concerns ore that

biodegradable materials may not necessarily biodegrade if they are not exposed to the proper conditions. One garbage landfill was found to contain dried carrots and old newspapers that had not degraded at all since the landfill did not contain enough moist organic matter. In order to promote a better environment, many engineers are taking en-

vironmental courses. There is even an engineering curriculum called environ-

mental engineering which is administered through civil engineering. A student who wished to get an environmental engineering degree would hove to major

in civil engineering and get a specialization in environmental. It is not necessary,

however, to be a civil engineer first. Many students enrolled in the chemistry curiculum pursue the environmental engineering degree in graduate school. Americans are becoming more health conscious, and one of the best

ways to remain healthy is to keep the environment healthy.

editor

Ok--{i^%My^^ UCinois Summer 1990 Volume 105, Issue 4 Tech x\ogra]pf\

Earth Day Turns Twenty In celebration of the twentietti anniversary of Eartti Day, ttie University of Illinois will be holding one of the largest demon-

strations in U of I history.

Biodegradable Plastics

Concern about the environment is a hot topic in today's world. Biodegradable plastic research will help achieve the goal of a cleaner world. Surfacing Surface Science

Surface science is being used to study the interaction of electrons with semiconductors.

Educating Engineers 10 Engineers are needed today who have both a strong knowledge of their technical field and a broad general

education. The University of Illinois is one of the top engi- neering schools in this country and offers many special programs to accomplish that goal.

Departments Tech-visions 8 Tech-teasers 13 Tech-notes 13 Tech-profile 14

Editor-in-chief; Chi-Ting Huang Business Manager: Jack A. GIddIng Production Editor: Minako Hashimoto Copy Editor; Victoria Degler EOH Editor; John Fultz Photo Editor: Julie Reyer Designer; Rachel Weaver Pubiisher: Michael Smeltzer Production Manager: Mary Cory. Editorial Staff;Sfeve Frankel. Phil Jackson, Rob Lin. Kit Donahue Jacqueline MacDonald, In Ki Park. Photo Staff; Chris Guy. Katherlne Kim Elizabeth Peszynskl. Kristin Ringland, Dean Wagner. Eric Smith. Geoff Ryder. Martha Tanner Todd Arbelter

Illinois Technograph. 57 E. Green Si., Champaign. Dlinois. 61820, phone: (217) 333-6602 Copyright lllini Media Company, 1989. Illinois Technograph (USPS 258-760). Vol. 105 No. t

Summer 1989. Illinois Technograph is published four times during the academic year at the 1 iity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Published by the lllini Media Co., 57 E. Green fnr St , Champaien, 11. 61820. Subscriptions arc available S7 25 per academic >cai Ihc Tci iph is a member of Engineering College Magaiines Associated^ E arth Day Turns Twenty

April 21,1 990 will see one of During the week of Earth Polytechnic Institute and State the largest demonstrations in Day (April 16-22), SECS has pre- University will speak on the social University of Illinois history. This pared programs which will com- dynamics of tropical deforesta- day will be a part of the celebra- bine action, education, and tion. Thursday, Dave Newhouse, tion of the twentieth anniversary entertainment in the name of Regional Director of the National of Earth Day. Much of the plan- heightening the community's Audubon Society will speak on ning for the events during the awareness of environmental is- wetland protection. week of April 16 has been done sues. There will be ecology tours On Saturday , there will be a by Students for Environmental to five areas of interest (the recy- one woman ploy, "Planting in Concerns (SECS). SECS has sup- cling center and Allerton Park the Dust," a recycling drive, a port from over forty student are two of the five), educational display of the environmental art groups and twenty University booths, lunch and dinner semi- and design competition entries, departments. Activities related nars with faculty and community and a bicycle repair workshop. to Earth Day hove already be- speakers, and radio and televi- There will also be a recycling gun and will continue through sion interviews. Monday through obstacle course, over 25 educa- April 22. Thursday night there will be tion and action booths, refresh-

The first nationally organized speeches by five nationally rec- ments, speakers, and a number Earth Day occurred on April 22, ognized speakers. Monday night, of local bands playing "Music for 1970and promoted ecologyand Nick Lenssen of the World Watch Mother Earth" in on all day con- a heightened awareness of the Institute and Ted Flanigon, En- cert. On Sunday, the community environment. From this first cele- ergy Program Director of the also has a number of activities bration, the EPA wasformed and Rocky Mountain Institute will be planned.

the first clean air and water bills speaking on electric efficiency For more information on the were written. In addition, SECS and the greenhouse effect. activities being planned for Earth was founded at the University as Tuesday, Russell Mittermeir, presi- Day, lookforocalendorof events a way to maintain on awareness dent of Conservation Interna- to be posted after April 7 or so. oftheenvironmentthroughboth tional will be speaking on biologi- Also, messages can be left for education and action. Since cal diversity in rain forests as part SECS at the university YMCA at then, SECS has been one of the of the ongoing MillerComm90 337-1 500. most effective direct-action Biodiversity Lecture Series. Wed- groups in the community, initiat- nesday, Dr. John Browder, Eco- - - Steven M. Frankel ing and implementing the first nomics Professor of the Virginia recycling program ever at the University, playing an instrumen- tal role in compelling Abbot Power Plant to install scrubbers at their facility, and conducting numerous letter-writing cam- paigns for environmental issues. Some recent activities of SECS include a recycling drive and tree planting with REM and Star Course, a semi-annual phone book recycling drive, and the student rally for environmental change which drew over 800 photo by Kalhenne Kim University Illinois attend an Earthi Day rally at Foellinger Audita- people. Students at the of

-2 APRIL 16 MONDAY APRIL 19 Thursday

"The Role of Ecologists in Solving Environmental Problems' Ecology Tour: University of Illinois Composting Center Presented by the graduate students of ecology, ethology oDd the Community Recycling Center and evolution Rob Fletcher, Coordinator of the Yardwaste Reclamation 12pm 308 Natural History Building site at the Ul Earth Day 1990 Kick-Off Ceremony Mark Laoughmiller, Director of the Community Recycling Sponsored by Students for Environmental Concerns Center South quad in front of David Kinley Hall Lissa Radke, Education Specialist of the Community Recy- 1pm Tree Planting cling Center 1:30pm Chancellor Morton Weir address (maximum of 30 participants) Ecology Tour: Roil to Trail Prairie Project l-4pm Meet of north entrance of lllini Union David Monk, Coordinator of Heartland Pathways "Grassroots Wetland Protection" (maximum of 30 participants') Dave Newhouse, Regional Vice President of the National 2-4pm Meet at the University YMCA Audubon Society, Great Lakes Region ""Electric Efficiency and the Greenhouse Effect: Projec- 8- 10pm Room lOONoyesLab tions and Responses" Nick Lenssen, World Watch Institute APRIL 20 FRIDAY Ted Flanigan, Energy Program Director of the Rocky Moun- toin Institute Ecology Tour: The Model Community Walking Tour 8-1 1 pm mini Union. Rooms A. B & C John Thompson, Executive Director of the Central States Resource Center (maximum of 30 participants)

1 :30-4pm Meet at Central State Office, Mckinley Founda- tion, 5th and Daniel, Champaign Earth Day 1990 Student Vigil: A passive protest against APRIL 17 TUESDAY environmental destruction and social apathy Sponsored by Students for Environmental Concerns Focus 580 with guest Russell Mittermier 4pm Grassy triangle between Davenport Hall and Foreign Russell Mittermier, President of Conservation International Language Buildings 1 lam-12pm WILL radio (AM 580) Ecology Tour: Earth Connection Gathering. " 1 Looking Ahead into 1 990-9 " Know Your University series Tour a prairie restoration project, share a fingerfood pot- Morton Weir. Chancellor of University of Illinois luck dinner around a bonfire and hear storytelling by John 12-1 pm Latzer Hall, University YMCA White. Ph.D., a native American Indian from the Ancient Progressive Community Soup to Benefit Students for Lifeways Institute Environmental Concerns 6-9pm Barnhart Farm. 2 miles south of Urbona 684-2321 1 1:30am- 1:30pm Common Ground Food Co-op, Illinois Contact Don Barnhart. Disciples Foundation, Springfield and Wright, Champaign "" Conserving Biological Diversity in the Tropical Rainforest: APRIL 21 SATURDAY The Challenge of the 90' s' MilierComm90 Russell Mittermier. President of Conservation International Earth Day 1990 Nature Expo 8-lOpm 112 Gregory Hall 9am-5pm Market Race Mall, Champaign Earth Day 1990 Festival

Sponsored by the lllini Union Board ens Students for Env.ron- mental Concerns. Environmental speakers, ecology plays, 30 education and action booths, recycling obstacle course. Music for Mother Earth Concert, refreshments, and the APRIL 18 WEDNESDAY display of Environmental Art & Design competitions.

12-8pm South Patio, lllini Union ""Solid Waste, Recycling and the Model Community' John Thompson, Executive Director of the Central States APRIL 22 SUNDAY Resource Center 12- 1pm South Lounge mini Union Ecology Tour: Allerton Park Nature Walk Earth Day 1990 Nature Expo 1 Market Mall, Champaign Gary Kling. Associate Professor of Horticulture, University of lam-5pm Race

Illinois Creation Ceremony: a Nondenominational Worship (Maximum of 30 participants) Service.

l-4pm Meet at north entrance of lllini Union Central Illinois Children's Choir, songs and sermons by rep- ""A Prospectfor Sustainable Agriculture: Energy Farming" resentatives of four faiths. Sustainable Agriculture Spring 1990 Seminar Series 12-lpm Boot House, Crystal Lake Pork. Urbana Foike Dovring. Professor Emeritus, Department of Agricul- Contact Chris Main. 356-3648

tural Economics, University of Illinois Community Earth Day Festival 7:30-9pm K-2, University YMCA Demonstrations, information booths, music, food ond family 'The Social Dynamics of Tropical Deforestation' fun Dr. John Brow/der, Economics Professor, Virginia Polytech- 2-5pm Crystal Lake Pork, Urbana nic Institute and State University Contact Mary Hruska. 398-2768 8- 10pm 228 Natural History Building Earth Day 1990 Benefit Concert Poster Children and Backwards Day 9-1 1pm Mabel's, Urbana

- J Earth Day Calendar ID iodegradeable Plastics

Most plastics used today often broken down into smaller sun. A promising alternative may consist of carbon based poly- components (smaller carbon be the use of catalyzed reac- meric chiains thiat are durable, chains) that ore more easily tions that serve to break down inert and non-biodegradable. decomposed under the influ- the polymeric structure. One While these properties are of ences of normal environmental suggested mechanism involves great use in applications requir- conditions. The breakdown of the the addition of oxidative materi- ing long-term performance, they plastic into smallerfragments also als that when brought into con- are unnecessary and sometimes aids the process in that many tact with common soil compo- even detrimental in applications insects attacking the plastic must nents produces a chemical that

in which the product is to be do so at on edge. attacks the chemical bonds in

used for only a short period of Another mechanism by the polymer chains, breaking it ftime and then discarded. One which polymer degradation into smaller, more degradable

of the main drawbacks in the occurs is through the utilization of carbon chains.

latter cose is that the discarded chemical additives which when Some of the above appli- plastics retain the characteristic activated by sunlight, heat or cations are currently being re- properties of the original prod- other catalysts from the environ- searched here at the University uct well after being disposed, ment produce reactions that of Illinois by Dr. Richard Wool, increasing the volume of non- break down the polymers into professor of Metallurgical Engi- biodegradable products in smaller carbon chains. neering, who has focused his landfills and garbage dumps. work on the development of a =ff One of the solutions to this prob- biodegradable plastic based on

is polyethylene and cornstarch. lem that currently being ex- the breakdown of plored is the development of a The testing has covered such biodegradable form of plastic the carbohydrate topics as the rote of removal of suitable for short-term applica- starch from samples, extent of (in the plastic) ... tions. occlusion of starch granules in- Some of the more popular severely decreases side of the polymer, and the formulations being investigated the strength and changes in the physical charac- are those which incorporate a teristics of the samples during elasticity of the carbohydrate into the structure degradation. of the polymer. The main effect original product. The rate of starch removal

sought here is the breakdown of from a polymeric matrix was stud- the carbohydrate, leaving holes ied by placing samples of 40% in the polymer which severely The most common method starch composition in various decrease the strength and elas- currently employed uses sunlight types of soils and observing their ticity of the original product. This as a source of energy to drive the degradation. The extent lowhich

weakened plastic is more easily degradation; many companies the starch within the samples broken down into smaller frag- employ this technology to pro- decomposed was determined mentsthot are less harmful tothe duce plastic bogs which are by the careful measurement of environment. degradable. The drawback to the evolution of carbon dioxide The presence of the carbo- this technological implementa- formed in the degradation reac-

hydrate in the plastic also in- tion is that the bags hove to be tion. It was found that all of the creases the probability that a exposed to the sun to be de- starch was removed from all of

macro-organism, on insect, for graded, but most garbage is the samples within a period of example, will find the composite destined for landfills and dumps ninety days, with some of the palatable. In this process, the in which they ore buried under- samples in sandy soils losing oil of

partially digested polymer is ground and not exposed to the their starch within twenty days.

-4 photo by Kathenne Kin Plastics are widely used in packaging such as in milk containers. Unfortunately, this plastic does not biodegrade rapidly and clutters the environment. One solution is to recycle: another is to find a biodegradable plastic.

The accessibility of the model, the samples of starch that we may see being used in starch granules within the plastic content in excess of 30% also the next few years. was explored by modeling the exhibited decreases in elasticity - - Kristin Ringland polymer/granule system as a lin- and tensile strength of a far ear percolation problem. That is, greater magnitude than those the system was represented by a shown by samplesof lowerstarch sea of polymer dotted randomly content. with the granules. The threshold These results and others lead at which most of the granules thewoytothe development of a become accessible to microbial new era in plastics production that will include attack is at approximately 30% new composite starch (less for thin films). The materials created specifically for accessibility of the granules drops short-term use that will biologi- off precipitously below this cally or chemically degrade. amount, and thus the potential Benefits from advances like this for full degradation drops off will be seen mostly be seen a accordingly. The predictions of decrease in the volume of nec- the model were tested by im- essary landfill to contain our gar- mersing samplesof various starch bage, but they will also include compositions in on acid bath that such advantages as the ability of digested the accessible starch plastic left in the environment to but left the polymer behind. The degrade so that it does not amount of starch removed was remain indefinitely as an eyesore determined bythe mass change and environmental hazard. after digestion. The results of the As of now, several institu- experiment showed a marked tions and companies ore mak- increase in percent starch re- ing use of photodegradoble photo by Kathenne Kinn plastic for customer use or moved near a starch concentra- bags Clockwise from top: starch blend plastic tion of 30%, supporting the find- for retail, and several others ore films, oleic acid for chemical degrada- ings of the computer model. working on perfecting fully bio- tion, polyethylene, biodegradable poly- mer blend, corn starch, biodegradable degradable lines of polymers Furthermore, OS predicted bythe polymer blend.

feature s urfacing Surface Science

Vaulting across the rolling theorems. Waves traveling but rather is a non-Euclidean terrain of interwoven orbitals.they through the crystal interact very space in which the actors play. speed their way ever closer to strongly with the lattice if their When a light enters a crystal, the treacherous, hole-ridden direction and periodicity match several things may happen. It junction. Past obstructions of for- that of the crystal. When detailed may be reflected, it may be re- eign matter, disruptions of the images of a crystal surface are fracted , it may be absorbed , or it lattice, and stray bosons, they obtained by diffraction, the may pass through unscathed. surge relentlessly toward their image is not that of the "real" Excepting the last cose, the crys- goal— drawn ever onward by lattice, but rather that of the tal must somehow be affected some unseen force, they plum- Fourier-transformed, or recipro- by these interactions. If on atom met helplessly to their demise. cal lattice. Thus Fourier-space in the crystal should be set in

With a spray of quosi-porticles takes on an unprecedented motion, the result is a mechani- and photons, they collide, scat- physical reality. cal or vibrational wove that tering and metamorphosing- ful- Some Chemical Engineer- propagates across the lattice, filled or failed, they fade sans ing undergraduate students at so that the individual motion is recognition, sans identity, sans the University of Illinois who ore lost to a macroscopic view. As purpose into the background interested in surface science Einstein referred to a package of radiation of the cosmos. Such is applications ore currently study- light waves as photons, physi- the life of a conduction electron ing the interaction of light with cists refer to these mechanical in a semiconductor. gallium arsenide crystals. For this waves (which compose heat Semiconductors are appli- purpose, OS for most, the crystal and sound) as phonons. Alterna- cations of solid state and surface structure is not a principle actor. tively, the light may impart en- science. The surface scientist lives in a unique world. Instead of space and time , he lives in a realm of cycles, periodicity and fre- quency. Whereas the properties of a gas are derived principally from those of the individual par- ticles, the properties of a solid are fundamentally based on its ge- ometry. A crystal is distinguished by its tronslotional symmetry; that is. in any given direction, the dis- tance between two consecutive lattice points (atoms in an ele- mental crystal such as diamond) on a line is the some. The geome- try may then be described in terms of the number of lattice points per unit length in each direction. This characterization has many practical advantages; this description is equivalent to expressing the Fourier transform of the lattice, so it behaves ac- photo by Chris Guy cording to a vast catalog of Vacuum chambers similar to this one are used in the study of surface science.

-6- electron orbitols erupt from the surface like the fray of on unfin- ished garment. The geometry of this array of mathematical abstractions dictate both chemical and electromagnetic (optical) properties of the inter- face. This presence at the inter-

face exerts its influence to some depth into the crystal, resulting in a boundary layer over which the material properties ore not

uniform. It is the effect of this boundary layer on photo- and electro-reflectance, or con- versely, the characterization of this layer by spectroscopy, that our research team has been studying.

Reflectance spectra is Surface science studies the microscopic surfaces of semiconducting materials and modeled on a computer. The metals suet) as copper (pictured liere). behavior of light at on ideal ergy to an electron, which, un- In addition, then, to solu- interface may be described in like its companion nucleus, pos- tions, gases and differently col- terms of the dielectric constant sesses sufficient wave-like char- ored powders, the surface scien- using Maxwell's equations. This acter, and which may gain suffi- tist must learn to live with fermi- constant is affected by the cient freedom to join with the ons, bosons, excitons, particles presence of on electric field and photons and phonon in their of light, particles of heat, gases is consequently a function of journey across the lattice. Elec- that aren't really gases, particles the wave-length of the light in trons so promoted ore called that aren't really particles, par- question. In addition, the un- conduction electrons and the ticles that ore really the absence bonded orbitols at the surface minimum amount of energy re- of particles, but which carry tend to accumulate excess quired to promote one is called charge and having no moss charge, which produces an the band-gap energy. The band- bounce off obstacles, but they electric field that diminishes to gap energy ploys on important aren't anything but a place zero over the depth of the role in determining the optical where on electron could be, but boundary layer. The models ore properties of the material. isn't. Pseudo-atoms, excitons, based on a theory that predicts The conduction electron bound pairs; on electron and a the effect of on electric field on leaves behind it a hole, which "hole" orbit about one another the dielectric constant experi- carries with it all the properties of as they trace their way through enced by a particular wave- a state in which an electron could potential wells, excitons linking length of light. Since a charge be, but isn't. A positive hole and together forming pseudo-mole- in dielectric constant results in a negative electron bind to- cules. An adventure into fourier- reflection, the entire boundary gether to form something space, into the microcosm of layer contributes to the spec- vaguely akin to a hydrogen surface science and solid state trum. The exact solution to the atom, called an exciton. Two physics is filled with weird and problem is unknown, but by excitons may then bond, as do terrible sightsand sounds, strange carefully simplifying approxima- hydrogen atoms. The functional- creatures of unrestrained char- tions and numerical techniques, ity of semiconductors is based on acter, heedless of our plain and a variety of models are being the behavior of the quosi-gos predictable world. developed and tested both trapped within the confines of The surface scientist is con- here and around the world, as^ the crystal lattice. It is the ad- cerned not so much with the scientists and engineers push* vancement of solid-state physics crystal, nor with what is beyond forward the frontiers of surface and surt'oce science that has the crystal, but with what hap- science. produced and sustained the pens when the crystal meets the present on-going revolution in beyond. Simple symmetries do - - Phil Jackson electronics. not apply to this situation. Empty

-7 feature ill photos by

Kotherine Kim

^d^SMfSm^t^ E ducating Engineers

The University of Illinois is well implemented. Certainly the idea study coops. About 300 students known for its engineering depart- of a more diverse background ore involved in programs in which ments, both on the graduate and seems to be a good one, but they alternate working for a undergraduate levels. The 1987 there is another side to all this as semester and attending classes

Gourman Report, based on a well. Technology is continually for a semester, allowing them to survey of people in academia, advancing , resulting in more and learn the necessary technical placed the University of Illinois in more material that needs to be aspects of their field while gain- the top ten in all but two of its taught. There is increasing pres- ing practical work skills and earn- undergraduate engineering sure from the departments to ing money. Some students gain departments. (See table for include more technical material practical experience staying on complete listing of survey results.) in the programs. Requiring more campus by working for a profes- The top rankings don't just hours in either the liberal arts or sor and helping with research happen. A great deal of work the technical realm extends the projects. This gives them on idea goes into planning the curricula program, which would probably of how the things they ore learn- and programs through which meet with some resistance. ing can be applied and also thousands of students will pass. There are a variety of pro- shows them that there is more to Within a fairly rigid course struc- grams available to students al- their field than what is taught in ture of up to 132 hours, the Col- lowing them to gain work, re- classes. lege of Engineering must balance search and international experi- The College of Engineering the demands for a broader ence. These programs strive to has realized the important role general education background provide such opportunities by that international business and with the need to cover the ever working within the basic curricu- relations play in today's technol- increasing amount of technical lum without significantly increas- ogy, and seeks to prepare inter- material. At the some time, they ing the course work necessary to ested students by offering on must deal with the problem of gradudte. As a general rule, international minor in engineer- the roles and reldtive impor- courses are often revised to in- ing. In this program, students tances of research, graduate clude recent technologicol select a specific non-English and undergraduate programs. advances so that they ore as speaking country or geographic One point of debate cen- current as possible, and there are area and concentrote their stud- ters around the tug of war be- now special options in areas like ies in that area. They ore re- tween more technical require- bioengineering or polymer sci- quired to complete a minimum ments and more general educa- ence. of 21 hours of course work, in- tion requirements. There is in- For students seeking more cluding both study of the lan- creasingly more emphasis being than an engineering back- guage and the culture of their put on a broader, more well ground, there is a combination chosen area. They must also rounded education, with in- engineering - LAS program which spend at least eight weeks living creased exposure to the social allows studentstoobtoin degrees and working or studying in their sciences and humanities. The in both schools in 5 years. About area. The College of Engineering university is presently adopting a ICX) students take this option, has study exchange programs new set of general education many of them chosing an area with universities in Argentina, requirements with these sorts of such as economics or finance for Australia (where the emphasis is goals in mind. The effect of these their LAS degree , so that they are on Pacific rim countries), Brazil, new requirements on the engi- well prepared for management China, Colombia, the Dominican neering schools is not yet clear, positions. Republic, France, Germany, but the addition of a foreign Forthose students whowant Japan, Korea, Portugal and the language requirement will an opportunity to practice what USSR. The programs vary in length, probably be one of the changes theyare learning,thereare work- depending on the universities.

-10 '

photo by Todd Arberter A typical large lecture hall in the Loomis Laboratory of Physics.

opportunities. Special programs cannot solve the very real dilemma of the role played by research at a large university. On one side,

there is the undergraduate pro- gram and the need for well

taught classes. On the other is the necessity of research for the large amount of funding and

renown that comes with it. There will always be some conflict. Some faculty are strongly inter- ested in research, and undoubt- edly come to the University of

Illinois for that purpose, and not to teach. All in all though. Dean Wenzel sees the research done by professors and the under- graduate program as mutually beneficial. "We wouldn't be what photo by Todd Aft>er1ef we ore without that (research). Undergraduate research is one way students can apply ttie material they learn In Knowledge from the research the classroom to real life situations. and graduate programs filters and may run just for a summer or find that their international expe- downtotheundergrods." Efforts last through an entire academic rience mokes them more desir- are made to encourage good year. Work exchange programs able to companies when they teaching. The College of Engi- to the same areas are generally interview. neering emph -"S both re- organized through the Interna- There are of course numer- search and tea . .g in its pro- tional Association for the Ex- ous extra-curricular activities -like motion criteria. Various awards change of Students for Techni- the Engineering Open House - are offered for excellence in cal Experience (lAESTE). To en- which are open to students and teaching. Every semester stu- couragestudentstotake advan- which are also excellent ways for dents evaluate their professors, tage of such programs, the Col- them to broaden their perspec- and there is a peer evaluation lege of Engineering, through the tives outside of the classroom or process as well. Many of the Elmendorf World Citizenship special programs. The student professors enjoy teaching, arKJ

Travel Awards, is able to help who is concerned with a broader certainly the students benefit some students with travel costs background or experiences out- from professors' research experi- to and from the work or study ex- side of the classroom will find that ence. perience. Students who hove the College of Engineering 's participated in such programs special programs provide many - - Martha Tanner

feature 11 .

UNDERGRADUATE RANKINGS BY DEPARTMENT (source: The Gourman Report 1987)

AEROSPACE ENGINEERING COMPUTER ENGINEERING MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

1. MIT 1. MIT 1. MIT 2. Michigan 2. California, Berkeley 2. Stanford 3. Princeton 3. Illinois 3. Berkeley 4. Minnesota 4. Michigan 4. Minnesota

5. Illinois 5. Purdue 5. Princeton

11. Illinois COMPUTER SCIENCE

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING 1. MIT 2. Carnegie-Mellon METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING

1. Cornell 3. Berkeley

2. Texas A&M 4. Cornell 1. Illinois 3. Iowa State 5. Illinois 2. Lehigh 4. Michigan State 3. Ohio State 5. Wisconsin ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 4. Carnegie-Mellon

6. Illinois 5. Penn State

1. MIT 2. Stanford 3. California, Berkeley CERAMIC ENGINEERING 4. Illinois NUCLEAR ENGINEERING 5. UCLA

1. SUNY 1. MIT 2. Illinois GENERAL ENGINEERING 2. Michigan 3. Ohio State 1. Illinois 3. Wisconsin 4. Iowa State 4. Berkeley 5. Missouri (Rolla) 2. Maryland 5. Virginia 3. Oklahoma 7. Illinois 4. Stevens 5. Colorado (Mines) CHEMICAL ENGINEERING ENGINEERING MECHANICS PHYSICS

1. Minnesota

2. Wisconsin 1. Col Tech 1. Columbia 3. - California, Berkeley 2. Illinois 2. Harvard Radcliff 4. Col Tech 3. Wisconsin 3. Cornell 5. Stanford 4. 4. Georgia Princeton Illinois 8. 5. Col Tech 5. MIT 9. Illlinois INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

CIVIL ENGINEERING 1 Stanford 2. Michigan LIBRARIES 1. California, Berkeley 3. California, Berkeley 2. MIT 4. Purdue 1. Harvard 3. Illinois 5. Northwestern 2. Yale 4. Stanford 15. Illinois 3. Illinois 5. Texas 4. Columbia 5. Cornell

12 Tech-nofGS

An often heard complaint however, a professor who puts Joseph G. Bentsman (ME) at large institutions such as the forth an extra effort to help his Sherman D. Brown (Ceramic) University of Illinois isthat the edu- undergraduate advisees. This James V. Canahan (GE) cation students receive '3 very professor will receive no extra Leslie Christianson (Civil) impersonal. The complaint is not grant money or accommoda- Wayne J. Davis (GE) a surprising one considering that tion for his efforts; rather, he in- Placid M. Ferreira (ME) a professor m ust lecture to a room vests the time because he cares J. J. L. Higdon (ChE) of 100 or more students. about the students. Anastasios loannides (Civil) The function of on aca- On the night of April 3, 1990, Chung Laung Liu (CS) demic advisor is to allow the stu- the Dean's Student Advisory Douglas L Marriott (ME) dent some one to one contact Committee in conjunction with Norman R. Miller (ME) with the professor, but a problem Arthur Anderson Consulting Ty A. Newell (ME) similartothat of the large lecture Company presented the second David C. Bryant (GE) hall also occurs. A professor must, annual Advisor's Award Banquet John E. Prussing (Aero) in addition to advising under- to recognize these outstanding Umberto Ravaioli (CE) graduate students, tend to his advisors. David N. Ruzic (Nuclear) own research and graduate stu- The award was presented Mark G. Strauss (GE) dents, and he may not have the by William R. Schowalter, Dean Deborah L. Thurston (GE) time to spend on the undergradu- of the College of Engineering to Tsa-ChinTsao(ME) ates. the following professors; John G. Williams (Nuclear)

Once in a while there is. Charles F. Zukoski (ChE)

Tech-teasers

Juan, a drug-runner from Columbia, is trying to transport 50 l

sudden fog rolls in. Unfortunately, tie is not too intelligent since tie is a graduate of ttie University of Michigan. He takes off straight in one

direction. Biff knows that his boat is twice as fast as Juan 's but he does not

know in which direction Juan is travelling.

Fortunately for Biff, he is a graduate of the University of Illinois College

of Engineering. He is a genius but has fallen upon hard times and has had to take a job as a coast guard to support his wife and ten children. He knows exactly how to catch Juan before he can deliver the cocaine and ruin countless young lives. In what direction must Biff go to catcti Juan?

answer on page 16

-13- tech-notes / teaser Tech-Profile: Phillip Geil

Professor Geil followed up his first especially in construction. Geil industrial experience with work believes that steel will eventually at the Comille Dreyfuss Labora- be phased out as a construction tory and Cose Western Reserve material as polymers take its University. He decided to move place. Even now, polymer addi- to the University of Illinois from tives are replacing steel in re-

Case because the U of I had a enforced concrete. research grant about twice as Professor Geil will continue large, and there were many to attempt to prod the University more opportunities abound on into what he sees as a new age

the U of I campus. of polymers. He does foresee a In the ten years that Profes- steady grov\rth in the University sor Geil has spent at the Univer- program, but he believes that a

sity of Illinois, he has stressed that science like polymers may out- polymer sciences should be- grow anybody's attempts to

come an important part of the catch up with it unless education University curriculum. Geil cur- in polymers everywhere im- proves. Professor Phillip Geil, Profes- =ff sor of Polymer Sciences in the Geil believes that - - John Fulfz Materials Sciencesand Engineer- will ing Dept. at the University of Illi- steel eventually nois, began his years in college be pliased out as a as many college students do- construction without a clear idea of his future. Starting out in chemistry. Profes- material as sor Geil worked his way through polymers takes its Wisconsin State College to attain his B.S. At the University of Wis- place. consin at Madison, he earned his Ph.D. in biophysics in 1957. As he It keeps looked for the job prospects, he rently plays a leading role in the was still unsure of his future. He push for an offering of a polymer more than decided to go to DuPont when science concentration. The Uni- he was offered a chance to join versity currently has no under- memories fledgling polymer physics group graduate program in polymers, which was investigating crystal but future existence of the con- alive. structure similar to the organic centration does look hopeful. He THEAMFRICA.N HRART molecular structure in- tried pushing for in- he had has even ASS(.JIAT1C1\ vestigated in viruses. This was a creased awareness of the im- MEMORIAL ['RC5;R/\M. more exciting portion of Geil's portance of polymers outside of career, for he was allowed to do the university by convincing WERE FIGHTING EOf? scientific research without being chemistry teachers at the high VOUR LIFE overly hindered to do something school and college level to in- practical or to publish while he clude polymers in their chemistry American Heart Association was there. programs. He insists that poly- ^ After 5 years at DuPont, mers ore the wave of the future. This space provided as a public service

-14- M.J. Reed Correction EOH Guide 1990: Est. 1897 The EOH Central committee Your future is would like to thank Akila Srinivasan engineering and her... College Exhibit Chairperson for her time and help on EOH.

The Daily Illini ^^ 333-3730 1^ Subscribe! xg

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spiral is given The answer is that Biff must travel in a spiral until he intersects with Juan. The by the equations below:

dr ,dO V = — r + r — dl dt

^ jd_ey Ivp = ^y ( dt) V dl

For Juan:

dr V = b = dt

vr = b dt Since this is the last issue of the year, it is too late to join the Technograph staff. However, it is not too early to join the 1990-91 Technograph staff!

Positions are alwaw oprn fr* enters and photogra- phers. Additionally, posifiom nr open in business with opportunity for rapid advamement. We are also looking for an EOH editor to serve as a liaison to the Engineering Council. Darryl Greene knows that teamwork is the key to winning.

*_* ust a year out of school, Darryl Greene took charge of coordinating the supplies and services that support 14 major GE Lighting plants. What made this young engineer so successful, so fast? His dynamic sense of teamwork was a big factor. Darryl's got the confidence to interact with people at all levels. His personality inspires trust. He knows how to act like a leader, so his colleagues will act like a team.

Darryl knows it takes the best resources to back a winner. That's why he chose a job with GE. GE provides unlimited scope for outstanding talents. The diversity—

in businesses, resources, and locations— is second to none. Above all, there's a real willingness to give the ball to those who are willing to

run with it. If you want to be a leader, join the ftont-runner.

An equst ai^ionanity employer. 620.5 THl 106:1 FALL 1990 COPY 2

^^T>^^^ the Eve ^heory

H ,=^ Dispute continues overt ^ ^>«-

,^ ^ the origin of man f<'''

4, ^^ ~

3i4 HAXN LIBRARY MC;:522 CAMPUS At Amoco, what's good for people is good efficiency and economy But more impor- for business Consider for example, our tantly the new line is so safe it can run

Pipeline Safety and Integrity Initiative-a beneath public places, like this park in $250 million improvement project Doug Houston. Texas, where children play When

Koskie. civil engineer was less tfian a Doug helped create a pipeline people can month out of college when he joined a live with, he also gave a jump-start to his

Pipeline Initiative project team His chal- career This was just the first of many oppor- lenge: design and implement plans to tunities he'll have to make a meaningful upgrade 53 miles of outdated oil pipeline contribution to important projects If

Through Doug's efforts, we replaced the you've got what it takes to make the world old, multi-pipe system with a 35- mile a better place, you've got a career consolidated pipe It's a breakthrough in at Amoco

Amoco Corporation Choose the big business that makes a big difference. lECHNOGRAPHILLINOIS

this table of contents is

printed

recycled

paper

editor's remarks 2

engineering employment expo '90 4

Check out one of the University's largest job fairs and the seniors' crusade to find a niche in the "real world."

Technograph staff: a new choice for engineers 5

Consolidated from several previous specialties, the new Material editor-in-chief John fultz Sciences degree gives undergraduate students broader options. design rebecca fagan production editor chi-ting huang the eve theory 6-7 copy editor minako hashimoto Man's origin has become the subject of a bitter scientific dispute in which the stakes are high and tempers are flaring. business manager greg czernik e.o.h. editor ernest pena tech visions 8-9 publisher mike smeltzer production managers mary cory tech profile 10 kit donahue cathy romans metals that have a memory 11-13 editorial staff jenny david Metals that change shape on command offer new aind undreamed of possibilities for engineers. kara federmeier mark maslov cells helping cells 14-15 marisa ruffolo New evidence shows that a cell's structure and function may Joanne shineflug partly depend on the cell's environment and on surrounding cells. John w. shirokoff

Illinois Technograph Copyright mini Media Company, 1990 57 E. Green St. Illinois Technograph (USPS 256 760) Champaign, IL 61820 Vol 106 Issue 1 Fall 1990 217.333.3733 Illinois Technograph is published four times during the academic year at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. Published by the Illini Media Company, 57 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820. Subscriptions are available for $7.25 per academic year. The Technograph is a member of Engineering College Magazines Associated. editor^s remarks

John Fultz

Most people who love engineering have an unusual ability

to focus themselves in their work. This ability for focus, especially

under the strains, demands, and deadlines required for engineers,

makes us somewhat of an unusual breed. After all, there are few more

demanding tasks than a four year (or more!) program at an engineer-

ing school that rates as the University does. I think, however, that

some of us have a tendency to lose our focus on some of the other

important issues which have indirect, but broad-reaching implications

in engineering and life in general.

The Technograph has often published articles in the past

which have attempted to transcend engineering. Some have delved

into the realms of pure science upon which engineering depends, and

others have regarded how society deals with engineering and how

engineering deals with society. FVom engineering law to the environ-

ment, we have struggled to illustrate the engineer's impact on the

world.

This issue, for example, we have included "The Eve

Theory," a piece that details our quest to know the origins of mankind,

and an article on this year's Engineering Employment Expo, which

summarizes one way an engineer might have to deal with today's

society in order to receive wages for his hard-earned knowledge.

These pieces hopefully provide a blend of the liberal science issues and

engineering related issues without straying from the original purpose

of the magazine or boring the readers.

More of us should also strive for another focus, whether it

be in art, science, math, or literature. We, as an engineering body,

should take steps such as volunteering our services to the people who

need them and taking elective courses we like instead of blowoflf

courses. We also need to become more involved; we need to represent

ourselves in places where we are often poorly represented such as in

politics and the mass media. We need to let people know that we are

not the nerds they think we are, but we are people who truly want to

help other people, whether by building a bridge to make life more

convenient or by building an artificial heart to make life possible.

If you have a dream you have not conquered, such as

tackling the works of Shakespeare or becoming a youth counselor,

perhaps you should try. After all, engineering is only one aspect of

your life. fkm^A.^juJ^ ^

Move 10 years ahead of the class.

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Mark Maslov Engineering Employment Expo '90

Most engineering Just standing and stration of its be interested in Illinois around I

students will at surveying the VGA graphics. working or which October to some time face surrounding 75 companies might conduct inter- the ominous task booths, a visitor Other companies be interested in views. And for

of looking for a was likely to be filled huge, lit-up hiring them. students inter-

job. But where approached by a display stands ested in summer does someone representative with their While in town, a internships, most who has been a from Kimberly products. This few companies companies that

student all his life Clark offering a was especially put on additional have summer begin? Where packet of Kleenex true for compa- seminars for internship

would he like to and some nies producing those who wanted programs

work? Who will pamphlets. consumer goods to get to know a indicated that the hire him? The Although most because the company better job fair in the

answers to these representatives packaging of than they could spring would be a questions could did not approach these items is just from being at better time to be found at Engi- you like this, they meant to gi-ab the Employment look into that. As

neering Employ- were all more your attention. Expo. The a rule, informa- ment Exfx) '90. than eager to And if that wasn't seminars didn't tive pamphlets

This job fair was help and answer enough to draw have the chaotic were more held September questions. you to the booths, mobs of people plentiful at the

10 and 11 in the several compa- that were at the Expo than job mini Rooms at At least as nies gave out Expo, so the applications.

the Illini Union. memorable as the little goodies like representatives Still, whether you Representatives representatives those foam "mug could discuss were looking for a from over one were the displays. warmers." things in a little job or just seeing hundred compa- Many companies more detail what was there, nies participated showed video- So many different you couldn't lose course, when it in the event that tapes or demon- kinds of compa- Of by going to hiring, assisted both strations of their nies participated, comes to Engineering students and products. Be- there was different compa- Employment do it differ- com-panies in the cause it was noisy something for nies Expo '90. ways. While job placement in the Illini every engineering ent companies pro-cess. Rooms, it was discipline. Most some nearly impossible students probably accepted resumes

Getting informa- to hear the were not very at the Expo, most O tion at the Expo videos. Hence the familiar with a lot companies were was no problem. most effective of the companies. not there solely Many companies demos were the No matter what for that purpose. were there to be most eye- their field, Instead, they are seen, and so the catching, such as students at the sending represen- representatives IBM's crowd- Expo could see tatives to the were aggressive. pleasing demon- where they might University of Materials Science curriculum being developed ANEW well. accomplishes that goal extraordinarily For the first two years, a student in the program must take the general courses CHOICE required of all engineering students, plus one class in structure property relationships. The junior year gives the student the background FOR needed to work with a wide range of materials. Classes in synthesis, processing, characteriza- tion, kinetics and thermodynamics are taken in each of the four divisions. The fourth year ENGINEERS student chooses an area of specialization. Jennifer David Specializations are in Ceramics, Metals, Poly- mers, Electronic Materials, or some combination of these. Upper level classes include more "So, what's your major?" Countless sophisticated processing and in-depth under- times in a given semester students throughout standing as well as design, synthesis and the University are asked this question. Due to a characterization. recently developed department in the College of The Department is currently what Dr. Engineering, however, you might be surprised to Economy calls "middle-sized" in terms of faculty find that some of your fellow students are coming and student enrollment. It is expected to grow as up with a new answer to this routine query. The industry increases its demand for high technol- recently created Materials Science and Engineer- ogy materials. For further Illinois department encourages its ing Department at the University of The information, reflects the dedication of the University to students to visit their high schools and share about the becoming a world leader in the area of high their experiences with the Materials Science Department of technology materials and composites. curriculum, and also holds informational Materials When the head of this new depart- summer sessions for high school teachers. Science and ment. Professor James Economy, joined the Some of the topics being investigated Engineering, Engineering faculty in the Spring of 1989, he by faculty and graduate students include outlined several objectives in creating a top bioengineering of artificial bone, martensitic contact the undergraduate Material Science program. The transformations in ion alloys, evaluating proper- coordinator first and one of the most challenging of these ties of com starch-based biodegradable plastics, for the

goals was designing a totally new curriculum to development of superconducting materials, and departmen t: effectively prepare students to excel in industry. development of strong, lightweight ceramics from Professor Jim for building construc- The department consists of four inexpensive raw materials Nelson, 312 divisions: Ceramics, Metals, tion. In general, the undergraduate course separate but equal Ceramics Polymers and Electronic Materials. Only two of requirements are so structured that students do Building, these four. Ceramics and Metals, were originally not get the opportunity to work with a research 333.0235 departments in their own right. Selected team for more than a semester or so. Polymer and Electronic Materials classes were Professor Geil is the current head of available to students in both of these areas. The the Polymer department. When changes in development of one department encompassing all curricula were first being discussed, he was of these fields was undertaken with the premise asked if he would prefer to see a Polymer that, in today's world, knowledge ofjust one department or a new department with equal material is not enough. In Professor Economy's divisions of Polymers, Metals, Ceramics and opinion, "People who graduate with a straight Electronic Materials. He felt and still feels that Ceramics or Metals degree face technical obsoles- the best idea was the creation of the Materials cence because they are only equipped to work in Science department. He believes that in the one area." future, universities who want to be technologi- Industry today needs people who can cally current will develop Materials Science use what they know about all kinds of materials programs structured similarly to ours. to create something new. While there is still a As the demand for technologically need for a metallurgist or a ceramist, in the advanced materials increases, so too does the future there will also be a need for f>eople to work need for innovative, knowledgeable engineers to comfortably between these two fields. improve these materials and applications of The challenge, then, is to create a them. The Materials Science Department at the degree in which the student can gain a broad University of Illinois offers a challenging curricu- working knowledge of materials while still being lum that will set the standard of education of able to sf>ecialize. I>r. Economy feels that the young engineers in this growing field. "

The question of where and when Mitochondria, which are cellular out. modem man arose has be^fuiled scien- organelles, work like power plants, According to Pope, the invasion tists over the centuries, but the issue converting chemicals into energy to should be documented in the archeo- has taken on new scope and a more fuel the cells. Inside the mitochondria logical record by an advance in tool violent tone in light of a recent study. is the type of DNA which the study types, or a "Rambo-type technology",

On January 1, 1987, three bio- says can be traced right back to Eve. as he has coined it, which must have chemists announced that modem Because mtDNA is inherited only from put the invading Africans at such an humans are descended from one one's mother, differences between the advantage that they wiped out every- woman. Moreover, they traced this mtDNA from mother to daughter must one else. "This would be a cataclysmic woman to the time and place where result from random mutations. The event," said Pope, "One is suspicious of she arose and repopulated the world biochemists say because the mutations its validity when there is no evidence of with her offspring. In doing so, they occur at a predictable rate, they can a period ofco-existance." tipped off an unprecedented contro- measure these mutations, determine Although superior tool technol- versy in paleoanthropology over how long it took for them to add up, ogy has been seen in Europe, it has whether the origin of modem humans and develop a "molecular clock" by been associated with both the Nean- lies in the in the earth or in a test which to date the divergence. The derthals and the modems. But there tube. more mutations, the further back in is no evidence of a new tool technology Eve, as she is called, presents a time was the separation from the main in parts of East Asia according to Pope. marketable answer to The tools they used the long standing ques- 10,000 years ago are tion of human origin — the same as ones used that her offspring com- a million years ago. pletely replaced other Some Eve sup- early human popula- porters argue that the tions. However, the THE EVE tool technology found paleoanthropologists, Joanne Shineflug in East Asia is evi- whose careers are put dence of backwardness, in jeopardy by the Eve but Pope says that hypothesis and who stone tools were not as were virtually silenced important for their by the press coverage it Y survival in the East THEOR Asian forest environ- received, are succeed- ing in making their ment as they would opposition heard. population. have been in populations which lived One such paleoanthropologist By taking mtDNA samples from on savannahs or grasslands. The most fighting on the front lines is University the placentas of women from Europe, prominent natural resource in the part professor Geoffery Pope. Pop>e and his Africa, Asia, Australia and New of East Asia where the unformed tools colleagues believe that modem Homo Guinea, the Wilson team looked at the are found is bamboo, which Pope says sapiens do not have a single origin. differences in mutations in each popu- could be made into anything necessary They think that there was much in- lation, and found that the AfHcan for survival. It could even be eaten. breeding, or gene flow between popula- population had the greatest diversity Pope claims Asia is an important tions, and that fossils show regional of mutations, making it the oldest. geographical area to prove or disprove continuity through the ages between According to the molecular clock, our Eve because it is one of the most iso- Homo erectus, our earliest common last common ancestor. Eve, lived just lated areas, and anything new coming ancestor and humans today. 200,000 years ago, not 1 million years in should leave a record. Pope's latest Pope has spent ten years work- ago as the anthropologists hold. evidence disputing Eve is found at ing in East Asia, and says the evidence If what the biochemists say is Xiaochangliang, a site which is filled he's uncovered there does not support true, paleoanthropologists are out of with "nicely made artifacts" at a level the Eve hypothesis. business. "It's saying that everyone of sophistication equal to that of Upper "We want to see the other side of who studies archeology outside the lab Paleolithic tool kits. The site is located this thing told" said Pope, "and I don't is irrelevant," said Pof)e. 180 km northeast of Beijing just out- think that's been done yet. The Eve hypothesis assumes side the boundary where the bamboo The 1987 study was done by that all decendents of //. erectus were starts, making stone tools important Rebecca Cann and Mark Stoneking replaced between 100,000 and 200,000 for their survival. But the catch is the under the direction of Allan Wilson at years ago by invading Africans with site is dated at about one million years Berkeley. Based on a study of proteins no interbreeding between the groups. old, which refutes the notion that//. done in the 1960's which determined In order for two groups of the same erectus was little more than an ani- when humans diverged from apes, the species to exist side by side with no mal, lacking cultural capacity. biochemists set out to prove that the mixing, the takeover had to be "The idea that there was a Pleis- date when the modem human line instantenous and probably violent. tocene holocaust with invading Afri- broke from our extinct ancestors is "Neither archeology or bones cans replacing everyone is wrong," said locked in the mutations of mitochon- show any evidence of this," said Pope. Milford Walpoff, a paleoanthro-pologist drial DNA (mtDNA). "In this case, two strikes and you're at the University of Michigan in Ann "

Arbor. Walpoff has studied fossils date claimed in Israel. pean-American lines, with the Europe-

from all over the world and, like Pope, Equally menacing to the Eve ans supporting Eve. Part of it has to claim that they show regional continu- hypothesis as the story the bones tell is do with the stigma of being an ity. the paleoanthropologists' argument unintelligent thug that the Neander- According to Pope, who special- that there are many problems with thal species has carried. izes in facial features of skulls, the using mtDNA to date the origin of "Yet Neanderthal produced beau- bones show regional continuity from H. modem humans. The biggest problem tiful tools — all those things we associ- erectus to modem humans. That is, in WalpofPs view is the whole idea of ate with modern humans," said Pope. there are characteristics found in the an mtDNA clock. According to He thinks that some people are unwill- East Asian H. erectus population Walpoff, the biochemists have no basis ing to believe that Neanderthal genes which can be traced into the modem for it. "We have little pieces of a clock," may be in the current European popu- population. Pope claims there are no said WalpofT. In order for the clock to lation. "That's the only explanation I

abrupt changes in morphology, arche- work, the mutations have to be "neu- can think ofwhy it's so heavily sup- " ology or neurobiology through the tral," which means they can not be ported in Europe. evolution. The finds at Xiaochangliang subject to the pressures of natural What strikes the nerve of a show East Asian H. erectus was ca- selection. In other words, the biochem- paleoanthropologist, according to Pope, pable of making sophisticated stone ists assume that no mtDNA genes is the argument of the Eve supporters tools. In addition, endocasts of brains have dropped out during the course of that they are "hard" scientists, and so show that the H. erectus had reorga- evolution. Walpoff thinks the biochem- their theory is right. Pope claims that nized itself like the modem brain. ists are seeing the left-overs which many of the Eve supporters have not According to Pope, certain mor- show that there are other influences looked at the evidence from China phologies have highest frequency and affecting the clock. He said that which supports his theory of regional appear earliest in East Asia. One mtDNA is a useful approach, but is not continuity, because it is complicated important trait unique to the area applicable to dating the origin of mod- and often requires an understanding of which Pope is studying is a notch in ern man. the Chinese language along with the the face of the skull called incisura Another problem concerns the ability to read the bones. malaris. This notch appeared in //. nature of the mtDNA itself. Because it One reason that Eve finds popu- erectus 200,000 to 400,000 years ago is passed on from mother to daughter, lar acceptance is that she is the easy and is unknown in the genus Homo it is stopped by a generation of sons answer which tends to make good outside of Africa until the coming of the same way a surname dies out if it press. The kind of evidence the modem humans. "The most parsi- hits a generation of daughters, and can palaeoanthropologists are uncovering monius explanation is that it origi- happen in as soon as 10,000 years, does not make front page headlines, nated and spread from there," said explained Pope. This means the and doesn't have the sensational ap-

Pope. mtDNA from Eve may have consti- peal of Eve. "It's dramatic, it's easy to Other traits Pope has found in tuted a whole population because other understand," said Walpoff. "Our ideas East Asian populations include a short strains died out, but this is not the are more complex [than the idea] that maxilla, smaller jaws, a reduced face same as saying that we all descended there are killer Africans which wiped and shovel-shaped incisors. Some of from one female. everyone out. these traits are found in African and Another problem concerns the Walpoff also pointed out there European populations, which means dating of Eve. In order to date Eve, are relatively few paleoanthropologists that there had to be gene flow between the biochemists used data from Aus- who accept Eve; many either do not the populations. The key is that the tralia and New Guinea, which v/ere embrace the hypothesis or have not traits are found in higher frequency in settled between 30,000 and 40,000 stated exactly where they stand on the the Asian populations. "I'm not going years ago. Using this information, issue. Therefore, the few who do sup- to say humans come out ofAsia," said they calculated the rate of mutations port Eve have a disproportionate say Pope. He explained that modem hu- over millions of years. Furthermore, in the press in contrast to the majority. mans are a hybrid. 'You still get re- Australia and New Guinea are situ- Another reason the issue is so gional characteristics. We're talking ated on the same continental shelf and controversial according to Pope is about the frequency." The appearance could have been crossed by early hu- "people are emotionally involved in the of these traits also durning Ice refutes the Eve mans the Age. The bio- origin of themselves. . . there's nobody hypothesis because it maintains that chemists assume that when Australia who doesn't care about where they all modem genes came solely out of was settled, no commimication took came from." Africa. place, but the populations of Australia What researchers are finding Pope said the earliest modern and New Guinea look similar. "We out, though, is that archeology, biology, human was found in East Asia, and know Australia was populated from and the environment all have to be was dated at 280 thousand years ago. watercraft," said Pope, adding that it is considered in any thesis concerning The next earliest date comes out of unlikely that people forgot how to sail. the origin of modem humans. As Pope Kafez, Israel at 100 thousand years The controversy between those has maintained, "One good thing that's ago, but these dates are unsure be- who support Eve, and those who sup- coming out ofEve is that people realize cause there is no agreed upon method port regional continuity has become that you can't separate these things of dating this period. Pope believes the bitter. Pope says the division between anymore." date from East Asia is a little early, Eve believers and those who embrace but it is still much earlier than the regional continuity falls along Euro- ^f-"^ilfff

The Observatory was built in 1896 to facilitate the growing interest in astronomy at the time. The total cost of the project was $15,000 and the plans entailed the twelve inch equatorial telescope, four transit telescopes, and various other astronomical equipment, including two brick piers in back for smaller telescopes already in the University's possession. The dome room and telescope were built by the highly respect firm, Warner and Swasey, of Cleveland, Ohio. The optics, a doublet, were ground by John A. Brashear, considered to be one of the finest lens makers ever.

1

1

the twelve inch full view of the photoemissive on the telescope

close-up of the twelve inch objective

close-up of the photoemissive cell holder on the twelve inch telescope

-4— yett

close-up of the photoemissive cell Marisa Ruffolo TECH PROFILE

During his academic and early Dr. Lauterbur's current projects Professor Paul Lauterbur | professional years. Dr. Lauterbur involve development of more detailed

became very familiar with Nuclear ways of imaging (i.e. improving Magnetic Resonance (NMR) which, up resolution, 3-D images), different to that point, had been used solely in techniques for imaging living organ- spectroscopy. In 1971, however, isms, and new ways to measure the FVofessor Lauterbur developed a way flow of liquids through capillaries and

of using NMR signals to make images. tissues. He is also collaborating with Though the process he developed is the bioengineering department in rather complicated, the basic prin- trying to make NMR coils which will ciples behind Magnetic Resonance enable very small subjects to be

Imaging (MRI), are fundamental. visualized, possibly even a single cell.

The principle of NMR exploits the fact Research, however, is only one of Dr. that many atomic nuclei, such as Lauterbur's many duties. He also protons in hydrogen atoms, resonate at advises graduate and undergraduate a characteristic frequency when placed students who are doing research in his A member of the University of Illinois in a strong magnetic field. Individual lab, regularly lectures for Biophysics faculty since 1985, Professor Paul nuclei in the system align themselves courses and occassionally in others, Lauterbur currently suf)ervises at an angle with the direction of the and participates in the usual academic research at the Biomedical Magnetic static magnetic field and precess like a committee dutes required of all faculty. Resonance Laboratory located at 1307 top around the direction of the West Park Street in Urbana. His Lauterbur finds working in an aca- magnetic field. If a radio signal of the research with Magnetic Resonance demic atmosphere very exciting; same frequency as the precession is Imaging has contributed greatly to "Many of my co-workers are graduate directed at the sample, the resonance science, and has brought him consider- and undergraduate students. that occurs creates bulk magnetization able recognition. Most recently, he Oftentimes undergraduates are willing vectors precessing at frequencies was chosen from over 100 nominees to take chances that others are 'too proportional to the static magnetic worldwide to be the recipient of the smart' to take. Their enthusiasm and fields at each location and in each Bower Award for Achievement in willingness to tackle new things helps particular molecular site. These can Science from the Franklin Institute in to provide for an enjoyable and relaxed be detected by a radio receiver, Philadelphia. The award is science's working environment." Professor digitized, and processed by a computer richest prize, including a gold medal Lauterbur is able to work closely with to give either images, spectra, or both, and cash prize of $290,000. his wife. Professor M.J. Dawson, who characteristic of the chemical composi- is a professor in the Department of Professor Lauterbur received his tion, or both. Physiology and Biophysics at the Bachelors degree in Chemistry in One application of MRI is clinical. University of Illinois. 1951 from Case Institute of Technol- Since it provides a means of visualiz- ogy, now Case Western Reserve Professor Lauterbur seems to thor- ing the inside of the body, physicians University, in Cleveland, Ohio. After oughly enjoy his research. He stated, can use it as a tool for non- invasive achieving his Ph.D. at the University "I find it very satisfying to work with diagnoses. For this purpose, the of Pittsburgh in 1962, he became a many exp>erts in different disciplines. strong signals from hydrogen nuclei in faculty member at the University of We are always doing (or trying to do) the very abundant water molecules in New York at Stony Brook where he something new as we attempt to help tissues are usually employed. remained until 1985. each other solve common problems." Metals That Have A Memory

John W. Shirokoff

How is it that a class of metal alloys, after suitable processing, can be formed into a new shape at a lower tem.perature and then later "remember" to transform back into their original shape at a somewhat higher temperature?

It has long been established that is above a critical temperature, martensite start, metals can be improved by alloying, which or Ms, to a low temperature below the martensite involves combining pure metal and nonmetal finish temperature, Mf. As the metal cools from elements into mixtures, and also by refining their Ms to Mf it spontaneously adopts a new crystal processing methods (e.g. structure (atomic configura- heat treating, forming, etc.). tion). This gives rise to an Commonly, these two associated volume expan- approaches are used sion or force within the cooperatively and enhance solid. There is also a rise in a material's performance. elastic strain energy, The right combination of coupled with the creation of alloying and processing has defects such as twins. led to the creation of a new Briefly, twins can be class of materials known as thought of as bands of "memory metals". Memory atomic layers in the crystal metals exhibit the unique folded onto a new crystallo- ability after initial deforma- graphic plane somewhat tion at a lower temperature like an accordion bellows. to "remember" (i.e. trans- The next step is form back to) their original to deform the martensitic shape when raised to an metal at a low temperature elevated temperature. This unusual property of somewhere below Mf Each crystal in the metal shape-memory alloys offers solutions to many phase is free to form up to 24 equivalent orienta- engineering problems. tions (align along various planes and directions

The shape memory effect itself is only known as variants) after quenching, it is surpris- observed in certain metal alloys that can be ing to observe that only one orientation remains suitably processed into a crystalline microstruc- after deformation. Other orientations present are ture called martensite. Martensitic microstruc- restricted by the existence of twins and by the tures are achieved by quenching (e.g. fast cooling movement of some martensitic interfaces. The in water) a single crystal metal (of beta or parent surviving orientation of martensite crystals phase material) from a high temperature, which becomes the one that allows for shear or maxi- mum elongation in the direction in which it was Zn-Si, Cu-Zn-Sn, Cu-Zn-Al, Cu-Zn-Ga, In-Tl, Ti-Al, deformed. Thus, the microstructural changes are Ni-Ti, Ni-Ti-Cu, Ni-Ti-Fe, and Fe-Pt. governed by the reorientation of martensite Historically speaking, the first real crystals. reference to the bending of a martensitic material

The final process of restoring the and subsequent heating to return it to its original material to its original undeformed shapje shap)e was initially discovered for Au-Cd alloys by requires heating of the solid such that the crystal L.C. Chang and T.A. Read. Later developments of martensite "unshears" to form a crystal of the were noted on the first Au-Cd heat engine applica- original parent crystal structure. In a sense, the tion by T.A. Read in 1958 at the University of reverse transformation of a given martensitic Illinois, and the origin of Ni-Ti (Nitinol) alloys by W. crystal due to heating is just the opposite of the J. Buehler of the U.S. Naval Ordinance Laboratory formation process in that the martensitic solid of (US-NOL) in 1962. Hence, the name Nitinol was single orientation reverts to the original parent coined from the letters of the metal elements and phase. However, none of the other twenty-three the naval laboratory in which they were discovered fKJssible orientations recovered on the way back Ni-Ti-NOL. The engineering value of these Nitinol to the original shajse. alloys proved to be particularly useful since their A wide range of alloys have been transformation temperature could be adjusted identified sind develof>ed to exploit the shape within the temperature range of -100 C to 100 C by memory effect. Some of the most commonly alloying. They gained entry into the aerospace known metal alloy systems are as follows: Ag-Cd, industry initially in such applications as latch Au-Cd, Cu-Al-Ni, Cu-Au-Zn, Cu-Sn, Cu-Zn, Cu- releases for activating instruments on a British satellite, and later as a tubular coupling used to heating fit fractured bones more securely join titanium hydraulic tubing in the Grumman together. An interesting consumer application F14 navy jet fighter. They were also developed would be the shower guard anti-scald safety by Goodyear Aerospace to unfold in wire mesh valve. This temperature sensing valve can form as a spacecraft antenna net. protect consumers against hot water scalding by

Past and present trends for shape instantaneously closing when its temperature memory alloys seem to indicate that they are sensitive shajie memory alloy transforms upon being increasingly developed for wider industrial, heating. energy and medical uses. Some of the important One final application can be found in industrial applications include plumbing fixtures Professor C. M. Wayman's laboratory. University on subsea pipe and submarines, heat-shrinkable of Illinois--a mini-robot. Wayman and his fittings, clamps, electrical plugs, thermostats and colleagues have developed a two-dimensional x-y rivets. The primary energy application has been robotics positioner which is accurate to ± 0.1 focused on utilizing the shape memory effect micron for a movement of 70 mm, or 0.0014%. between two fixed temperatures to create a The motion control is achieved by resistance mechanical force which can do work in a heat heated coil springs made of Nitinol which are engine. Other exciting developments are known counterbiased with steel springs. Robots with to exist in the medical/dental field. These include three-dimensional movement, such as the one orthodontic dental arch wires which require shown in the photograph, have also been devel- fewer arch wire adjustments, blood clot filters oped, but they are not as precise. Memory metal that can take shape within a warm vein after actuated robots need only be one-tenth the size insertion by a catheter, and aneurysm clamps and weight of conventional servomotor robots, used to tie off bulges in arteries that are heat and thus can be readily placed in inaccessible and releasable. For example, temperature sensitive hazardous environments. orthopedic implants that contract on localized Kara Federmeier CELLS HELPING CELLS Understanding How Differentiation Of Cells Is Affected By Other Cells And Their Environment

Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley, wrapping the membrane around the outside of the cell

California, is well known for its prominent position in the group. This cell cluster and membrane functions as a single international effort to map the human gene, the Human unit, and cells retain their previous differentiated status.

Genome project. What is less well known, however, is some While no definite conclusion can be drawn from this of the other important biological research carried on at this correlation, these results seem to suggest that cell interac-

facility — research that is making important strides toward tions play an important role in cell differentiation. the understanding of human physiology and pathology. An Research done at Lawrence Berkeley on the

example of this research is the work done by Mina J. Bissell mammary cells of mice in these varying cell cultures and colleagues on the extracellular matrix and its role in exemplifies the changes in cell types as a result of the

cell differentiation. cellular environment. Mammary cells from pregnant mice Since the early 1900's, scientists have suspected were plated on plastic and floating gel environments, and, that interactions between adjacent tissue groups during in every case, these cells lost their secretory morphology and

development produce variations in cell types. Current their lactating-oriented biochemical properties. When

scientific knowledge holds that these interactions are grown in a interactive cell environment (such as an EHS fundamental for the creation of differentiated tissues. matrix), however, these cells retained their structure and However, most of the documented cellular changes have most of their biochemical properties. In fact, when placed in

involved cell structure rather than cell function. Rare, but such an environment with lactating cells, even mammary

impressive, are the studies of functional changes in a cell as cells from unimpregnated mice appear to function in a

a result of a change in the cell's environment. Studies by similar manner as the mammary cells from the pregnant

Dr. Bissell and her research team probe the very question mice. While it would seem that many factors could cause of what causes these changes, both functional and struc- this change, research teams have tested the effects of

tural, and how such knowledge can affect the future of nutrients, close cellular proximity to the medium surface biology and medicine. and gas phase, interaction of cells with stromal elements,

The primary focus for research on cell growth and the flexibility of the substrata, and have shown that

and differentiation is the cell culture. Cell culture studies none of these factors alone are sufficient to produce the

have greatly increased our understanding of cell and tissue differentiated results. Indeed, then, cell to cell interaction

interactions. The different types of cell cultures and the seems to be an imfxjrtant, if not the primary, factor in

resulting changes in cells grown in these cultures dramati- determining cell differentiation.

cally illustrate the importance of cell interactions. The The extracellular environment seems to influ-

most common type of cell culture used in biological research ence not only the structure and biochemical function of a

involves the plating of cells on flat plastic or glass environ- cell, but its very genetic functioning as well. Research has

ments. A cell grown in such a culture tends to line up with shown that cells in a suspension culture show a rapid

the other cells, but grow separately from them and rapidly decrease in protein synthesis, indicating the withdrawal of

lose almost all traces of differentiation, so that cells from mRNA to an "untranslatable" status. These same cells different parts of the body begin to function similarly. A placed into an environment which allowed attachment to a

second type of culture, the floating gel, produces similar substratum showed a rapid increase in protein synthesis.

results. Here again, the cells line themselves up, this time Even after new mRNA synthesis was inhibited with

on the gel, and tend to function individually. Once again, actinomycin D, the protein synthesis levels continued to rise

the cells lose most of their differentiated functions and as compared to those observed in the suspended environ-

structures. A third, and newer, type of cell culture places ment. It can be concluded from such studies that attach-

cells in the environment of an extra-cellular membrane ment of the cells to the substratum is necessary for transla- (known as an EHS matrix) where they have more freedom tional control to occur. Another group of experiments has

of movement. The growth differences in this type of cell shown that cytoskeletal elements help to modulate the

culture are striking. The cells begin to cluster together. ability of mitogens to initiate DNA synthesis. Thus, the cell's ability to interact with surrounding tissue seems to influence the growth and development of cells, and the have a definite affect on the type and quality of its genetic implications of this for cancer research, has been investi- functioning. gated in another set of experiments on chickens. Tumor The results of work done at Lawrence Berkeley tissue was injected in to the wing of a chicken. A tumor and other labs have led Dr. Bissell and her colleagues to developed where the injection had taken place, but no other propose a model which explains the "dynamic reciprocity" tumors were found. If, however, a wound was made in the between the cell and its matrix. This model suggests that chicken's other wing, a tumor would quickly develop. It the cell and its environment mutually affect one another's would seem, then, that the wound healing "environment" is growth and functioning. The extracellular membrane a prosperous one for tumor growth; this may be because it is affects the cell which in turn responds chemically, causing during new cell formation that tissue becomes specialized the composition and strocture of the membrane to change, and is therefore prone to bad differentiation. If the process which again influences the cell, etc. According to this of wounding and wound healing is then a ripe environment model, cells alone do not function differentially—they rely for the growth of cancer cells, many current cancer treat- on other cells and chemical to function in their specialized ments (surgery especially) could, in fact, be doing more roles. How do other cells and the extracellular membrane harm that good, especially when the tumor being treated is affect the differential functioning of cells? Much research is suspected to be benign or causes no definite harm to the still needed to make any definite conclusions, but it seems individual. In those cases, removal of the tumor and the fairly definite that it is direct contact of the extracellular resultant wounding of the surgery could, in fact, make the membrane (or certain components thereof) with the plasma individual even more prone to developing a malignant membrane of the cell which brings about the net change. cancer. If further research substantiates the results of Whether this contact involves covalent binding to plasma these experiments, a whole new process of cancer treatment receptors or whether some type of non-covalent interaction could be developed, with an emphasis on changing the is involved is the subject of current and future experimenta- environment of the tumorous cell in hopes of changing the tion. cell's differentiation and resulting function. The implications of this research for biology and Cellular environments, therefore, will be the medicine is far-reaching. For example, a new theory about subject of many more crucial research projects. The the cause and growth of cancer has come from such influence of the extracellular matrix on the cell (and the differentiation research. It has been suggested that cancer cell's further influence on the extracellular matrix) seems can be caused by poor cell specialization or lack of special- fundamental to the process of differentiation, a process ization at all. Experimental evidence for this claim comes which is crucial to biological functioning. It has been shown from several sources. One type of experiment involves the that differentiation plays an important role in cell structure transfer of tumor cells to embryonic chicken tissue. Embry- and function as well as genetic operations; moreover, such onic tissue differs form developed tissue in that embryonic specialization (or lack thereof) may influence cancer and

tissue contains little, if any, specialization. Tumor cells other diseases and even control the process of aiging. The

which would have readily created tumors if injected into "dynamic reciprocity" model may thus hold the key to a developed tissue created no cancerous effects in the better understanding of cellular processes and the special-

embryonic tissue. It is postulated that this difference in ized functioning of tissue. This, in turn, could help create

tumor growth results because tumor tissue is more like better methods of disease control, and lead to a more

embryonic tissue than developed tissue—that is, that tumor complete knowledge of the very essence of life itself.

tissue is poorly differentiated. These results seem to imply

that cancer cells in the right environment can become

normal, and thus that the environment in which a cell is placed has a profound impact on whether or not the cell will become tumorous. The idea that cellular environment can ,

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Through Ihc doors of Si Jude Chil- dren's Research Hospital lies hope. The hope Ihal lomorrow will bring an end to childhood catastrophic disease. St. Jude"s research and patient care are supported primarily by donations from people like you — people who care. Be a part of the M-F 9:30-6 Sa 9:30-4 hope. Support St. Jude. Old Farm Shops Maliis and Kirby, Champaign Please send your laxdeductible check or information request to St Jude. P.O All major credit cards and credit plans accepted Box 3704. Memphis. TN .1810.1 or call

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Do you have any writing skill? If so, we can use your talent. The Technograph always has positions open for regular writers. The Technograph also accepts freelance submissions for people who only have the time for a single submission. We accept articles on most engineering and science related topics, and we encourage engineering graduate students to write about the projects they are conducting. For more information, contact John Fultz at 332-4071, or Chi-Ting Huang at 328-6808. You may also leave a message at lllini Media, 333-3733. ILLINOIS JECHNOGRAPH winter 1990

this tilable oi/» contentsmagazine . .

printed

recycled

paper

editor's remarks 2

global warming . . . fact or fiction 4-5

Is the nightmare real or is it a figment of a paranoid scientist's imagination? Examine the controversy and determine for yourself who is right and who is dreaming. Technograph staff:

editor-in-chief John fultz tech visions 6-7 design rebecca fagan production editor chi-ting huang tech profile 8 copy editor minako hashimoto and now we use light 9 business manager greg czernik assistant business manager tami whitson New medical technology allows doctors to use regular light to look into the human body. e.o.h. editor ernest peria publisher mikesmeltzer nanocrystals 10-11 production managers mary cory Crystals of microscopic size may redefine modem high kit performance engineering materials. donahue Cathy romans

from the dean's chair 12 editorial staff kara federmeier mark maslov John w. shirokoff

Illinois Technograph Copyright Illini Media Company. 1990 57 E. Green SI. Illinois Technograph (USPS 2S8 760) Champaign, IL 61820 Vol 106 iBBue 2 Fall 1990 217.333.3733 Illinois Technograph is published four times during the academic year at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. Published by the Illini Media Company, 57 E. Green St.. Champaign. IL 61820. SubscriptionB are available for $7.25 per academic year The Technograph is a member of Engineering College Magazines Associated. editor^s remarks

John Fultz

Once again, folks, we have dared to include an environmental article within these pages. Some may wonder why we view the environment as an appropriate topic to cover repeatedly within the pages of an

engineering magazine. Well, if you think it over a bit, you will realize

that the root of all environmental evil often starts with us, the engi- neers.

Well, I suppose engineers can not be completely to blame for the oil-

driven automobiles, jet airplanes destructive to the ozone layer, or construction of factories which contribute so much to the smog that

literally chokes many people who live in metropolitan areas today. We can not be fully responsible for an America that thrives on electricity

or electrical plants which thrive on oil and coal. Certainly employers, the government, and even the almighty consumer have determined

our actions in part.

Nobody is stopping us from speaking up, however. Nobody is stopping

us from informing America how much it is hurting itself in the long

run. Nobody is stopping us from telling people about the dangers of

fossil fuel dependence or toxic waste dumps. Nobody is stopping us

from fixing the very problems we create.

So what is my message? Think about what you do and act responsibly in your work because you are responsible. Become more informed about environmental concerns and how you can help. Maybe you could

even spare a little time for activism.

This country is now considering going to war over oil, an energy supply

which could jxjssibly destroy our environment if its supplies do not run

out first. Consider what you can do. . .

Tech Teasers contest

1 A marching band wants enough people to form two perfect squares In eight twelve different ways. What is the smallest number of members the band needs if all members are to be used every time?

This problem is worth $25.

2. Find a perfect square which is still a perfect square when you add five to it or subtract five from it. This problem was given to Leonardo

Fibonacci at a math tournament by Roman Emperor Frederick II.

This problem is worth $25. see inside back cover for rules last issue's TechTeaser solutions

1 . Although there were multiple answers to this problem, only one was required to get it right. Eric Ziegler, junior in Mechanical Engineering, won $1 5 for his answer to the problem. His answer is as follows:

A = 6, E = 8, H = 4, N = 4,0 = 1,R = 7, S = 3,T = 3, U = 5,W = 4

EAST 8 6 3 3 WEST 4 8 3 3 SOUTH 3 15 3 4 NORTH + 41 734

EARTH 8 6 7 3 4

2. Due to an error on our part, the problem as stated was incomplete. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. the correct problem should have been: ab3d=C'^

The problem is in octal, and c can be a 2 digit number. What is d?

The correct answer is d=1 As early as 1896, the data collected from the past 150,000 Scientific American, "Some aspects Swedish chemist, Svanto Archcnius, years shows simultaneous increases of global climate warming would be predicted a global warming of about and decreases in carbon dioxide greatly beneficial in the view of eight degrees Celsius resulting form a concentrations and temf>eratures agricultural researchers. Increased doubling of carbon dioxide in the taking pLace at periods when anthropo- carbon dioxide would foster more atmosphere. At that time, before the genic contributions were only negli- active photosynthesis and enhance public health, transportation, and gible. It cannot, therefore, be taken as crop growth, to say nothing about | communications revolutions, his dire fact that the recent increase in lowered plant requirements for water warning had little effect on the atmospheric carbon dioxide - without in a carbon dioxide-enhanced atmo- scientific community or the jx)pulation any significant temperature change - sphere." in general. One hundred years later, is not simply part of the natural Thus, little consensus can however, carbon dioxide and other fluctuations of atmospheric composi- be found about global climate change gaseous emissions and their possible tion. or even its potential effects. There is, effects on our fragile atmosphere has On the other hand, given however, some agreement among become one of the most hotly debated economic, political, social, and scien- tific topics of the decade. The issue is clouded with speculation, doubt, and even outright exaggeration - misinfor- mation that forms the basis for Global Warming scientific studies and political and economic policies. Certainly, the issue of global climate change is too complex the steady increase of carbon dioxide scientists about the possible problems to be dealt with in its totality, but this concentrations from 1958 to the that specific aspects of climate change article seeks to outline some of the present, correlated with the steady could cause. For example, if the main points of the debate, the possible increase of industry and technology, it atmospheric concentration of carbon consequences of human-induced seems difficult to assert that human dioxide were to double (whether climate alterations, and some available progress is having no effect on the through natural or anthropological solutions to the problem. atmosphere whatsoever! causes), the National Academy of

Despite all the talk about Another problem is that, Sciences gives the following predic- ozone depletion and the greenhouse even assuming global climate change tions: effect, many prominent, respected is imminent, no accurate predictions 1. Large stratospheric cooling scientists are not yet convinced that can be made about exactly what these (virtually certain) - reduced global climate change is an issue at all. effects will be. For example, in ozone concentrations in the

None deny that the climate is changing computer projections of annual rainfall upper stratosphere would lead to and will continue to change. As Peter changes (assuming a doubling of reduced absorption of solar Rogers of Harvard University states in carbon dioxide concentrations), the ultraviolet radiation and thus his article, "Climate Change and Goddard Institute for Space Studies reduced heating of the earth's Global Warming," reported a potential change of about atmosphere. That the climate is to going -.25 millimeters of rainfall per day in 2. Global mean surface warming change is one of the few things we the Great Plains area, while a similar (very probable) - increased

can be certain about. Historical prediction fi-om the Geophysical Fluid greenhouse gases would raise records show that the tempera- Dynamics Laboratory gave the change the temperature of the surface tures have been higher lower, and as about -t-.6 millimeters per day! form 1.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius. places and have been wetter and Also, despite all the 3. Global mean precipitation drier that they are now. - apocalyptic warnings which foresee increase (very probably) \ How much of this change Florida and Washington D.C. engulfed increased heating of the surface will be caused by human factors, in water, there are those who can even would lead to increased evapora- however, is the real point of argument find some good in global climate tion and therefore to greater in the scientific community. Ice core change. Robert M. White writes in global mean precipitation (though some areas could management and conservation. These far-reaching energy statistics. For experience decreases in rainfall). advances would allow the individual example, an $8 million dollar invest-

4. Reduction of sea ice (very citizen, not to mention large busi- ment in a low-energy coating system probably) - as the climate nesses and industries, to implement will coat 20 million square feet of

warms, total sea ice would be technology which would benefit the windows per year for the ten year

reduced. environment, save energy, and cost nominal life of the coating system. The

5. Polar winter surface warming less. To see what kind of effect resulting energy savings corresponds

(very probably) - as the sea ice implementation of this technology to 36 million barrels of oil (a cost of

boundary is shifted pole- ward, could have, consider the use of two of $300 million dollars). Again, this

models predict a dramatically these new devices: the compact energy conservation system is practical

enhanced surface warming in fluorescent lamp and low energy and immediately applicable. winter polar regions (pjerhaps by window technology. These are only two of many as much as three times the The energy saved over the currently available energy-conserva- global mean warming). lifetime of one compact fluorescent tion systems, but they help clarify how scientific advances have made energy Kara Federmeier conservation and, perhaps, a reduction of the human contribution to global

climate change, a practicable reality. In addition, further advances in . . Fact Or Fiction? nuclear and solar technology could well revolutionize the attainment and use

of energy. It takes only a willingness

Obviously, even conserva- lamp is equivalent to 40 gallons of gas on the part of the business or con- tive estimates for increases in one or 1000 miles of driving. The cost of a sumer to make appropriate changes in greenhouse gas show a dramatic compact fluorescent lamp plant is $7.5 their behavior. Although there is no climate change in the planet's future. million (compare to 750 million of ran guarantee that such measures will

When all the other factors (other offshore oil platform). An average slow the process of global climate greenhouse gases, rain forest clearing, plant can produce 1.8 million compact change, there is no reason not to etc.) are considered, it is not difficult to fluorescent lamps yearly for 10 years, implement technology which is see why global climate change has and the amount of energy such a plant cheaper, more efficient, and ultimately become an issue of magnitude. Despite would save corresponds to enough jet better for the environment. the fact that scientists are not in fuel to fly a fleet of 6 Boeing-757 There seems to be no agreement about the roots of these airplanes continuously around the foreseeable end to the debate over the changes, it seems that even the globe carrying 1,122 passengers for the causes and effects of global climate possibility of human causality would life of the plant. In addition, producing change, as current models are simply merit some reconsideration of current compact fluorescent lamps is 30 times not able to deal with a system as environmental and social behavior. In cheaper than continuing to produce complex as the global environment. addition, depleting fossil fuel supplies incandescent lamps. These lights cost There is strong evidence, however, that and the associated political problems the consumer considerably less in the climate change will be an issue in the makes energy conservation important long run, provide light with less glare future of the planet, and, until the fact for more than atmospheric reasons! for the eye, and last longer than are known, it would seem foolish to Unfortunately, the alternatives incandescent bulbs (one compact take no preventative measure. Science suggested by many extreme environ- fluorescent lamp can replace twelve 60 cannot tell the people of this planet mental groups often turns the average watt incandescent bulbs over its what lies in store for them, but it can slow citizen away from conservation, and lifetime). They fit into standard light offer solutions which might help subsequently, the public stays ignorant sockets, so they are not only cheaper human damage to the environment. of more conservative, scientific and energy efficient, but also immedi- When the solutions science offers are methods of energy regulation. ately practical! both cheap and practical, why wait Science has, however, made Low energy window another hundred years to heed the great strides in the area of energy technology also yields surprising and warming signs? Boneyard Portrait

The Boneyard Creek has often been in the news during this semester. People have reported finding oil and other toxic materials in it. Even water has been found in it. The city has cleaned spills and debris from it, yet it still haunts us with the rumor of its eery glow at night and the reality of the never-ending garbage which pollutes it. Here is an untainted portrait of the Boneyard from beginning to end, although we have yet to capture the glow in photos. ^^'

photos courtesy of John Fultz Mark Maslov TECH PROFILE

Professor Steven S. Zumdahl became clear to him that he wanted to continue teaching. " An opportunity arose to teach freshman-level chemistry

here at the University of Illinois, and Professor Zumdahl

has been teaching here ever since. He is now the Director of the General Chemistry Program.

Although Professor Zumdahl doesn't do research like most professors, this situation allows him to concentrate on his

other scholarly activities. A task that he finds pleasure in is writing textbooks. The one University of Illinois students

are probably most familiar with is Chemistry, which is

used in freshman-level chemistry courses here. He is currently working on another writing project. Zumdahl

says that writing is not only enjoyable, but it also makes him a better teacher.

Professor Zumdahl's biggest accomplishment is his teach-

ing. He tries to get across to his students the same aspects

of chemistry that inspire him. "Teaching students is what I

like the most. And the fact that students think I do it well

Most professors at the University of Illinois do not work is what I am proudest of," he said. For his teaching ability, here just so that they can teach. For some of them, it is a Dr. Zumdahl has received the University of Illinois Award good thing they do not; their lectures are often somewhat for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 1981 and less than inspiring. They may be knowledgeable professors three School of Chemical Sciences Teaching Awards. and good researchers, but they are not necessarily first-rate Yet the greatest reward for Professor Zumdahl is the educators. Thus, if you happen to get a professor who reaction he gets from his students. It seems that on the enjoys teaching and is good at it, you are very fortunate. whole, his students think he is an excellent teacher. Todd Professor Steven S. Zumdahl is one of that rare breed of Miller, a sophomore who took Dr. Zumdahl's CHEM 107 professors who takes pride in being a good teacher. last year, commented that attendance is high in Zumdahl's

Dr. Zumdahl chose to study chemistry because it was a class because his lectures are so interesting. Sometimes he subject he liked in high school, and he decided to give it a uses examples to explain things that are based on his try in college. He admits that at the time, he didn't know outside interests such as restoring classic cars. Also,

where it would lead. During college, however, chemistry Professor Zumdahl cares about his students. He tries to get grew on him. One reason Zumdahl enjoys chemistry is to know each student by name, and students find it easy to because it is challenging. He also likes the models chemists talk to him one-on-one outside of class. Todd explains that have invented to help explain things, and it is easy for him he learned so much in CHEM 107 that he didn't care what

to find examples of chemistry in everyday experience. grade he got. "People who didn't get him missed out," said

"Chemistry is all around us," Professor Zumdahl said. Miller.

Dr. Zumdahl received his Bachelors of Science in Chemistry Teaching is important to the quality of undergraduate i fi-om Wheaton College. He then got his Ph. D. at the programs, and Professor Zumdahl is clearly doing his part

University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana. Zumdahl held in making general chemistry an outstanding program at the

his first teaching job at the University of Colorado in University of Illinois. Faculty members like Professor

Boulder, where he spent six years. While at Boulder, it Zumdahl are an asset to the university. —

The invention of the light microscope in the 17th cen- And Now We Use Light tury resulted in the discov- ery that living organisms Masahiko Noda are composed of many cells. "A picture is worth a thousand words"- this saying is no Subsequently the light mi- less true for scientists than it is for the rest of humanity. croscope became an indis- Developing safer methods and creating more accurate pensable tool for medical pictures is a major scientific endeavor. and biological research.

The need to observe even finer details eventually led Inaba at the Research Insti- (1) Confirmation that laser beams which pass to the development of the tute of Electrical Communi- light can pass through living straight though the tissue electron microscope, which cation at Tohoku University. organisms. from those that are inter- uses a high-energy electron For the last 20 years he has People are 70% water; nally diffracted. beam with a shorter wave- been working on the detec- they also have pigments {3) Assurance that trans- length than visible light. tion and applications of ul- such as melanin in their mitted light carries accurate

Recently we have even been tra-faint light. skin cells and hemoglobin in information. able to see atoms. Prof. In 1986 he became re- the red blood corpuscles. The CDI method depends

W.K. Rontgen's discovery of search leader of the Y2 bil- The problem is finding a on the Lambert-Beer law the X-ray at the end of the lion ($13.5 million) Inaba type of light that will pass the density of bodies is di-

19th century made new pic- biophoton project, one of the through all of these. Water rectly proportional to light tures possible: X-rays could Exploratory Research for absorbs ultraviolet light but absorption. It had been be used in clinical diagnosis Advanced Technology transmits visible light; pig- though that the law could to see bones and organs. (ERATO) programs pro- ments absorb blue light but apply only to low density liq-

The development of com- moted by the Research De- transmit red light. It has uids and gases but it has puters has enabled the mod- velopment Corporation of been discovered that a near- since been proven that it ap- ern scientist to see the in- Japan. Research focuses, infrared light (with a wave- plies equally to solid bodies sides of his/her patient in not surprisingly, on length of 0.6 - 1.1 |im) irradiated with laser light. three dimensions. The CAT biophotons—very weak light passes through the body in (4) Proof that light passes (computerized axial invisible to the human eye, infinitesimal amounts. without bending through liv- tomography) scan is a diag- which is emitted from tis- (2) The ability to detect ing organisms. nostic technique in which a sues and cells. and glean information form, Until recently, perhaps number of images taken Research on light emitted light transmitted directly few people imagined that from different perspectives from within living organ- through living tissue. light could pass straight are combined to form a com- isms has branched out into The Inaba group has de- through living organisms. puter created cross-sectional research on the detection of veloped a system they call Since living things are com- image. light transmitted through coherent detection imaging posed of more than one type

In addition, there is the the body. If such light can (CDI). Laser beams of of material it made sense laser. Developed in the mid- be detected, we will be able slightly different wave- that light passing through

20th century, a laser emits a to see through living things lengths are superimposed would be diffracted and visible beam of highly con- as well as produce cross-sec- and transmitted through bent. However, experimen- centrated light of a signal tional images of living or- the tissue. The difference in tation has shown that some wavelength and direction. ganisms. Different wave- wavelengths shows up as kinds of light pass straight

You could bounce a laser lengths will yield different light and dark zones that through living organisms. beam from the earth off a types of information; this appear cyclically; the cycli- Light is safe effective and

mirror set up on the moon, flexibility makes the optical cal pattern provides a flexible; the successful opti-

and it would come back CAT scan a potentially awe- steady gauge against which cal CAT scan demonstrated straighter than an arrow. some technology. any diffraction occurring by the Inaba group in May Pursuing picture-making There are four prerequi- during transmission can be at a briefing session of

research from a different sites to the realization of measured. Researchers can, ERATO will undoubtedly be

perspective is Prof. Pumio this technology; in other words, distinguish the technology of the future.

permission granted for republication by LOOK JAPAN NANOCRYSTAUINE MATERIALS John W. Shirokoff

Nanocryslats represent a new class of ultra-fine grained materials identified as having novel and often improved properties when compared to conventional crystalline materials.

Since the turn of the century, it has been known that the atomic structure of conventional

crystalline materials deviates somewhat from f)erfect order. This lack of perfection in nature is due to the incorporation of defects such as vacancies (missing atoms), dislocations (a shifted row of atoms) and grain boundaries (the misoriented planar structures forming

the borders between grains). The control of these and other defects, and the relationships of these defects to the properties of materials, has long been a major focus of materials research. Perhaps the most important defects in the microstructure of polycrystalline

materials are its grain boundaries. They strongly control the relationship between struc-

ture-property and performance by breaking-up the perfect symmetry of the lattice. Thus,

the design and control of grain boundaries is crucial to the development of high performance engineering materials with desirable properties.

Grain boundary engineering includes the control of grain growth, grain size and type. It has

been most successfully utilized in the engineering of metals and alloys. However, when this approach was applied to engineering brittle materials such as ceramics and intermetallics

the results were much less spectacular. In short, the problem of ductilizing brittle materials

became a complex one which required a greater understanding of the field of fracture

mechanics in solids and ultimately the advent of new approaches to find a workable

solution. Recently, the idea of creating nanocrystalline materials proved valuable in this regard.

A nanocrystalline material is one which has grains so small (nanometer = 10'^ meters) that 25% or more of the atoms are typically located on the grain boundaries themselves. The local environment of these atoms, i.e., short range order, is far different than in the grain interiors and this leads to dramatic changes in properties. For example, because the atomic arrangements in the grain boundaries are not as tightly packed as in the perfect lattice, atomic transf)ort is greatly facilitated along these rather open boundaries. As one can imagine, this can have enormous significance in the deformation of solids. Consider, for example, stacking many small cubes together to form a large cube. If one now presses on the top of the large cube, it will begin to deform by atoms on the top and bottom plane of each small cube diffusing along the cube interfaces to the sides of the cubes, flattening each small cube (and the large cube). The larger the number of cubes, the shorter the distance needed for travel and the greater the number of sides taking part. So it is in nanocrystalline materials. The exact dependence of the deformation rate on grain size is, in fact, (grain size)''', so that reducing the grain size from microns to nanometers increases the deforma- tion by nine orders of magnitude! Improvements in the sinterability of nanocrystalline materials occur for similar reasons.

Here, atoms flow along grain boundaries to fill the pores which are located at interparticle boundaries. One example that demonstrates the improved sinterability and ductility is

nanocrystalline Ti02 (rutile). Under normal atmospheric pressures, rutile has been shown

to sinter at -500 °C lower temperatures in the nanocrystalline form than in the conven-

tional, coarse grained form. Besides the advantage of lower sintering temperature, nanocrystalline processing also eliminates the need for sintering aids (additives) which often cause high temperature brittleness. Furthermore, when pressure-assisted sintering is performed, the sintering temperatures can be further reduced.

The synthesis of nanocrystalline materials may involve a wide variety of processes in order

to generate the small clusters of atoms that make up the individual nanocrystals followed

by sintering. In general, these processes fall into three broad categories: vacuum, gas - phase and condensed-phase synthesis.

The most common method of producing nanocrystals is to use gas-phase synthesis methods which use resistive joule heating to vaf)orize metals in an inert gas buffer while under ultra

high vacuum conditions. This system offers several advantages in processing. First, it's

vacuum system ensures the condensation of particles fi-ee fi-om surface contamination

(impurities). This is actually an essential requirement for the production of cleaner grain boundaries and the subsequent reduced possibility of forming undesirable compounds

during sintering. Secondly, it allows for co-deposition of species in the inert gas atmosphere and proper mixing prior to their collection. However, this last advantage is difficult to control effectively since the partial vapor pressures of the components are often different.

Unique to Professor Averback's group in the Materials Research Laboratory at the Univer- sity of Elinois at UC is an ultra high vacuum apparatus dedicated to the production of nanocrystalline materials that uses a magnetron sputtering system. This novel production method provides greater versatility of the deposited material and improved control of the species being deposited. This was achieved by developing a technique that works at high

inert gas pressures (0.1 - 1.0 mbar of Ar gas). Furthermore, by operating a magnetron in the radio frequency mode, ceramic powders have been directly synthesized with a particle

size of 10 nm. Direct synthesis offers the added advantage of combining two process steps, metal powder synthesis and oxidation, which increases efficiency, but more importantly, greatly increases the variety of materials that can be synthesized by nanocrystalline processing. At UIUC this system has been used to produce pure metals, alloys, ceramics, intermetallics, composites and metallic glasses. Research studies so far have indicated that

there is a promising future for this new class of engineering materials owing to their novel properties and often improved processing features. However, there is a need to further characterize and explore structure-properties in the new materials before their full techno- logical potential can be realized since fundamental concepts that apply to coarser grained materials do not always apply to nanocrystals. Tfi0inos E. Glenn From The Dean's Chair — Where Will You Be Ten Years From Now? -

Ever ask yourself, "Where the respondents earned an MBA. One very large companies. Of those will I be ten years from now?" Seniors person earned a law degree and two responding to the survey, 9% were i probably ask that question more often people completed a MD degree. It is working in companies with 51 employ- than others because they are going interesting to note that the two doctors ees or less while 47% were working for through the interviewing process and earned their bachelor's degree in companies with more than 10,000 are seeking their first "real" job. Engineering Physics and the lawyer employees. The companies employing Although it is quite obvious that earned a bachelor's degree in Agricul- 5 or more of our alumni were AT&T, nobody really has the answer to that tural Engineering. The greatest Bell Labs, Caterpillar, Commonwealth question, the College of Engineering is number of MBA's were alumni of Civil Edison, Digital Equipment, General able to provide some information as to and Electrical Engineering. Motors, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Illinois where our alumni are ten years after Another interesting bit of Department of Transportation, they graduated. information about the class of 1979 is McDonnell Douglas, Motorola, Since 1956, the Engineering the number of engineers who have Northrup, and Rockwell. Placement Office (EPO) has been changed jobs. Of this particular class, From their responses, the surveying BS alumni five years and 45% of the alumni still work for their college also learned that 85% of our ten years after their graduation. In original employers. Twenty-six graduates felt that it was important to addition, the EPO has recently percent of the alumni had one change have an engineering degree for their initiated an annual survey of alumni of employer, 17% had two changes, 8% present position. With regard to the 20, 25, and 30 years after they earned had three changes, and 5% of the class number of hours spent on the job each their BS degree. Let's now take a look had four changes or more. It is obvious week, 20% spent 40 hours or less, 61% at the responses of 394 alumni from from the data that making a few spent between 41 and 50 hours, and their 1979 graduating class of 992 changes in employment yielded a 19% worked more than 51 hours. engineers. slightly higher salary; however, an Ninety-five percent of the alumni felt The most asked question excessive number of changes in jobs the engineering field offered a promis- about the progress of our graduates was not beneficial. The average ing future and would encourage a ten years later is in regard to their annual salary for those making no capable high school student to choose salary. The average starting salary of changes was $50,304 while those engineering as a career. Eighty-nine the class of 1979 was $18,300 per year. making one change were earning an percent of our alumni found their work Ten years later, the average salary annual average salary of $49,824; in the engineering field to be person- was $50,592. With regard to curricu- those with two changes were earning ally satisfying. As for professional lum, the highest paid were the $51,648; those with three changes registration, 28% of the alumni had computer engineers earning an annual were earning $53,424; and finally, received their Professional Engineer saliiry of $57,360, where as the lowest those with four or more changes had Registration, 20% had taken the EIT paid were the agricultural engineers an annual salary of $49,488. exam and had not pursued the PE, and with an annual salary of $43,128 per As most of our undergradu- 2.4% of the graduates were licensed year. ates come fi'om Illinois, one would structural engineers. Another question often probably expect that most of them Although we can not look asked is how many of our alumni go on would remain in Illinois for employ- into the future as to what any indi- to continue their education? Fifty ment. Oftheclassof 1979, 44%ofour vidual will be doing ten years from percent of our 1979 alumni had either graduates were working in Illinois ten now, the past alumni of the College of earned or were working on another years later. The second leading state Engineering have been quite success- degree. Among this class, 4% were was California with 12% followed by ful. The alumni oftheclassof 1979 involved with a Ph.D. program, 36% Texas with 6% and Missouri with have progressed very well in salary, were involved with pro- a master's 3.7%. The alumni in the class of 1979 have found their work personally . gram, and another 10% were involved were working in every state except for satisfying, see their future to be with a second bachelor's program. Iowa, Oklahoma, Vermont, and West promising, and view their BS degree as Although nearly half of our Virginia. only the beginning in a career of graduates continued their education, The graduates of 1979 were learning. not all of them received another employed by companies of all sizes; technical degree. Twelve percent of however, most of them were in the

-Thomas E. Glenn is an Assistant to the Dean of the College of Engineering- Graduate Studies in the Mapping Sciences

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There must be some way to avoid doing the same thing for the next forty years.

Life's been pretty good so far. You've different areas'' sional Education in St. Charles.

kept moving—taken all the right Andersen Consulting offers you Illinois, isjust one measure of our steps along the way (for the most the opportunity to work on a variety commitment. We train you for a part). And now you're ready for the of projects—with clients in a wide career— not just a job. biggest step. range of industries. Does the idea of forty years of

You'll be getting your degree from We are the leader in helping knowing exactly what you'll be doing a top school. You're about to find a organizations apply information each week scare you? Then don't great job. technology to their business advan- settle for that. Demand challenge

The question is: which job? And tage. Every hour of every business and vanety Come talk to us. And

will It have the potential to interest day we implement a solution to help find out more about a career with you for a whole career? one of our more than 5.000 clients Andersen Consulting. You've probably heard the story of worldwide. the job applicant who said he was a What makes that possible is the shoe salesman with fifteen years expe- quality of our people. And the quality nence. "No." corrected the recruiter of our training. We're known for both. Andersen interviewing him. "you've had six Because business and tech- months expenence thirty times." nology are ever-changing, we see Consulting Isn't there some way to keep training as a continuing process. And

challenging yourself in new and our $123-million Center for Profes- Where we go from here^. i!

Interviews to Be Held on January 28, 29 and 30. Please See Your Placement Office for Details. ,

620-5 ^ ' THl 106:3 SPR 1991 COPY 2 ILLINOIS-

\n/ vm Vol 106 I Issue 3 Spring 1991

Tech-Teasers contest Inside

ne Librar, ^f the

, Ff3 2 7 1991

University of iJHnoJs of Urbana-Champaign MJ Ueed Est. 1897 Your future is engineering and her.

The Diamond Engagement Ring

From $450

I i/ JEWELERS

We need you.

M-F 9:30-6 Sa 9:30-4 Old Farm Shops Mattis and Kirby, Champaign American Heart All major credit cards and credit plans accepted I Association WE'RE FIGHTING FOR MOUR LIFE

Do you have any writing skill? If so, we can use your talent. The Technograph always has positions open for regular writers. The Technograph also accepts freelance submissions for people who only have the time for a single submission. We accept articles on m.ost engineering and science related topics, and we encourage engineering graduate students to write about the projects they are conducting. For more inform,ation, contact John Fultz at 332-4071, or Chi-Ting Huang at 328-6808. You may also leave a m,essage at mini Media, 333-3733. ILLINOIS ECHNOGRAPH spring 1991

this table of contents is

printed

recycled

editor's remarks 2

dual brains 4-7

Research shows that each person in essence has two brains with two ver>- different personalities.

Technograph staff:

editor-in-chief John fultz tech visions 8-9 design rebecca fagan production editor chi-ting huang oil 10-12 copy editor minako hashimoto We investigate America's decades long addiction to oil and what we can do to change it. graphics ches wajda business manager greg czernik from the dean's chair 13 assistant business manager tami whitson e.o.h. editor ernest pefia digital radio 14-15 publisher terry dugan-nolan The CD revolution may happen all over again as researchers production managers mary cory work to design the first practical digital radio. kit donahue cathy romans

editorial staff kara federmeier mark maslov Joshua birk

Illinois Technograph Copyright Illini Media Company, 1991 57 E. Green St Illinois Technograph (USPS 258 760) Champaign, IL 61820 Vol 106 Issue 3 Spring 1991 217.333.3733 Illinois Technograph is published four times dutring the academic year at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. Published by the Illini Media Company, 57 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820 Subscriptions are available for $7.25 per academic year. The Technograph is a member of Engineering College Magazines Associated. editor's remarks

John Fultz

In the United States of America, we like to think we are on the cutting edge of technology. Sure, we may be a bit behind the Japanese in some areas, but technological advancements

seem to come along a dime a dozen these days, don't they? Well, let's take a look at some of the major advancements over the years.

Major American companies are begging our government to fund their research for a new technology called HDTV (high density television). The technology for the picture tubes

already exist, as many of you who work with super VGA monitors may attest to. The

biggest problem is coming up with a broadcasting standard (which about a dozen companies

Eire currently competing for). So why do American companies need American tax dollars to research technology that already exists and to reseeirch a stemdard into which other companies are putting their own money?

Digital radio, as discussed in an article in this issue, is yet another cutting edge technology. The technology could incredibly improve reception over today's best radio technology.

Besides, wouldn't it be nice if the compact discs the radio stations are playing actually come

across with compact disc quality sound on your radio? So where is this technology if it has got so many advantages?

My grandfather, an 85 year old man, had his own gasoline driven automobile as a young

man. Today, he still drives a gasoline driven automobile. Sure, he doesn't have to crank

start it anymore, Eind maybe it goes a little faster and hauls a bit more weight now. Under-

neath, however, it is still the same internal combustion engine that runs the automobile. One would think that might have changed by now, especially considering the fuel that drives the automobile contributes to the greenhouse effect, smog, and 300 square mile oil

slicks off the coast of Saudi Arabia, and considering that the world's petrol sources are

limited. So why do we continue our feiscination with gasoline-powered transportation?

Sure we run into a few technological barriers with each of these problems, but certainly nothing that cannot be conquered by the innovation of the American mind. Our greatest

problem is stagnation. We continue to watch the same televisions we have watched since

the color tv, listen to the same radios we have listened to since stereo FM, and driven the same cars since, well, since Ford. Sure, each of these have their own little enhancements, but America's corporations and consumers seem to revolve around these products of days gone by. Corporations m£ike too much money off of current products to advance to new

products, and the consumer is too itchy to try something new. Can it be any wonder we are facing a recession?

If we are going^ make the change to new and innovative products, we can not thrive on innovative designs alone. We have got to get our corporations and consumers to support the innovations we are capable of dreaming up. Let's not make the same mistake we made a quarter of a century ago when we practically gave to the Japanese a little-known American

innovation that would soon rival all other major forms of entertainment — the VCR. /^X. ^u^ 1 Kara Federmeier Dual Brains The Flip Side of the Story

"An interest in the brain requires no justification other than a curiosity to know why we are here, what we are doing here, and where we are going. " (Mac Lean).

The brain is a fascinating object. It that recent science has shown that the brain can remembers. It forgets. It analyzes. It cries. It no longer be thought of as a singular organ. It is sings. It is easy to agree with Mac Lean when he now known that there are two brains, each with states that an interest in the brain requires only its own, separate physiological make-up, area of that one be interested in the basic why's, what's control, and, indeed, basic "personality". To and where 's of humanity. University of Illinois study the brain effectively requires a basic

FVofessor Marie Banich says that her own knowledge of these two hemispheres and their interest in the brain is motivated in part by a ways of perceiving the world. Perhaps this basic desire to know herself in a different way. An knowledge can best be gained by studying the interest in the brain is, in essence, an interest in research that led to the discovery of the separate answering those questions which are asked by all left and right brains - split brain research. human beings, and the brain is, perhaps, the one object to which humans can turn to find the Research in the separate hemispheres answers to these questions. The brain is also the of the brain came only some ten years after the a " object asking the questions - an irony which split brain was "created" surgically by mankind. makes the study of the brains only that much In the 1940's, experimental surgery was proposed more engaging. Even more interesting is the fact for a group of patients with epilepsy severe enough to remain unaffected by normal chemical ing fibers untouched. This time it was felt that no treatments. The proposed surgery involved a nerve connections between the hemispheres commissurotomy, a severing of the corpus should be left intact. Therefore, surgeons Phillip callosum, the large bundle of nerves connecting Vogel and Joseph Began performed several more the two hemispheres. It was hoped that this split brain operations in the 1950's. This second procedure would decrease the effects of the set of operations showed a marked improvement epilepsy by separating the two hemispheres and in the patients' medical conditions, as well as no thus decreasing the brain mass available for detrimental effects to the patients' behavior or seizure. The first such operation was performed abilities. Post-surgical testing by Roger Sperry in Rochester, New York, by neurosurgeon William and Michael Gazzaniga, however, soon showed

Vein Wagenen in the early l940's. Research that these operations had indeed had their effects conducted after the surgery by Andrew Akelaitis upon the patients and upon medical science. showed little change in the patients' perceptual or motor abilities, and also, unfortunately, little Testing on these patients was per- change in the severity of their epilepsy. The formed on the same basis as the experiments surgeries were discontinued, and it wasn't until done earlier on the cats. The procedure was a nearly ten years later, in the early 1950's, that little different, since the patients' optic chiasm the true results of this procedure were discovered. was still intact. The results, however, were the

same. The patients received stimuli to only one

At that time Ronald Myers and Roger side of their brain. It was then that the discover-

Sperry were conducting research on cats which ies really began. It weis found that patients who had undergone split brain surgery and which had viewed a word in their right visual field, and thus also had their optic chiasm severed. This meant with their left brain, could correctly say what that visual information seen by each eye would they had seen. If they viewed the s£mie word in reach only the one hemisphere now connected to their left visual Geld, with their right brains, that eye, the one opposite it. The scientists however, they would verbsdly report that they conducted theii- research by patching one of the had seen nothing. At the same time though, they cat's eyes and then teaching the cat a visual could pick out with their left hand, controlled by discrimination task. When the other eye was their right brain, that object which corresponded subsequently patched, it was found that the cat with the word they had seen, even while insisting could not perform the task and had to be re- that they did not know what the object they were trained for that eye. In effect, the scientists holding was. This discrepancy led scientists to showed that they had trained the two hemi- the discovery that the two hemispheres of the

spheres of the br£iin separately. brain had distinctly different properties, and

therefore led to the discovery of the dual brain.

This discovery led scientists to Briefly smd very generally, the left

reconsider commissurotomy as a mesms of brain was found to be mathematical, detailed,

controlling epilepsy, but this time with a more sequential and analytic in its processes. It w£is

complete sepsiration of the hemispheres. The past found to control speech abilities in most people,

operations had involved only a partial separation as well as reading, writing, naming and sequen-

of the corpus callosum and had left other connect- tied ordering. It was also found to be the language dominant hemisphere in a majority of the test subjects, the hemisphere "in control" most of the time. The right hemisphere, on the other hand, was found to be hoHstic, symbolic, emotional and intuitive in its processes. It controlled spatial and musical abilities, facial recognition, and perception of abstract patterns. It was usually not language dominant, although it could be dominant for a short time when the task at hand was more suited to its abilities.

These classifications are, however, only general patterns and eire the subject of much testing and debate.

The right hemisphere, for example, understands and responds to the experimenter's directions to "pick up the object you saw" - and this ability can be well developed in some subjects of study. In addition, the right hemisphere seems specifically specialized for some types of language ability. Lesions in the right hemisphere cause deficiencies in spontaneous conversation, hesitancies in finding the right word, difficulties in giving definitions and paraphrases, difficulties seeing the point of humor or double entendre, and deficiencies in story-telling. The right hemisphere is certainly necessary to everyday language ability as well, because it is the hemisphere which interprets and produces body language, facial expression, and intonation - the left hemisphere responds, in general, only to what people say, not how they say it. Therefore, the right and left hemispheres develop separate but overlapping stores of knowledge, and may have different "impressions" of the same experi- ence. Of course, degrees and types of differentiation between the people - differentiation seems in some areas, for example, to be organized somewhat differently for women than for men. The tendency for hemispheric differen- tiation, however, is present from the moment of birth - newborn babies show a much stronger EEC response from their left hemispheres after speech sounds, while non-speech sounds give the opposite effect. The duality of the brain, though not well understood, is obviously an intrinsic feature of the organ.

Pieces to the puzzle of hemispheric differentiation are being put into

place all around the world, and the University of Illinois contributes to this

process. For example, Professor BemJch and her graduate student

Aysenil Belger have conducted research on how hemispheric

differentiation is useful to human thought processing. By asking

subjects to answer questions about visual stimuli (for example,

"Are these two letter^digits the same?"), they have studied

how hemispheric differentiation helps or hinders the solving

of the tasks. In some cases, all of the critical stimuli needed

to make the decision are presented initially to either one

hemisphere or the other by having subjects focus their

eyes on a center point while the stimulus is flashed in

their right or left viewing area. In other cases, the

stimulus is divided in the viewing field and is

presented to both hemispheres simultaneously. The

results of these studies have suggested that simple

tasks are solved more easily by the use of only one

hemisphere, while more difficult tasks require the

cooperation of both hemispheres. Hemispheric

differentiation, therefore, could help humans solve

difficult problems by allowing them to benefit from

both the kinds of reasoning available in the left and

right brains respectively.

Much research is still being done on the

two hemispheres of the brain, how they interact, £md

what they each control, but the basic duality of the

brain can no longer be denied. Split brain research has

shovifn beyond a doubt that although the two hemi-

spheres of the brain may look alike, they are, at the heart

of things, very different. Nature has provided humanity

with not one miraculous brain, but two. Two brains, £md two

reasons to be interested in them. Perhaps Mac Lean would have

been more correct in proclaiming no need for justification of

interest in our brains other than a heedthy curiousity to know why we

are here, what we are doing here, where we are going, and why it takes

two of us to figure it all out! rfEC^

Celebrating 100 years of Physics at University of Illinois, past &present

The laser (1 and 2) is a tunable Neodymium-YAG laser used in the Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics to study proteins. The lab is one of only three of its kind in the country and is run by Martin Physics vandeVen (3). ' M Also shown are various laboratory "antiques." This circuit board (4) was part of a larger board used in

a computer. It was eventually replaced with the 1 0Oth Year transistor. The betatron (5) shown is also an older model. The cloud chamber (6) will detect the presence of cosmic rays and show them as a string- at University of Illinois like interruption in the cloud. An old gyroscope (7) also stands among Loomis' antique collection. i e

© lllusUatlon by Ches W As man progresses, as he evolves, as be able to strap on a few miore tanks American government is solely his society grows more expansive and and be able to go that much farther. concerned with the price at which complex, his need for technology Americans buy oil (think gas tax). Today, transportation and the automo- grows. American society is engrossed However, the Middle East draws most bile industry in particular, has not with tools and toys of the modem age. of its influence from the oil market, changed, but it has grown. Our cars Life in the twentieth century is made and America certainly could have are bigger, faster, stronger, and fast and easy, and as technology higher stakes in that portion of the consume more gas. The other trans- advances, it is made faster and easier. world. Probably one of our portation industries, including airlines, government's greater fears in the The stagnation of this process, espe- trains, and public transports, are Middle East is that of a coalition cially if centralized in a particular almost completely fueled with petro- united against American involvement area, can have devastating effects leum and its by-products. in that area. upon society. If the population grows This connection to oil and society's without the advanced technology, then In the long i-un, however, nothing will need for the transportation market the use of the outdated technology have changed. Whether or not the weir makes oil an extremely powerful becomes embedded as a part of society. ends in a matter of weeks or years, commodity. Oil prices can have drastic This old technology may be harmful, though, Americans will still be effects on a society. A raise in the particularly if used frequently. pumping gasoline at the comer gas price of oil means a raise in the station, and therein lies the problem Transportation is an incredibly amount a consumer pays for gas. A because the stagnation has been dangerous center for stagnation. The consumer who pays more for gas has continued. area of effect for transportation is less money to spend on products. A global. Man currently travels farther manufacturer then has less money The only true answer is to advance our and is more dependent upon his cars with which to produce and must spend own technology past the necessity of

and planes to live on a daily basis than more on transporting his goods. The oil. Major technological revolutions ever before. Transportation has been process continues in a vicious cycle, have often been heralded by the stagnated, however, since about the £ind both consumer and meinufacturer bringing of a new power source. When

turn of the century. Around the are left at the mercy of oil prices. The wood gave way to coal, the Industrial

1900's, gasoline powered automobiles entire cycle of trade can lead to Revolution began to thrive. Gasoline began to appear. They edged out their economic recession, according to many introduced a powerful and seemingly

opponents, the electric cEirriages, in a economists. expendable fuel. Mass transport was

race of distance. America was begin- born. It will shortly be expended; as The influence of oil can edso be ning a vast countryside, and people estimates show that world-wide political, and oil has been partly w.'uit.«d to wander. They did not want resources will be gone in four decades, responsible for our recent involvement to be weighed down by two-ton Edison around the year 2030. in the harshest form of politics, war. nickel-iron batteries. They wanted to Of course, this does not mesin that the With sweat and perseverance, four decades is enough to bring about the If action is taken immediately and Man's greatest asset is his intelligence. next energy supply. Some of the intelligently, gradual change could It is with his tools that he has climbed technology exists, but it still remains subside cultural shock. Society will up the evolutionary ladder. The to be implemented in our tools and need to be rebuilt from the edges to the makers of these tools bear power and toys. Hydrogen as a base for fuel is center, starting with the fringes of responsibility, for they are a meeuis by one available option. It can be made to transportation and moving to the most which society can be created or be used in internal combustion concentrated forms. Alteration could destroyed. Man has allowed his engines, and it burns more powerfully begin at the federal level, changing technology to pile up and grow stale. and efficiently than gasoline. It also public and governmental transporta- Its stench has polluted our air and our does not create yet another pollution tion. Commercial vehicles could then water. We have built and burnt an problem. Considering the Earth's vast be changed. All this time, man's illuminating fire, or perhaps a pyre. oceans, hydrogen supplies should last society would be advemcing around The time to change is upon us now, not millions of years. him. When he was the only part of in four decades when it will be too late.

society left, then he would feel the What remains to be changed is society. need for change. A new energy supply would completely rewrite the script of contemporary Chemge of any king, either subtle or human society. Our civilization is abrupt, will call upon the average

filled with services and devices to use citizen to make necessary changes.

gasoline. Society has a foundation of Among the upper economic classes of

close to a century's worth of old society, it will mean a new purchase of

technology. All of that must be technology. Depending on the fashion

changed and advanced. of the energy source, it could range

from sending an old car in for modifica- The future power source will need to tions to buying a new automobile conform to certain requirements to which runs on the new power source. survive. It needs to be more than just Unless the new power supply is accessible; a nearly limitless power provided in an inexpensive mamner, supply will not convince the American not likely for American manufacturers mind. It will need to be powerful, on a new £md valuable product, the possibly more powerful than gasoline. change may have to wait for those who Society must find the source appealing can not afford it. This meems that they before it considers it. It will need to be will still depend on gasoline, another economic. Unless the new technology reason for advances to occur before the can revitalize a recession, the con- draining of supplies. # sumer may not have much money to

spend on the new power source. It will It is difficult to accurately predict the 4

need to be environmental. The future without a new fuel source. With

generation that will begin the use of the draining of oil reserves, man would

the power supply is already in a state have no cushion to use while imple-

of environmental awareness. Heavy menting new technology. Without the

protest could swiftly slay an innovative gasoline-powered devices to do so, man

design. Most importantly, the souree might find himself regressing techno-

must be compatible enough with logically. Easier forms of fuel, possibly

current standards to allow for a swift steam or coal, would have to provide a

and easy change. foundation until they ran out. rfiomas E. Glenn From The Dean's Chair - CHOOSING AN ENGINEERING MAJOR

Are you firmly committed to the engineering of meetings for company representatives to talk to students major you are in? Approximately 28% of the students who about various CEireer opportunities such as technical sales, enter the College of Engineering as freshmen will change marketing, design, research and development. These engineering majors. Another 4% will change engineering meetings provide a perfect opportunity for young students majors twice. to hear from people who are actually working in industries Students can best obtain information about and from companies with whom they may seek future possible career fields by talking to people currently working employment. in those fields and by reading magazine articles. There are Activities hosted by the engineering student a vast number of opportunities for a young student to get societies in the college are often overlooked as sources of this information here on the University of Illinois campus. career information. There are over 40 student societies

However, it does require that the student be aggressive and within the college representing every engineering field active in pursuing this information. offered on this campus. Many of these student organiza- The primary source for information about career tions represent national professional engineering organiza- fields, companies hiring engineers and the future outlook in tions which offer student memberships. Normally the particular industries is available in the Engineering membership fee for a student is less than $25 a year and Placement Office located in 206 Engineering Hall. Although includes a subscription to the national magazine. These the Placement Office is primarily visited by graduating magazines are an excellent source of information as to what students, the resources in the Placement Office are avail- practicing engineers in these fields are doing in industry. able to all students, freshmen through doctoral candidates. Engineering student societies often hold monthly For young students trying to decide on engineering fields, meetings, open to any student on the campus, with speakers the reference room located in the northwest comer of the from industry. Announcements about society meetings are Placement Office complex should be your first stop. In the often found in the Daily Illini, the North of Green, signs reference room, there are shelves filled with hundreds of posted in engineering buildings and departmental student reports provided by companies who often recruit and hire newsletters distributed throughout the hallways of engi- graduates of the college. In these reports, companies will neering buildings. list the engineering majors they hire, define particular job Another excellent method for students to learn functions and describe the business activities of their about a particular industry, company, or engineering major company. is to participate in the Co-op Program. A Co-op student In addition to company reports, the Engineering alternates semesters between working for a company and Placement Office has a large collection of video tapes attending school. In addition to earning money to help pay provided by companies. Students are welcome to view these for school, the Co-op experience can help a student make an tapes which provide valuable information about each of the informed decision as to the engineering major they want to companies. Also, the Engineering Placement Office refer- pursue. Students interested in the possibilities of a Co-op ence room maintains a large collection of business maga- position should contact Dean Donnell Hunt in 213 Engi- zines and newspapers for students to examine. neering Hall who is the Director of the college Co-op There are a number of national magazines program. published for engineering students. Several times through- Just a few of the sources available for finding out out the semester, a large supply of these magazines are sent more about engineering fields have been mentioned. There to the college and distributed through the Engineering are many more opportunities on this campus to visit with Placement Office. Magazines which have recently been individuals representing companies who hire engineers. An available are Women Engineer, Career Futures, Field Guide often misunderstood point by students is that your job to Computer Careers, Graduating Engineer, Engineering search really begins as a freshman and not as a senior. Horizon, Careers and the Engineer, and Computer World. Throughout your entire college education, you should be These magazines have articles written about engineers and taking advantage of every opportunity you can to talk to their jobs, companies that hire engineers and future engineers in the field that you have chosen, to look at other demands for engineers in various fields. fields if you are undecided and to start to compile a list of Another very valuable source of information companies that you would be interested in working for once provided through the Engineering Placement Office are the you have graduated. Challenge yourself to be knowledge- evening information meetings held throughout the recruit- able and informed in planning your professional career. ing season. Dean Mosborg and his staff schedule a number

Thomas E. Glenn is an Assistant to the Dean of the College of Engineering IMPROVED RADIOS Digitizing Analog Dialogue

Have you ever experienced the grooves do, and the oscillations of With a high sampling rate, this process the frustration of tuning in to a decent the needle are transmitted directly to results in close to error-free transmis- radio station only to find that the sound. The output is completely sion. reception is terrible (except when you continuous, but problems like dirt and What is the benefit of stand next to the radio)? Or Eire you scratches may often Eirise. A compact transmitting digital signals over the annoyed to hear that it is disc player, on the other hand, is an airwaves as opposed to analog? All "Hammertime" in the background example of a digital device. When radios up until now have been analog, static? Few will argue that radio often CDs are recorded, music is sampled at and a radio made today works in offers poor sound quality compared discrete time intervals. The sam- essentially the same way as one made with compact discs or even cassettes. plings are converted into numbers. If fifty years ago. (Radios have been Today's radios are analog these numbers were to be graphed, analog ever since they were first devices. This means that the signal is they would create an approximation of invented.) When you hear an transformed directly into output. An the waveform stored on the record. announcer's voice on the radio, the example of an analog device is a These numbers are then converted to voice is converted into electromagnetic phonograph. The grooves in the record binary and stored onto the CD player. energy by microphone and transmitted cause the needle to oscillate exactly as The CD player reverses this process. as electromagnetic waves from an antenna to your radio. The radio ibly distorted, the radio should would sound like gibberish on a waves then excite the circuity in the interpret the same exact signal that conventional analog radio. Thus,

receiver which causes a speaker to left the radio station. That in itself is a enterprises in digital radio would have convert the signal back into the big advantage to analog radio. to rely on consumers buying the

announcer's voice. The same things that msike receivers that can decode the digital At every stage from the CDs better than analog recordings also signal. announcer's vocal chords to your ear, apply to digital radio. The good sound There are already some there could be signal distortions, or queJity of a CD comes in part from an proposals for digital radio systems, noise, which is what is added to the error-correction system encoded in the some involve not sending the signals signal between its source and its CD. This code tells the CD player over the air waves, but through the

destination. Radio waves are, of what the output should at least be cable that supplies cable television. course, subject to reflection, refraction, similar to. If there is noise in the For fixed stereo systems, cable audio is

and other wave phenomena. A signal recording, the CD player will recognize ideal. However, you will never see that is reflected off an object might it eind filter some of it out. These same joggers plugged into their walkmans have a slightly longer path than direct signals can be encoded in digital radio. with long cables trailing them. signals. The reflected signal arrives Fitting digital radio Additionally, a large part of radio slightly out of sync with the direct stations on the radio dial is a problem. audiences listen from their cars, which signals, and the result is what is The spectrum is already filled with also can not be reached by cable, while known as multi-path distortion. The channels for a variety of uses. Digital cable would be a good system, it would original sound can also be degraded by channels require a large bandwidth, limit the audience. your radio, by equipment at the radio which simply will not fit on the Several companies are station, or by atmospheric conditions. working on radio systems which allow

How much noise a stereo system for CD-quality channels, but also for produces is a familiar measure of its lower quality channels as well. Some quality. types of programming, like talk shows, There is nothing magical do not require perfect sound reproduc- about digital that makes noise disap- tion. The incredible stream of informa- pear, but the way the digital receiver tion can be compressed. Some infor- interprets the signal minimizes the mation may be destroyed, but as long effects of noise. In other words, the as the output is clear and intelligible, noise is still there, but you cannot hear it is worth reducing the necessary the vast majority of it. This is because information. In the November 1990 the digital radio signal is comprised of issue of Popular Science, Mark Digital what the digital receiver interprets as Fleischmann writes that a company

"ones" and "zeros." The smalog signals called Satellite CD Radio will launch that we use today, however, are different types of radio signals two satellites to carry digital radio transformed by the analog receivers signals that can be received nation- directly into what we hear. A radio maximum allowable bandwidth for FM wide. Sixty-six channels of CD-quality might possess circuitry that filters out radio. CDs sample at about 44 audio would be available from this some noise, but it is at the expense of kiloHertz — each second is divided system. Another company. Radio sound quality. ITie filters usually into 44,000 instants at which the Satellite Corp., is planning to broad- lower frequency response at high sound intensity is sampled. Since each cast both CD-quality and lower quality frequencies, Emd since it does not of those instants is represented by a 16 channels via satellite by 1993. This "know" what the output should be, it bit number, the number of bits that only scratches the surface of compa- can filter out some of the desired sound need to be transmitted each second is nies developing digital radio systems, as well. on the order of one million. For a with a lot of research being done In contrast, all a digital faster flow of data, a greater band- abroad. Keep your ear out for digital radio receiver has to do to be able to width is needed. radio. You'll hear a lot more about it produce CD quality sound is to be able Another obstacle in making in the decade ahead. to recognize the ones and zeros. This digital radio a reality is that imple- does not demand very much precision, menting it would render existing so as long as the signal is not incred- radios obsolete. A digital radio station Mark Maslov Contact Your Red Cross Local Chapter. American Graduate Studies in the Mapping Sciences

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have to do is mail your

answer(s) for either Geodesy Positioning with satellites for navigation problem, name, address, and accurate surveys, plate tectonics, gravity field studies, TOO and phone number to the earth rotation, geodynamics. following address: Write to Dr. Clyde Goad Rcxible inlcrdisciplinary Graduate Studies Chairman Tech Teasers Contest programs. Dcpt. of Geodetic Science Illinois Technograph Assistantships available. & Surveying, Ohio State mini Media Company Visit our labs and meet our Univ., 1958 Neil Ave. 57 E. Green St. 43210-1247 faculty Columbus, OH Champaign, IL 61801 and staff. LATE! Or call 614-292-7118

The first person to submit a correct answer for each You can still problem will win the Give your heart subscribe to amount specified for each an extra helping. problem. In case of a tie, a no to high-fat foods. name will be drawn to Say The Daily Illini determine the winner.

This contest is not open to employees of Illini Media Company. CALL 333-3730

^American Heart TODAY! Association WE'RE FIGHTING FOR YCXJR UFE Don Wellnitz leads a team with global connections.

hen Don Wellnitzjoined GPl as an Edison Engineer, he wasn't expecting to become team leader on a major international project. But the opportunity came up fast. It started when Don went to England to help develop new technolog)' for C.E Medical Systems. He got in on the ground floor of a new imaging modalit\, and became the resident expert. Ihal, combined with his ease at cross-cultural teamwork, earned him his leam Leader spot. Now Don's helping to develop a joint project with Japan. His colleagues include English, Danish, and Russian engineers. He's plugged in to a highly respected international technical community. At GE, the more challenges you can handle, the more you get. We give you the room to grow, so that we'll grow with you.

Jt's that simple. And that exciting.

Worldofopportunity.

An equal opportunity emphyer. ILLINOIS ^ icv i^c^WMAii: Vol 106 Issue 4 Summer 1991

£tfiics in Genetics The Nationaf Aerosppc

and more inside

^' THE ulBKAH^ O i=''^'^5 M.J. Reed lisl. 1897 Your future is Fun Stuff engineering and her. To Do!!!

Check out the CAlfNDAR

in the center of The Daily

mini every Friday. It's

chock-full of info on fun campus happenings.

No charge to list your event in Ihe CALENDAR— just stop by The Daily lltini office at 57 E Green. C O

The Diamond Engagement Ring No gain.No pain.

Keeping your weight at a moderate level may scale down your risk of heart at- tack. So maintain a healthy diet and lighten up on your From $450 heart

I 1/ JEWELERS

M-F 9:30-6 Sa 9:30-4 Old Farm Shops Mattis and Kirby, Champaign All credit cards and credit plans accepted major American Heart I Association WE'RE FIGHTING FOR VOURLIFE

Do you have any writing skill? If so, we can use your talent. The Technograph always has positions open for regular writers. The Tbchnograph also accepts freelance submissions for people who only have the time for a single submission. We accept articles on most engineering and science related topics, and we encourage engineering graduate students to write about the projects they are conducting. For more information, contact John Fultz at 332-4071, or Chi-Ting Huang at 328-6808. You may also leave a m,essage at mini Media, 333-3733. ILLINOIS jECHNOGRAPH summer 1991

this table. 1 1 oig^ contentsmagazine

printed

recycled

editor's remarks 2

the national aerospace plane: 4-7 Technograph staff: converting theory to reality

Computational facilities are pushed to the limit when they try editor-in-chief John fultz to simulate conditions that could never exist in a wind tunnel. design rebecca fagan in excitons semiconductors 8-9 photo editor joe trojanowski Explore the research being conducted on semiconductors and production editor chi-ting huang the importance of excitons. copy editor minako hashimoto tech visions 10-11 graphics ches wajda tom cassell ethics in genetics 12-14 business manager greg czernik

New genetics technology is causing quite an ethical stir while assistant business manager tami whitson politicians and philosophers haven't even resolved debates about old genetics technology. e.o.h. editor ernest pefia

a national energy strategy? 16-18 publisher terry dugan-nolan production managers mary cory Is the National Energy Strategy all it's cracked up to be? kit donahue cathy romans

editorial staff kara federmeier mark maslov John shirokoff Steve vavrik ken smith

photo staff jim peroulas

Illinois Technograph Copyright Illini Media Company. 1991 57 E. Green St. Illinois Technograph (USPS 2.58 760) Champaign. 11, 61820 Vol 106 Issue 4 Summer 1991

217.333.3733 Illinois Technograph is published four times during the academic year at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. Published by the Illini Media Company. 57 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820. Subscriptions are

available for $7.25 per academic year. The Technograph is a member of Engineering College Magazines Associated. editor's remarks

John Fultz

Some of us just don't relish the good old days. We sometimes tend to remember the blunders of our time instead of remembering our true accomplishments. Here at the Technograph, however, we rather relish some of our past days.

The Technograph was a tradition of excellence. Soon to celebrate its 106th bii-thday, the

Illinois Technograph was the one of the oldest and best established college engineering magazines around. Combined with the reputation behind the College of Engineering, the Technograph had no problem attracting a great pool of advertisers and good technical writers. A part of the Engineering College Magazines Associated, the Technograph was also an award winning magazine.

Due to a variety of reasons, and with no one in particular to blame, the Technograph waned

over the past several years. In fact, only a couple of years ago, the magazine was struggling

for its very survival. My arrival, and the arrivals of the two editors before me, were rather fortuitous, as there was no one else to take the reigns during those years.

These are the plain facts. However, the Technogi-aph is back on the road to recovery. With

a strong design and photography staff and the resources provided by our owners, Illini

Media Co., we have struggled for a professional, yet pleasing, look to the magazine despite

the limited budget. The College of Engineering has pledged its support for the resources it can provide.

This is not quite enough, however. To succeed, we need the help of the student body . . .

you. The magazine has need of resources that only the student body can provide. There is

so much that we cein provide each other. Articles or other work published in the magazine are seen by nearly every prominent engineering college in the United States, as well as in

nearly every high school in Illinois. Decent freelance work on science and engineering

topics always has been and always will be considered for publication. The Technograph

pays any student whose articles or other works are to be published. Articles need not, and

should not, be highly technical in nature, as the magazine should appeal to anybody who

possesses interest and a limited educational background in engineering. Finally, employers

like students who can prove that they can communicate clearly and/or lead others effi-

ciently.

I don't think I'm begging or that I need to beg, folks. The Technograph is a great experi-

ence, and I'd love to have many people share in it. So let's see if we can forget these "good old days", and move ourselves into the future. /C^.^^

For more information about the Technograph. and leave your name and number, or write: Illinois Technograph

Illini Media Co. 57 E. Green St. Champaign, IL 61820 Jbch Jbasers

joe college student is failing Professor Bob's class badly. Since Professor

Bob is really a nice person at heart, he decides to give Joe a second chance. Professor Bob says, "Joe, I have two sons. The differences of the cube of their ages is a square and the difference of the square of their ages is a cube. Find their ages for me and I will consider passing you in this class." Help joe find the answer to pass the class.

joe's girlfriend Muffy is also failing Professor Bob's class. Since Professor Bob gave Joe a chance to pass the class, he must also give the same chance to Muffy. Professor Bob says, "Muffy, the number 32,547,891 multiplied by 6 (thereby using all nine digits once and only once) yields

1 95,287,346 (a number also containing all nine digits. I may pass you in this course if you can find another number to be multiplied by 6 to satisfy the same conditions." joe will be very depressed if Muffy does not also pass this course; help Muffy find the answer she needs to pass Professor Bob's course.

A simple way to shuffle cards is to take the pack face downwards in the left hand and transfer them one by one to the right hand putting the second on top of the first, the third under, the fourth above, etc. until all of the cards are transferred. If you do this with any even number of cards and keep repeating the shuffle in the same way, the cards will even- tually return to their original order. How many shuffles are necessary to return a deck of cards (52 cards) to their original order?

Four college students, Brian, Liz, Eric and Sheila enter a square field simultaneously at the NE, SE, SW, and NW corners respectively. All the students run at the same speed. Brian has a crush on Liz and chases her.

Liz is rather fond of Eric and chases him. Eric admires Sheila and chases her. Sheila finds Brian to be quite interesting and chases him. These college students are not very bright and each always runs directly toward the person they are chasing making no attempt to head their quarry off. Obviously, the students will eventually spiral into the center of the field.

If the sides of the field are 200 yards, how far will each person have to run before they all collide in the center?

Thank you for your support of this year's Tech Teasers Contests. Since this is the last issue of the academic year, the tech teasers here are strictly for fun. Look for the return of the contest next year! Answers are on pages 1 9 & 20.

Ken Smith National Aerospace Plane Converting Theories to Reality

The United States program to develop a total vehicle forces, the details of the vehicle's flowfield hypersonic National Aerospace Plane QVASP) is one of could not be calculated. A thorough knowledge of the the most technologically challenging endeavors the vehicle's flowfield is crucial to designing the NASPs aerospace industry will face in the coming decade. air-breathing engines.

Reaching speeds of 25 times the speed of sound, the From 1970 through the mid-1980's, advance-

NASP is an unprecedented effort to integrate several ments in computer resources provided researchers advanced technologies into a manned vehicle: propul- with the tools to develop fundamental hypersonic fluid sion, materials, aerothermodynamics, and controls. dynamic algorithms applicable to NASP. The recent

The NASP is especially attractive because it will be explosion in computer speed and memory storage has able to takeoff from conventional runways eliminating permitted the incorporation of this early fundamental the need for expensive launch facilities. If successfully work into more comprehensive codes. deployed, the NASP would accomplish full reusability, demonstrate single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) capability, CFD challenges of the NASP and open the space frontier to routine operations. The solution of fluid dynamics problems are

Previous aerospace development programs often difficult due to the mathematic complexities in- have been heavily dependent upon wind tunnel testing volved in simultaneously satisfying all the conserva- to offer design direction and to validate design deci- tion equations: mass, momentum, energy, and species. sions. Unfortunately, no wind tunnel facility exist Usually the governing equations can be simplified today, or in the near futvire, that can reproduce the considerably by neglecting insignificant terms. But flight conditions of the NASP. Consequently, the even in limiting forms, few analytical solutions exist,

NASP design is dependent upon an emerging field of and then only for theoretical studies that are difficult fluid mechanics. Computational Fluid Dynamics to apply to practical engineering designs. Computa-

(CFD). CFD researchers face the formidable task of tional Fluid Dynamics (CFD) extends the study of fluid creating computer codes that can accurately predicting mechanics by developing computer codes to satisfy the the complex flowfields the NASP will encounter diiring governing equations. CFD codes for the NASP project

Mach 25 flight. are especially challenging due to the physical com-

plexities of hypersonic flight: shock waves, chemical Historical perspective reactions, ttirbulence, and rarified flow. Initial investigations into the development When an aerospace vehicle exceeds the of a SSTO hypersonic vehicle utilizing air-breathing speed of sound, a supersonic shock wave forms so that propulsion began in the early 1960's, but were ham- the fluid can rapidly negotiate its way around the ve- pered by insufficient computational capacity. Perfor- hicle. One example of a shock wave is the sonic boom mance evaluations for hypersonic designs were limited heard when the Space Shuttle re-enters the atmo- to idealized geometries for which empirical data were sphere. Shocks can be thought of as very thin regions available. Although this approach yielded estimates of in the flow where abrupt changes in the fluid proper- ties (temperature, pressure, etc.) occur. These shocks ecules are very close together and that a great many can be difficult to "capture" within CFD simulations. molecules are present in any given volume. However,

At five times the speed of sound or more, at flight altitudes of 80 kilometers or more, the flow hypersonic shocks will be created that radically alter can no longer be considered a continuum, since the the flow's properties — even the chemistry. For ex- NASP will encounter conditions where the atmo- ample, immediately downstream of a hypersonic spheric density is very low and the mean free path shock, temperatures can exceed 6000 K — sufficiently between the gas molecules becomes relatively large. high to invalidate the ideal gas assumptions. Also, These conditions are referred to as the rarified regime these temperatures encourage the flowfield to chemi- and offer distinct CFD challenges because now indi- cally react. The vidual molecules are important. New energy changes constitutive relationships for rarified involved with molecular transport processes are now these chemical being developed that can better utilize reactions influence present computational facilities. the resulting CFD progress flowfield and must Initial hypersonic CFD results be included in the are encouraging. Recently, a three-di-

CFD analysis. mensional solution demonstrated excel-

The lent results for a Mach 15 wind tunnel This graphic, di'signcd in part liy Kpn Smith, illustrates a flowfield over a theoretical flow field for the Mach 25 spaceplane. experiment; a comparison that empha- vehicle is often sized the importance of simulating the described by fluid dynamicists as being laminar or complete tunnel flowfield. Also, a successful un- turbulent. Laminar flows are stable and can be calcu- steady code compared favorably with empirical results lated in a straightforward manner using well-estab- for a two-dimensional unsteady supersonic flow. Good lished equations. Turbulent flows are highly unstable agreement between experimental results and com- and exhibit chaotic behavior. At present, no compre- puter solutions is crucial to gaining confidence in the hensive understanding of txirbulence exists; therefore, CFD simulations.

CFD researchers must use complex models to predict Research into analyzing the complete ve- the motion of turbulent flows. Turbulent flow model- hicle has resulted in a new simulation approach utiliz- ling is important to NASP designers because of two ing the concept of a zonal-solution methodology. This detrimental characteristics of turbulent flows: in- supercomputer based concept involves generating a creased heat loading on the the vehicle, and increased three-dimensional numerical patchwork mesh over aerodynamic drag. The design of adequate thermal the vehicle. The individual patches are then solved protection and propulsion systems is dependent on the simultaneously using CFD codes specific to the flow ability to model the laminar and turbulent flows over conditions anticipated within that patch (e.g. bound- the NASP. ary layers, inviscid freestream, unsteady, chemical

F'inally, at normal pressures and densities, kinetics, etc.). The resulting solution would be much ' fluid flows are often treated as being a continuum. faster and more manageable than a general all-inclu-

The continuum assumption asserts that the fluid mol- sive code. As aerospace computation models continue to develop, efficient interpretation of the CFD simula- tion will require advanced graphical visualization techniques. Visualization research being conducted at

NASA is concentrated on using high performance graphics workstations to view, and in some cases, to animate these simulations. Connected to a supercomputer via a high-speed channel, these work- stations post-process the CFD results into comprehen- sible three-dimensional images. Future efforts will develop interactive tracking and steering of the supercomputer solution.

Tracking allows the scien- tist to view hi^er solution so it can be stopped and restarted at will. Steering goes one step further and allows the scientist to change the parameters of the flow solver as it ex- ecutes. Examples of steer- ing include increasing the

angle of attack during a pull-up and performing a

flight maneuver.

The success of the

United States National Aerospace Plane (NASP)

program is heavily depen- Ken Smith displays dent on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to pro- the equipment which he used to vide flight predictions at Mach 25 speeds. Assuming help him design continued federal funding and research achievements, the NASP flowfields. the NASP is destined to take a place in history as a

tremendous technological achievement for the United

States. EXCITONS IN SEMICONDUCTORS JOHN W . SHIROKOFF Created by photoexcited eleclrvns and positively charged "holes" in semiconductors, excitons play a crucial role in the optical properties of sem iconductors.

It has long been known from experiment and conventional wisdom that the naked eye cannot

physically see electrons in nature but

rather jusi the light given off when they change from one atomic orbital to another. As a consequence we use scientific models to describe the motion of electrons in solid matter. The

interaction of light with electrons in solids is of fundamental importance to modem physics, based on the quantum mechanics of many atom systems. In a practical sense, understanding electronic motion is essential to improving the quality of opto-electronic

devices and integrated circuits. Experiments involving photon-

semiconductor interactions also contribute to the characterization of defects in elemental and compound semiconductor materials. these materials for use as light intensity of excitons in GelAs. This is GaAs quantum well. The exciton emitters in optoelectronic applications. because the exciton confined to a 2- diffusion rate depends on the tempera- These groups are supported by the dimensional quantum well has a ture of the crystal and the power of the

National Science Foundation, Depart- greater binding energy than it would exciting laser. ment of Energy, and the Department in the bulk crystal. This allows the The motion of excitons of Defense. excitons to be observed even at room was graphically demonstrated a few As described earlier, a temperature, whereas in the bulk years ago in Professor Wolfe's labora- compound semiconductor such as crystal, the weakly bound excitons are tory, using a single crystal which was GaAs can emit light by the recombina- largely dissociated at room tempera- stressed to produce a region of low tion of electrons and holes. Now if a ture. band gap energy to which the excitons very thin layer of GaAs were sand- One of the unique types are attracted. The accompanying wiched between two layers of AlGaAs, of experiments performed at the photograph shows the exciton drift photoexcited carriers (i.e., electrons University of Illinois is spatial imaging from their creation point on the left and holes) are trapped in the GaAs of the exciton motion. Professor surface of the crystal to a "strain layer, which forms a "2-dimensionar Wolfe's group has developed tech- maximum" just below the top surface quantum well. Furthermore, the niques for measuring the "diffusion" of of the crystal. Further information principal luminescence that comes excitons in a quantum well; this is about these kind of experiments may from a quEmtum well structure is from accomplished by using lasers with be found in the March 1984 issue of excitons. The confinement to 2 extremely short pulse duration £md Scientific American. dimensions enhances the luminescent focused to micrometer spots onto the

An exciton is observed in a quantum well. p photos by Jim Peroulai

ethics I n

GB^EKSwhy should scientists be concerned? KARA FEDERMEIER The Webster's New World dictionary enzymes, which are the fundamental "man-made mutations." It is this defines science as "the systematized parts of biological systems. Genes technology, both advantageous and knowledge of nature and the physical usually occur in pairs (an organism frightening, that confronts society world." As knowledge-seekers, scien- usually inheriting one gene from each today. tists push back the boundaries of the parent), and gene expression (how a Perhaps the first genetics-related unknown. By doing so, scientists not particular gene influences a particular technology to confront American only allow humans to know more; they organism) depends, in part, upon the society was sperm donation. This also allow humans to do more. It is dominance or recessiveness of the process allows women with infertile this, aspect of science that often genes in a gene pair. A dominant gene husbands to conceive and carry a child creates technological and moral is almost always expressed; a recessive through fertilization by a donor's tangles that are difficult, if not gene is expressed when no dominant sperm. Immediately, religious impossible, to unravel. Recent genes for the same trait are present. problems surfaced; members of publicity for the Human Genome Of course, this explanation is highly religious groups who believe that project, designed to completely map simplified, since blending a combina- procreation should be a natural human gene patterns and to discover tion of genetic traits and regulation by process immediately opposed the idea, the function of each of these genes has hormones play an important role in and the religious issue remains brought to light some of the social determining how genes will be ex- important for all the genetic technolo- difficulties genetic research is creating. pressed in an organism. What is most gies discussed in this article. Whether The technologies associated with important to recognize, however, is genetics technologies are "moral" from genetics research have left in their that specific genes influence specific a religious standpoint remains a hotly wake a whole realm of technological aspects of the organism; these genes debated issue — one that does not possibilities which the current legal, are, in turn, influenced by other show signs of being resolved. But political, and moral systems of this biological features around them. sperm donation has created legal, as country are not yet prepared to handle. Variations in a population occur, in well as ethical, problems such as the It is important to confront these ethical part, because of differences in genetic definition of "parent" in spenn dona- issues before they present major makeups. Genetic differences often tion cases, and the rights ancl/or problems in society. occur through mutations, changes in responsibilities of the donor father and the chemical makeup of a gene, which A basic knowledge of genetics is the husband of the natural mother. can cause biological changes in the necessary to fully understand the The present legal system does not yet organism; such changes range from issues at hand. In brief, genes are the have the definitions and guidelines to helpful to unimportant to lethal. biological units responsible for the deal with the new concept of "father" Scientists now have the power to transmission of hereditary (determined and "mother" that genetic technology regulate gene fiow in a population and at conception) traits. Genes Eire codes is creating. even to chemically alter genes to create for polypeptide chains, proteins, and gestation period. This idea and its of an individual? These problems become more pro- its implications shock even some of the nounced when another lechnoloKV. The questions that genetic technologies less religious groups in society. to the that of the surrogate mother, is raise pose a serious challenge 1-cgally, the products of such technol- examined. In sperm donation, tlie structure of human society. Genetic ogy would create problems of tremen- continue to identity of the donor can be kept from technologies exist and will the dous proportions. Not only would back. the receiver, and vice versa, so the develop. There is no turning concept of parents have to be rede- chances of a sperm donor breaking a And many don't want to turn back fined, but the concept of citizenship contract and claiming the child as his because these technologies, in spite of would have to be re-examined as well. own are very slim. This is obviously all the problems they present, offer What would be such a child's country not the case with surrogate mother- infertile or genetically disadvantaged inherit- of birth? I -esser problems of hood. When the gestational mother is parents the chance to have normal ance and marriage different from the children. They seem to offer everyone (defining the "legal" mother, a chance at a healthier and, perhaps, relatives of a child problem serious legal and more advantageous life. The born by ex utero religious questions is, how far and in what direction arise reproduction) allowed to can result regardless should these technologies be Scientific as well. that scientists of whether or not the grow? It is this question questions such as "legal" mother was and non-scientists alike must be how parental also the donor of the prepared to address in the coming bonding and the egg. (Questions arise years. resulting mental such as "Should the health of the child surrogate mother be would be affected allowed to back out have yet to be of the contract?", examined. When "What if the child is and where such deformed?", "What if procedures could the surrogate be utilized, as well mother damages the as what responsi- fetus during society has for such children, pregnancy by careless health habits", bilities brings humankind to the verge of a and "Should the surrogate mother be total redefinition of life and reproduc- paid?" Visitation rights, complicated tion. All of mankind's "facts" about even for adoption, are extremely family and parenthood are being difficult to deal with in surrogate challenged by new technologies which mother cases. Should the child have are on the verge of being widely the right to know who hi^er surro- available and which create problems gate mother was? If egg donation is never before encountered in the 1 4 involved should the child have access history of humanity. to medical information about hii^Tier these surrogate mother? None of These are only the beginning. Such issues has been resolved, and some technologies put society on the verge of yet have hardly been examined, selective breeding and raise additional is a technology surrogate motherhood social and moral questions. Is it right used in America becoming more widely to artificially manufacture a child?

and abroad. How will such procedures affect the human gene pool? Can such practice A final example is the newly develop- — lead to the buying and selling of life ing ex utero reproduction techniques. the stuff life is made of? Such techniques would allow for the or at least has a right to information about development of a fetus in an artificial Who the genetic background and make-up uterine environment for all or part of Mark Maslov TECH PROFILE Professor Burks Oakley

Professor Burks Oakley is a faculty member in tal course, ECE 271, which is a combination of ECE 244, Electrical and Computer Engineering and specializes in and introductory circuits lab course, and ECE 270. Oakley

Bioengineering. "Bioengineering is a broad field", says feels that a lab course in conjunction with a theory course

Oakley, "which can involve just about anything an engineer gives students a better chance to apply what they learn. does." He explains, "Someone involved with fluid dynamics Professor Oakley is currently conducting might study blood flow, while someone in engineering research on electrical signals produced by the retina. He is mechanics might study bone stresses." Professor Oakley's researching how the signals are produced and is character- interest in bioengineering is really just an extension of izing signals for different conditions. He is presently electrical engineering, in particulsir, he is interested in how working with animal models using electroretinograms, or electrical signals flow through the nervous ERG's, to measure electric signals. The system. goal of his research is to study how the Professor Oakley received a B.S. signals can be measured, how the compo- in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern nents of the signals can be analyzed, and

University in 1971. While there, he became what cells in the retina produce the interested in bioengineering, and he went to components. FVofessor Oakley is anticipat-

Michigan for graduate school where he ing that understanding this phenomenon received an M.S. in 1973 and a Ph.D. in will give insight on some visual disorders.

1975 in that field. Professor Oakley went on Professor Oakley is involved in the University of California at San Francisco --I \eral organizations which give him an to study physiology for three years to get a I ipportunity to participate actively and give better background in biology. He then came input on student problems. He serves on back to the Midwest to work at Purdue for the Education Technologies Board which two years before becoming an assistant pushes to get more computers in education professor in the Electrical Engineering Dept. and develops computer-based education; here at the University of Illinois in 1981. Emd has also represented the ECE department the last four For about the last five years. Professor Oakley years on the University Senate. The University Senate sets has taught ECE 270, an introductory circuit analysis policies for campus through committees, and Professor course. He says he enjoys teaching a lot of students, and, Oakley is the Chairman of the University Student Life with an average of 300 students per class, ECE 270 is the Committee. This committee considers campus-wide issues largest class in the department. He likes making a contri- such as alcohol abuse and racial problems. Recently the bution to undergraduate education by helping so many committee discussed the possibility of requiring a course m students get a basic ECE (electrical and computer engineer- cultural diversity. For his involvement in these organiza- ing) background. He claims, "It is important for students to tions. Professor Oakley has been honored with the 1991 get off on the right foot with introductory courses." Pierce Award. He reflects, "It's nice that students think so

A project FVofessor Oakley has been working on highly of what I've been doing that I get something like that relates to ECE 270 is computer-aided instruction. this." Oakley says that, due to the abundance of computers on Professor Oakley has a wife and two daughters. campus, this is an ideal way to enhance education. So He says his daughters keep him busy with their sports

Oakley has been developing a software package that he activities. In his spare time, he likes to swim and he is also hopes will be published for sale with the ECE 270 textbook. interested in computers. He and his family designed the Undergraduate students have been helping him with the floor plan of the house, in which they are currently living, software. "It's been a lot of fun getting undergraduate on an Apple Macintosh. Professor Oakley certainly has a students working closely with it. I'm really excited about wide range of interests and takes the opportunity to actively it," he remarks. pursue them.

In addition, Oakley is developing an experimen- A National Energy Strategy? It's up to you.

Steve Vavrik

The National Energy Strategy unveiled today by President Bush is a grab bag of missed opportunities and misplaced priorities. It's a national energy tragedy designed by the oil and nuclear industries and their allies in the White House. -Howard Ris, Jr., Executive Director of the Union of Concerned Scientists On February 20, the Bush Administration released the initiatives constituted imacceptable government interfer-

National Energy Strategy (NES). What was once eagerly ence in the free market. Leave it to market-driven energy awaited as a watershed policy proposal stressing energy prices to create incentives to conserve as regulations or efficiency focused rather on energy production options much taxes would create inefficiencies and slow economic growth.^ to the anger of environmental and conservation groups. The True, the use of tax incentives and regulations to encourage NES has been introduced to legislation in the energy bill and reward conservation alters the energy market. But do (S.341) proposed by Sen. Bennett Johnston and will un- the present market parameters accurately reflect such doubtedly face much debate and revision. But one conclu- ^ externalities as environmental effects? The recent U.S. - sion is already obvious: the NES lacks any serious commit- ^ Exxon record settlement sets a precedent for including ment to energy efficiency and renewable sources. environmental obligations in corporat^mdustrial responsi-

The main points of the NES concern energy production. To bilities, but are disasters of the same magnitude as the

increase national oil reserves, the strategy suggests Valdez spill necessary to impel such actions? opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and The Current NES the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to drilling operations. In Regardless of market implications, the recommendations in the transportation sector, commercial vehicle fleets will be S.341 should be reviewed. Do they match present energy encouraged to switch to non-gasoline hydrocarbon fuels. requirements and form the building blocks for a long-term, And in power generation, the strategy proposes streamlin- sensible national energy plan? How would the opening of ing the current nuclear power licensing process to a single- the ANWR and OCS specifically benefit the national energy license procedure, mostly by reducing the number of public condition? Federal government figures estimate 6.1 billion hearings required when construction of a reactor is com- barrels of oil equivalent, approximately 3.2% of the nation's plete. total reserves (187 billion barrels), lie within the ANWR and What is notably absent from the NES is a call for conserva- the OCS outside the central and western Gulf of Mexico.^ tion. No recommendations for increased efficiency or Once obtained, these resources could only supply a small renewable energy measures, no increases in funds for amount of the total future U.S. oil consumption. According alternative energy R&D, and no programs for science the the U.S. Geological Survey, even if all such protected education are present. In his State of the Union address. lands were opened, drilled, and exploited to full capacity, it President Bush spoke of "a comprehensive national energy would only supply about one year's worth of oil based on the strategy that calls for energy conservation and efficiency, current consumption rate. Natural Resources Defence increased development and greater use of alternate fuels." Council attorney Ralph Cavanagh states, "We would wait What happened in between this message and the NES? seven to ten years for the first deliveries, and they emphati- Power of the Market cally would not be cheap.. .The drilling strategy offers at best Since mid- 1989 the Dept. of Energy has been developing a a temporary dribble of expensive oil, helping to prolong an framework for a comprehensive energy strategy. They addiction that ultimately can be sustained only through ^ gathered recommendations and suggestions from 18 public steady increasing Persian Gulf imports."

hearings and solicited comments from various related The effects of a drilling operation extend beyond the drilling

groups and agencies. During the process, one message site. The Dept. of Interior estimates 22 to 46 major oil spills

stood clear; conservation was regarded £is the preferred would occur if the current OCS Five-Year Plan is continued. energy option. "It was interesting for me to discover that According to the National Academy of Sciences, drilling a the strongest single message that emerged from our pulse- single well produces 1500-2000 tons of drilling muds and

taking for the national energy strategy was the need for cutting, much of it contaminated. The waste water from the

increased energy efficiency. This is the case. I think, not drilling operation, contaminated by oil. grease, cadmium,

just because energy efficiency is good for the environment, benzene, lead, and other toxic organics and metals, is

but just as importantly because it makes economic sense,' routinely discharged back to the surrounding well environ-

commented Energy Secretary James Watkins on June 14, ment. In the case of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the

1990. It looked as if all parties had agreed on efficiency as surrounding is a South Carolina-sized eu-ea of pristine

the foundation for the proposal, wilderness. One of the world's largest strongholds for arctic

' wildlife, the is to the 165,000-member But heavy fire came from the White House. Led by chief of ANWR home Porcu- herd, polar staff John Sununu, budget director Richard Darman, and pine caribou which shares the refuge with bears, chief economic advisor Michael Boskin, the opposition grizzlies, wolves, musk oxen, and millions of migratory contended energy efficiency measures and renewable energy waterfowl and other birds.'' Alternatives organizations offer "rewards" for cost-saving ideais by returning to you a percentage of the actual total savings. Fine. More oil drilling is nol the ultimate solution, but are Talk to others and inform them about efficiency measures. there any other attainable options? Yes, in energy effi- Consider a career in developing and manufacturing energy ciency. "Increases in oil costs can only be mitigated by efficient and renewable energy technologies — the work increases in energy efficiency," says NRDC energy analyst would most certainly be exciting and quite rewarding. David Goldstein. Transportation accounts for GOVn of the nation's oil consumption, relies on oil for 97% of its energy Conclusion requirements, and is one of the areas where efficiency Above all, examine the controversies surround the NES and implemented. increase measures can most readily be An in the energy legislation debates that will certainly follow. standards to could save automobile fuel economy 40 mpg as Both emotional pleas and bottom line calculations will be much as 8 to 9 billion barrels of oil by 2010. In contrast to widely used tools of persuasion in these eirgument. Should industry, foreign positions by the U.S. auto manufactures we sacrifice natural resources in order to feed a huge energy Volvo have responded by creating cars such as Renault and appetite? Should we let supply and demand reach equilib- with city efficiency ratings at 63 to 100 mpg, highway rium without guidance? How do we accurately evaluate the In addition, carpooling ratings at 81 to 146 mpg!^ and need, price, and environmental consequences of each option? increased use of mass transit could dramatically reduce fuel Central to the NES debate are the roles in terms of magni- consumption. Off road, home energy efficiency can be tude and direction of energy production and conservation. improved by fully insulating exterior walls, replacing single For the first time, energy conservation is being supported paned windows by multipaned insulated ones, and using for reasons other than market forces. The integration of compact fluorescent light bulbs which require 25% of the conservation for the sense of conservation into federeJ policy energy while lasting nine times longer as compared to discussions is a milestone event. Oil leaders are not playing conventional incandescent bulbs. supply games. Rather, U.S. scientists, engineers, policy- Improved efficiency measures can also be applied to other makers, £md citizens are the ones promoting conservation as areas. Home appliances such as refrigerators, washers, and the better option. water heaters can have efficiency standards similar to Over the past two decades, conservation and environmental automobiles, and some public utilities are now promoting awareness has increasingly diffused into the mainstream efficiency through programs and projects. Finally, support attitudes to the extent that it has finally penetrated for research and development for energy efficiency, renew- national policy construction as a legitimate consideration. able energy, and transportation alternatives should not only The focus of global policy-making is shifting from security to be continued but expanded. environmental concerns, and a new era is beginning. As Your opportunities college students, we are in extraordinary positions. Stand-

These policies are, of course, of national scope, and the role ing on the fringe of this new period while surveying various of the individual, let alone the typical student, seems career paths, we not only take to our careers and lifestyles negligible. But the individual level is where many policy these transferred attitudes, we carry the responsibilities of programs originate and take root. Instead of driving, walk, successfully implementing these attitudes, ensuring their bike, or use the MTD to get to class or across town. Recycle further expansion and development, and delivering them to cans, cardboard, and glass. Use canvas or net bags rather the next generations. than paper. By recycling and reusing, you eliminate the demand for the energy and resources required to replace the Steve Vavrik is a graduate student in mechanical engineer- product. Compact fluorescent light bulbs, although rela- ing and newsletter editor for the Society of Scientists for the tively expensive (about $16), make creative and thoughtful Environment. gifts. Also, low flow water nozzles on your shower and sinks conserve water and reduce the energy your water heater ' "Admiral Watkins's leaking energy policy," The F.ronomi.st . will require. 23 February 1991 p. 30. - Dwight Holing. "America's Energy Plan: Missing in Action," Get involved in community groups. Volunteer some time at The Amicus Journal (National Resources Defense Council) 13 (Winter your local recycling center. Or, if your community does not 1991): 14. have a center, look into what it would take to start a group. 3 Ibid. At your job or new career, inquire about what your summer •ibid., pp. 15-17. comp;my/firm is doing to conserve and investigate other = Ibid., pp 18-19. efficiency options that could be implemented. Many last issue's TkchTBOser solutions

1 . There were several answers to the problem. The winning answer was as follows: . c ^ v tan / -^^^ 1 VI 4 + (5 + 5) X cos 71/ 1

5 + 3 cos 71

The winning answer was submitted by Ken Smith, a graduate student in Mechanical Engineering.

2. The area of the smallest triangle is 1750 1000 +

or approximately 2010.36

Congratulations to Robert E. Miller, Professor of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.

3. In order that a number be expressible as the sum of two squares, it

must be a composite of the form 4n+1 which is prime. For example, (5x1 3x1 7x29) can be made into 8 different groups of two squares. The smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of two squares in

twelve different ways is 1 60,225 (5x5x1 3x1 7x29)

Daniel Lewart, Graduate Research Assistant in Physics, was the only one to submit the correct answer. 1 PLEASE Reqcle Jejf Lime never turns down a challenge.

magine walking into a management opportunity straight out of school. That's what happened to Jefl Lime when he entered GF.'s Chemical &: Materials Leadei"ship Program. (iE needed a replacement for an experienced engineering manager— someone to set up the new waste treatment system for a major manufacturing plant. Jeff was asked to step in and he did, right into a leadership role. Jeff helped CiE plant managers and environmentalists join forces with the EPA to ensure a clean operation. It challenged not just his technological skills, but also his ability to communicate and take charge. 1 hat may seem like an awful lot of responsibility for a job right out of college. But that's the (»E way. We hire exceptional people. Then we give them the chance to show just how exceptional they are. If you're looking for a challenge to live up to, start looking at GE.

Worldofopportunity.

An equal opportunity emphyer . October 1991 volume 107 issue one

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uGGZinSlO Q6U[I1« I stepped oround k and went

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CoLncii 4

October 1991 * j volume 107 '* /f //f issue one " yy

features

the bach box We look at one of the innovative technologies on cam-

pus and how it is developing. the flourishing relationship of art/engineering 8

When technology is blended with art, innovations are

bound to occur in both fields.

survey says... 12 what do employers really want out of engineers. What classes do engineers wish they had taken? Survey results

reveal these answer.

reaching out through writing 1

The University expands its writing programs to meet a

demand from employers for more literate engineers.

departments

editors words 3 tech teasers 4 new computer applications i 6 class at a glance i 7 uxa notes 1 8 techprofiles 20

next issue: november 4 These problems could win you money! All you

have to do is mail your answer(s) for any or all of

the problems, with your name, address, and phone

number to

Tech Teasers

lllinoi Technograph

lllini Media Company tech teasers 57 E. Green St

Champaign, IL 61801

The first person to submit a correct answer for a

problem will win the amount specified for the par-

ticular problem. In case of a tie, a name will be

drawn from the entries to deterine a winner. This

contest is not open to employees of the lllini

Media Company. one a University of Illinois tour guide leading a

group of visiting high school students down Green Street gave the following information regarding

landmarks; The height of Altgcld Hall in rods is

three less than twice the height of Everitt Lab in rods. The height of Altgeld plus half the difference between the ages of Engineering Hall and the lllini Union, respectively, in decades. The sum of the

ages of the lllini Union and Engineering Hall, in

decades, is twice the sum of the heights of Altgeld

Hall and Everitt Lab in rods. The lllini Union is

half as old as Engineering Hall will be when it is

four times as old as the lllini Union was when it was a third as old as Engineering Hall will be when

it is half as old as the lllini Union will be when it

is two fifths as old as Engineering Hall will be

when it is six times as old as it is now. How tall

is Everitt Lab? (Note: Heights and ages of building

are not based on actual data.) [$15.00J

two two reckless bicyclists are travelling toward each other from a distance of one mile. The first

is moving at a speed of 22 miles per hour, and the

other is moving at a speed of 15 miles per hour.

At this instant, a fly leaves the first bicyclist at 30 miles per hour and heads for the second bicyclist.

When it reaches the second bicyclist, the fly in- stantly turns around without changing speed and

heads back toward the first bicyclist. The fly keeps

doing this until thcye collide. What is the total distance travelled by the fly? [$10,001 C 1991 Hewlett Packard Company hilJK

More and mmc I'lil )s ai l(l^^ ilic math functions. These free the stu- country are recommending Hewlett- ilciit.s from computational tedium

Packard financial and scientific SI ) I hey can think and interact on a calculators to their students. And higlier level]' says Dr Lee V. Stiff, a for some very strong reasons. profes.sor of math education at North Carolina State University "The HP 48SX Scientific Expandable has poweiful graphics tools that are So go check out the IIP calculator remarkably helpful to students learn- line at your college bookstore or HP ing mathematical concepts. And retailer You'll agree, there's no faster with the equation solver feature, it's relief from the pain of tough problems. excellent for applying mathematics HP calculators. The best for your to engineering," according to Dr success. William Rahmeyer, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Utah State University. EWLETT "The HP Business Consultant II has an equation solver and extensive i:^^^.PACKARD bach box

Imagine dancing to music you are performing with your Matching the velocity of the dancer to the tempo of the movements. Translating dance into music has been a music is the next step, according to Agrawal. A performer dream of inspired students in Ricardo Uribe's ECE 246 class will be able to change the tempo by moving faster or slow- since 1988. The theoretical idea for this merger of two art er. This feat will be accomplished by using a second video forms came from Chris Pressingcs, a former University of camera mounted horizontal to the dancer. Illinois music student. David Cadmas transformed this vi- The engineering students also plan to assign orchestra sion into the Bach Box, a micro-controller that receives lists to various areas on the dance floor. The performer video input of a dancer and subsequently converts the im- could then move to one corner and signal a symphony to age of the dancer's movement into commands readable by play or dance into another area and the notes created would a tone generator. be performed by a jazz band. The mood of the dancer will The Bach Box accomplishes the conversion from truly control what the music sounds like. The Bach Box movement to computer code using an image processor that lends a whole new meaning to the term "air guitar", con- detects changes from one frame to the next. Overhead vid- sider "air orchestra" contests without prerecorded songs. be a eo camera input is received by the Bach Box at the rate of Building your own interactive dance floor may estimates the Bach Box, 30 still pictures per second. One frame is mapped in X-Y possibility in the future. Agrawal coordinates and stored in erasable read only memory while if mass produced, would sell for around $200. This price amplifier or speakers. a second frame is analyzed for changes from the original does not include a video camera, image. Furniture and other motionless objects will not in- Presently a demonstration of the Bach Box principles can terfere with the music because the Bach Box only detects be produced using a MIDI sampler program and mouse computer. The MIDI sampler al- what is different on the dance floor since the last frame. The connected to a personal X-Y coordinate differences in the two frames are sent to a lows the user to affect music by moving the mouse. in progression of digital signal processor that converts the differences into The Bach Box is an incredible step the first hollow bone code. A tone generator acquires these commands and pro- art forms as well as technology. From the ago, to the duces a corresponding musical note. instruments and pottery drums 6,000 years Sangay Agrawal, computer engineering senior, and Dave music synthesizer, human beings have continued to strive musical Black, senior in computer science, are interfacing the mi- for new ways to create music. The Bach Box takes from in- crocontroller to a tone generator this semester. The program performances a step further by freeing humans for the C26 digital signal processor chip is being written by strumental constraints. graduate student Rob Mqown. Agrawal believes a working prototype of the Bach Box will be finished at the end of the

Fall Semester 1991.

Patrick carmichael a quick shot at the bach box setup in the Advanced Digital Sciences Laboratory. The Macintosh sits on the left, the tone generators and digital processors to the right. 1

Art anil music have had a tremendous impact on the histo-

ry of engineering. Engineers have diligently worked out so-

lutions to prohlcms facing the artist throughout history. From musical synthesizers to pottery wheels, the engineers' innovation has played a key role in artistic development. Whenever the engineers idea pool ran dry, the artist him-

self took over.

The first sculptures were carved from stone, and as time went on man changed his methods in order to create a more accurate representation of his visions. In time, metals evolved and their usefulness appreciated. This gave rise to

The Flourishing Relationship of Art and Engineering

Dan Santner &) several metal casting methods such as the wax process. For Slilata Raman the sculptor, knowing either the science of castings or enough about carving was not enough. The sculptor had to be a master of both. This artist had to develop the skill of making the wax mold and deciding which alloy com- posite would represent the texture and color he had envi- sioned. He thus became engineer as well as artist. In our modern world, there are several very abstract

: 1 fbrms\of art. The forms range from 'simple' paintings and seulptures to high tech trick photography. Computer / ''^i graphics and imaging has developed as a relatively recent genre of expression, but already there are art galleries which cater to high-technology forms of art.

of art that is emerging is a , One of the riewest forms

pu-V sort of arnalgamation of supercomputers and imaging.

-f- p)'^' - I (f development of more sophisticated ~),P j With the oiigbing computers, teams of graphical experts are forming to work

r ,j together and create visual representations of data. One of Illinois j, .; team is fostered right here at the University / „ . 4 j u,j#^9h

^- (a^,)it>M>ventieth«century work of art itself, the Beckman / m/'J^^s;"* .'/ Center for Su- / fi^fJm:-. ^ (ji^,Inl5titUtc. The project, part of the National Applications (NCSA), aims to add another / {(!.)f(K:>llfAir I percompiiting •• which scientists analyze / 4- kPt" ''y dimension to the methods by

• is / . <)x,>' ,. u > their data. ScienMic visualization is the phrase that ''' ~ ' i, hopping around thfe research community and it seems to be quite a hot jingle. The project aims at using the supercomputing power of such computers as the Cray to develop a means by which engineers and scientists can visualize physical processes. In a way, the artistic propensities of the gifted are proving to be quite useful in some fields of engineering and a trend is growing. Applications already exist in the areas of fluid dy- namics, electromagnetism, and even plasma physics. Recently Parkland Community College began offering a pioneer program in computer graphics directed by Dick Bennett and taught in the Beckman Institute's Renaissance Experimental Laboratory (REL) by Ray Idaszak and Mike Krogh. This year 13 students are expected to graduate from the "Advanced Certification Program for Visualization Computer Graphics Specialist." These students, upon completion of the program, have the new and exciting challenge of drawing together the engineering disciplines and the artistic ideas of visualization technology. They are the engineers/artists that will become the sculptors of the

future of science.

Audible art has not been untouched by engineering ei-

ther. Music has relied upon fundamental engineering con- cepts for time immemorial. In the eighteenth century whi.;n Mozart and his peers wrote their music there was no elec-

tricity. Musicians relied solely on the capabilities of the vj- olins and other instruments. When one thinks of the vio-

lin, one can immediately see the significance of tlic di mensions of the instrument: the tension in the strings .^nd the materials used to construct the voilin are only two as- pects of the engineering in play. These aspects arc in t^ct directly related to the discipline of acoustic engineering k

is this knowledge of how sound travels that helps people design excellent concert halls. Today, additional aids are available as well, such as microphones, loudspeakers, am-

plifiers and the like which have invaded the concert halls and banquet rooms in order to help the sound travel farther. Modern music has great diversity but all forms have a

common thread; the creation of sound that is nev^f. In a sense, engineering has gone beyond the limitations of the

physical skills of musically inclined. Today there are elec-

tronic music synthesizers simple enough to be used by a

child to make music at home. At the same time, there are world famous artists such as Karlheinz Stockhausen, )ean

Michelc Jarre, Alan Parsons, and Laurie Anderson who use synthesizers in the creation of their works. Frank Zappa

even went as far as completing an entire album without ever recording one instrument. The album was done on the Synclavier, a musical computer/keyboard that will actual-

ly record the musical composition as it is played by the

artist and record the information on disk. With the advent

of digital music, such musical workstations as the Syncla- vier or the Kurzweil have become common place in the studios. A musician can create his song at home on his

personal (less expensive) music system, record the infor-

mation on a computer disk, and then bring it to the studio to be recorded. There arc now microprocessor-based key-

boards that the novice musician can obtain for as little as $1500; these produce CD quality sound and incorporate a real time editor. So an innovative novice musician can try

his ideas out and half-live the life of a professional. The only

remaining frontier for the musical instrumentation industry

is to transfer the thoughts of the musician into musical data

signals. Imagine the effect (note: see the bach box article].

If only Mozart could see us now!

Figuring out where lies the future of engineering is half

of the fun of being an engineer. One thing that is for sure

is, as in the words of Donna Cox, NCSA Associate Director

for Numerical Laboratory Programs and Art and Design Professor, the continued relationship of art and engineering will have a "major societal impact" or more precisely will continue to have a major societal impact. Timothy Ferris

sums it up best: "The delights of science and mathematics are too profound, and too important, to be left to scientists and mathematicians alone. They belong to the cultural heritage of the entire world, and to know something about

them is to be acquainted with the finest new achievements of the human mind."

10 The basic processing module of the Connection Macahine (CM-2), a

massively (!?) parallel supercomputer manufactured by Thinking Machines Corporation.

The Connection Machine system is a fundamental part of the visualization projects at the Beckmann Institute.

11 A siirvc> by the American Society of Engineering Ed-

ucation tallies complaints about technical writing

from 182 senior officials in science and industry.

Complaints # responding Generally foggy language 182

Inadequate general vocabulary 1 73 Failure to connect information to point 169 Wordiness 164 Lack of stressing important points 163

All sort of illogical reasoning 163 Too much "engineering gobbledygook" 160 Poor overall organization 153 No clear overview 143 No clear continuity 142

Very little concept of writing for anyone but specialists 136 Poor grammar 133

General lack of flexibility to suit circumstances 127 Deliberate obscurity 92 Poor punctuation 81

No sense of proper tone for circumstances 72 Poor adaptation of form to purpose 64 Almost meaningless mtroduction 54

12 The American Society of Engineering Ed- ucation conducted a survey to determine which academic subjects arc most needed for engineering careers in industry. Re- sponses were received from 4057 engi- neers, all having at least several years of on-the-job experience. rank (!)

We. wj^^^^^jBji s^ow ^ $ uTi

j»-.«33i*)<:w.,v,.j ^ Keaching Out

&

Improving Engineering Discourse

4

14 The terms "writing across the curricuhim" and "muhidis- ment, the Center for Writing Studies also helps students in cipHnary discourse" have been bantered about quite a bit need of help with writing assignments. For the past year, in academic circles for a number of years. However, the the Center has operated the Writers' Workshop located in held over University of Illinois is working to turn those terms into the undergraduate library. This workshop, which effective communication strategies for students and edu- 2500 appointments in 1990, will help students with any cators across the Urbana-Champaign campus. University part of the writing process and will arrange 30-minute ap- requirements will soon include two semesters of composi- pointments or sessions on a walk-in basis. of the students served in the first year of oper- tion for all students. The big question soon becomes where Analysis are not in of to put that second semester of writing studies. ation reveal that most students need heavy Instead of adding another semester of rhetoric, some remediation. Instead the Workshop functions as a "sound- departments are choosing to integrate more writing into ing board" for students to be helped with their own writ- classes that students are required to take within their ma- ing. Students can bring their papers in on disk if they wish or during their tutorial. Tutors will jors. For engineering students, this means practice with to work on an IBM Mac technical writing and laboratory report writing as well as not proofread, correct, or offer grade assignments on papers, writing about engineering related issues. Some courses but they will offer strategies to help with grammar prob- lems and to aid in student proofreading. In addition, the Writers' Workshop contains a growing library of books on writing and handouts dealing with writing problems and frequently asked questions. Through Writing In response to a large number of engineering majors that have utilized the facility in the past year, the Writers'

Workshop is moving a satellite branch to the Engineering

Library north of Green St. Professor Michael Pemberton,

Director of the Writer's Workshop, says that this will en- able Engineering students to more easily have access to tu-

proposed to be accepted as "writing intensive" courses in- tors and other opportunities that the facility provides. Ruth clude AAE 241, AgE 298 and 299, ChE 374, ECE 244 and Yontz and Carl Alstetter of the College of Engineering re- 345, GE 292, CerE 297, ME 205, Phys 319, and TAM 293 ceived an Apple Core award consisting of four Macintosh and 294. Already, some of these courses have increased Ilsi computers and an Apple LaserWriter for use in the sat- their emphasis on technical writing. Educators in engi- ellite Writers' Workshop. These computers will allow stu- neering hope that this extra practice for students will hush dents to consult with tutors about papers on disk, make the growing cry from employers that graduates do not have revisions and notes, and allow students access to the com- the writing skills necessary to communicate on a profes- puterized catalog system for information concerning re-

sional level. search problems.

But that professional level of discourse is difficult for At present, the tutors for both workshops come from students to achieve without extensive help from well- various majors. Professor Pemberton hopes that sometime trained writers. The "writing across the curriculum" in the future more tutors from engineering fields will be- movement has brought a useful resource to the University come available. The Writers' Workshop at 251 Undergrad- in the form of the Center for Writing Studies (name pend- uate Library and the Satellite Writers' Worshop in the En- ing approval). In addition to establishing a multidisciplinary gineering Library will provide students from all majors the graduate program in rhetoric and composition studies and opportunity to take advantage of learning opportunities assisting faculty who wish to implement more writing in which are fashionably called "multidisciplinary" by aca- community. ^ their classrooms to fulfill the new composition require- demians and necessary by the professional

joan leach

15 Astrophysicists from the University of Illinois and Princeton University have

developed the most accurate computer model of galaxy formation in the ear-

ly universe. The model utilizes the resources of the U. of l.'s National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) to present the most comprehensive

visualization of the structure of the early universe. The research team that new computer applications I developed the model was led by astrophysicist and astronomer Michael Nor- I man of the University of Illinois and by the chair of the astrophysics department

thonuiS nani at Princeton University. Jeremiah Ostriker.

The project goes further than Princeton's previous model, the first to in-

corporate ordinary matter as well as "dark." or invisible, matter and gravity.

"Ostriker and his colleagues have been able to take their model to the next

step - considering the effect of stars and galaxies on the development of the

universe," said Norman.

The new galaxy formation model was first simulated on Princeton's CONVEX C220 supercomputer. The model covers 90 percent of the age of

the universe, starting about one billion years after the big bang. It takes a giant

cube section of the universe, approximately 200 million light-years wide, di-

vides it into four million smaller pieces, and then calculates what happens in

each piece. The 250 hour simulation produced ten billion bytes of data.

This data was shipped via computer network to NCSA's CONVEX C240 supercomputer. Using NCSA's "Cosmology Explorer" software, the re-

searchers created visualizations of their galaxy formation model on the C240;

afterwards, they manipulated the visuals on a state-of-the-art workstation.

A short segment of the visualizations shows, for example, galaxies color-

coded by generations. The first generation might appear in a big burst at the

beginning, and then the rate of formation would slow down. Eventually, the

galaxies would form into the features of the universe as we know it today,

including clusters, superclusters, and the voids which separate superclusters.

The next step in the project is to run larger simulations at a higher reso-

lution. The research team will also utilize the NCSA Connection Machine

Model 2 (CM-2), a much faster machine for simulation purposes. The re-

searchers from the U. of I. include Norman and Deyang Song, a graduate

student in computer science. The collaborating researchers from Princeton

include Ostriker, Renyue Cen, Antony Jameson, and Feng Liu.

16 mark maslov

class at a glance I I

The department of Mechanical Engineer-

ing's senior design course, ME 280, gives ME students an opportunity to create and

present their own designs. Taught by Dean

Carl S. Larson, students work all semester students on how to write their projects Brian Vicich, senior in ME, says, "I like in groups of three or four on projects reports. Students also give several oral this course better than anything else I've which are submitted to companies which presentations; a proposal presentation, taken at the U. of I. There isn't the pres- sometimes actually consider implementing two progress reports, and a final presen- sure of taking tests; it's just up to you to the designs. tation. All of the presentations are video- do the job." This seems representative of The projects ME 280 students work taped and shown both to the students so the students' opinion of the hands-on ex- on cover a variety of mechanical engineer- they can observe their own speaking perience the course offers. The students ing topics. For example, one recent project styles, and to the company that has a stake say that the problems are more challeng- is a light-reflective system to align the in the project. ing in a design course than in other cours- wheels of a John Deere tractor. Another ME 280 classes are informal, with es, and that they learn more by doing than project is a design for a steam roller which Dean Larson's teaching assistants take by just listening to a professor lecture. vibrates in order to compact asphalt more much of the responsibilty of managing the Regarding the course material. Dean efficiently. Other projects involve design- course. Generally, Larson does not lec- Larson states, "I think it's very good expe- ing machines that assist physically disabled ture, but instead advises students on their rience for students." The projects require people. This is only a small sampling of projects and checks their progress. a good knowledge of basic principles cov- typical ME 280 designs. Dean Larson quickly wins his students ered in earlier courses, so they give the Says Dean Larson, "The projects are over with his interest in their design students a chance to use what they have like homework in other classes, only... you projects. Only a few weeks into the se- learned. Plus, giving presentations is a skill can't get the answer by re-reading the mester, students are impressed with his the students will need in the workplace. chapter." Additionally, because the willingness to share his "vast amounts" of ME 280 gives students experience projects tackle authentic problems, they experience. Dean Larson's goal is to cre- working real-world problems. Courses like are more realistic. A project will most ate an environment where people are this are important, because as an under- likely require a student to draw on infor- motivated to work. He claims that because graduate student, it is easy to forget that mation from several courses. Dean Larson there is plenty of enthusiasm, he doesn't out in the "real world," real engineers pointed out a project where students must have to push his students; but his own en- create real designs that people can see, find ways to recycle plastic automobile thusiasm for the projects must influence touch, use - not designs that exist only in bumpers. This project differs from a typi- his students attitudes. a textbook. cal design problem in that its scope ex- tends beyond mechanical engineering.

A diversity of skills are needed as well, since technical writing and oral presenta- tions are important parts of the course.

While it is important to have a good de- sign, it does little good if one cannot com- municate the design clearly to others.

Professor Gieselman occasionally gives lectures on technical writing to inform the

17 Two years ago, the Computer Services Office (CSO) started giving away com-

CSO UlUCnet dial-up service. puter accounts on a machine called uxa to all incoming freshmen. Although this

Authorized Use Only, program has been a reasonable success, many students don't realize what they enter "helpme" for help than thelp: more can gain from their uxa accounts; some don't even know what uxa is. This is the enter "mold" for messages of the day. first installment in a series which explains how you can utilize your uxa account

to its fullest. . mossberg>rlogin uxa To explain briefly, uxa is one of the many mainframes on campus run by ^ CSO. Although many of the other mainframes are reserved for research or

classes (some programming courses require uxl accounts, for example), uxa is

the machine primarily used by the undergraduate students of the University. Uxa

is also hooked into international computer networks, allowing access to com-

puters and information all over the world. Although this is certainly convenient

for the researcher, undergrads may benefit as well. Some of the things one might do with uxa include e-mailing (electronic

mailing) or talking to friends across the world, participating in discussion groups

Trying UXA.CSO.UIUC.EDU (128.174.2.3)... with dozens of people on campus or across the English-speaking world on almost Open any topic, getting up to date information about campus events, activities, and login: yourlogin groups, transferring public domain and shareware software from hundreds of Password: computers across the world, and working with EPO (Engineering Placement

Last login: Sun Sep 29 13:28:57 from uxa Office) to find a job after graduation. In this first installment, we'll discuss getting DYNIX(R)V3.1.1 NFS #2 (bob): Fri Aug 30 your account up and running, as well as electronic mail. Now, dig out that letter 12:23:53 CDT 1991 you got from CSO, and let's get going.

First of all, I should stress that much of what will be covered In this column Some bulletin here is also covered in the Computing Handbook for Students. You may find this at

many CSO sites, including Room 8, English BIdg., and it is a good Introduction Maybe another bulletin here the uxa account. However, we will cover a few things the book does not, so

stick around. Anyone with problems with their accounts or seniors who do not If you terminal is not the type shown, enter

your terminal type at the prompt have accounts may wish to visit the English BIdg. Finally, remember that an ac-

TERM = (vt102) count on uxa, or any mainframe, is a privilege and not a right. CSO reserves the

right to revoke your account at any time if you misuse it.

1> HOOKING UP TO UXA. If you have a computer with a modem, hook-

ing up to uxa is relatively convenient. Simply set up your modem for a baud rate

up to 2400 and full duplex (these settings may be standard in your terminal pro-

gram) Then dial 333-4000. This number routs you to either Mossberg or Terml.

which are remote connection servers. This means that these servers will take a

phone call and send it to the machine you request. To request uxa, type: riogin

uxa fSee Figure \).

If you are using a machine in a computer lab, things are a little simpler. On an IBM select the menu option which corresponds to connecting to a remote machine. When asked for the machine name, type uxa. On a Macintosh, there

should be a file called uxa which will automatically connect you. If you have John fllltz questions, ask the operator in the lab.

LOGGING IN. At this point, uxa asks for your login. Simply type in your uxa notes | login as it was given to you by CSO. Remember that everything in uxa is case

sensitive, so you should have your CAPS LOCK key off. After a short pause,

uxa will request your password. Type in your password as it was given. Note I

that you will not be able to see the password as you type it in. This keeps other

people who are watching you from seeing your password as well. If you are

connected from your personal computer, it will ask for your terminal type.

Again, check your modem program and documentation to see what terminal

type you are using. Some of the more popular ones include ANSI and VTIOO. If

18 the terminal type is correct as shown, you may simply press ENTER. If not, then

type in the correct one. At this point, you should see something slightly re- 3> elm

sembling Figure 2. Notice: Something you should pay immediate attention to is changing your password. This version of requires the of Type passwd to change your password. You will need to type in your old pass- ELM use a elm directory in yoru home word, type in a new password, and type in the new password again to confirm directory to store your elmrc and alias tiles. it. Be careful to choose a password that is not obvious, like a birthdate or a boy/

Shall I create the girlfriend's name, etc. directory .elm for you and set it up (y/n)? EMAIL. You now may be so happy that you wish to tell everyone else that Yes. you're on uxa. One of the best ways to do that is to send them e-mail. But first Great! I'll do it now. you have to know their e-mail addresses. For someone off campus, you will have

to find out their e-mail address by phone or U.S. mail or some interpersonal Reading in /usr/spool/mail/your/og;>7.

contact. However, the process is much simplified if the person you wish to e- message:0

mail is on campus. A program available to uxa called ph (ala phonebook) stores Mailbox is 7usr/spool/mail/your/og/n' with 2.3 every student and faculty member's name, address, phone number, and e-mail messages [ELM PL11 ] address. To ph someone, simply type ph Firstname Lastname. Do not use

nicknames for the first name (e.g. use Michael, not Mike). You could simply type

in the last name and get a listing of all people with that last name. You may want

to write down the e-mail addresses of the people you wish to send mail to.

MAIL. One of the commonly used programs for sending or checking mail

is. aptly enough, mail. To send mail to someone, type mail e-mail_address.

You will be prompted for a subject. Type in a subject of the letter, and press

ENTER. Then type in your message. Note that mail does not have word

wrapping, so press ENTER at the end of each line. When you are finished, go to

a new line by pressing ENTER. Then press the control key plus the D key. Uxa Ar^y incoming mail is listed up here^

replies with a new line: cc:, asking if you wish to send carbon copies of this let-

ter to anyone else. If you do, type their addresses, each separated by a space. If

not, press ENTER. Now your mail is sent.

If you wish to check your mail, simply type mail. If you have mail, a num-

bered list of the messages will be displayed. Type the number of the message

you wish to read, or keep pressing ENTER to read the mail in order. To delete You can use any of the following com- a message, type d# (where # is the number of the message). To reply to a mands by pressing the first character; message, type m#. To quit the mailing program, type q. Confused? There is an d)elete or u)ndelete mail, m)ail a message, easier option. r)eply of f)on«ard mail, q)uit ELM. Elm is an alternative mailing program which is a menu-based and To read a message, press , generally easier to figure out than mail. To use it. simply type elm. If you have = move down, k = = j move up. ? help never used elm, before, you should see something similar to Figure i. Just press ENTER to the questions, and the program will automatically set up elm for you. Command:

The elm program screen looks like Figure 4. If you have messages waiting, they will be listed at the top of the screen. Type the number of the message to select a message. Then follow the prompts. If you type m to mail a message, you may follow the prompts similarly to the mail program. The difference is that, to write the letter, elm uses your preferred text editor, which has probably been set to vi. If you don't know how to use vl, you may get reference sheets on it from

CSO. Otherwise, you may wish to use mail for the time being.

Here are some other commands you might want to try while waiting for

part two of this series. Have fun.

man command (where comrDand is the command you want the help for) finger e-mail_address w (stands for what) who

P'

19 tech profiles I I ricardo uribe; guiding our future

Entering the Advanced Digital Systems Laboratory (ADSL) means en-

tering the future of engineering, a future encouraged by Professor

Ricardo UrIbe. UrIbe considers himself a friend to students in ECE 246,

272, 296, 498 and 499 who learn about advanced digital devices that contain microcomputers and microprocessors.

These classes are in actuality free-form labs, v^here students are en-

couraged to pursue projects they enjoy. Uribe wants to "provide an en-

vironment that gives the students confidence.. .where they won't be po-

liced." He feels that the students' potential for creativity is wasted If they

are told what to do. After picking a project, students are provided with

the materials and means to learn, but the students do not listen to lec-

turers and never take tests. For those a bit uncertain in their roaming,

Uribe provides a syllabus with a framework of eleven possible areas;

vehicle simulation, music, Image and voice processing, graphics, robotics, networks, software, peripherals, open house projects or support

projects of ECE 311, 249 and other courses.

The course meets on fridays for an hour to discuss

projects, but other meeting times are worked out Indi-

vidually. Usually, a project will have a group of two to four

people working on It, although some projects have more

people Involved. At the end of the semester a device must

be designed, built, tested and documented. The project is

then shown off at the ADSL open house at the end of the

semester. Therefore students participate in all compo- nents of product development while improving their

communication skills involved in the presentation of their

design. Uribe feels that this process is closer to the actual

"real world" design process than many classes ever come.

Uribe provides his students with new avenues to

learning engineering which excites student potentials and

stops learning from becoming a chore.

20 .

Please send me information on the Coast Guard Officer Candidate School Name

-Zip- Address _ . City State.

College Major Telephone ( ) . Graduation Date _

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