Currents Magazine Is Published Twice a Year by the Michigan State University Currentscurrentscollege of Engineering for Alumni, Faculty, Staff, Students, and Friends

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE CURRENTSCURRENTSVolume 1, Number 1 Spring/Summer 2001

Prof’s Recent Notoriety Benefits Students MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE Volume 1, Number 1 Spring/Summer 2001 Currents Magazine is published twice a year by the Michigan State University CURRENTSCURRENTSCollege of Engineering for alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends. Contents

9 E-WEEK POETRY CONTEST 10 PROF’S RECENT NOTORIETY BENEFITS STUDENTS 20 COMMENCEMENT 2001 21 RICHARD H. BROWN NAMED CLAUD R. ERICKSON DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS 22 GIRL SCOUTS EARN WATER WONDERS BADGES

Janie M. Fouke, Dean Editor: Laura Luptowski Photography: Craig Gunn, Walter Kuhn, Laura Luptowski, Cathy McGowen, Ron McQueeney, and Harley J. Seeley Design: Blue Pencil Creative Group Printing: Lawson Printers, Inc.

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please direct all correspondence to Editor, Currents Magazine, In Every Issue 3412 Engineering Building, MSU, East Lansing, MI 48824. 2 FROM THE DEAN Telephone: (517) 432-1303 Fax: (517) 355-2288 3 DEPARTMENT NEWS & RESEARCH E-mail: [email protected] 14 FACULTY, STAFF, & STUDENT AWARDS Copyright © 2001 Michigan State University 18 DEVELOPMENT College of Engineering. Seeley Harley J. Photo by All rights reserved. ABOUT THE COVER: Robert Hubbard, 24 CLASS NOTES & OBITUARIES professor of materials science and mechanics, holds the patent for HANS¨, MSU is an affirmative-action, a head and neck support device for race equal-opportunity institution. car drivers.

Michigan State University College of Engineering 1 From the Dean

Many new and exciting things are happening in the College of Engineering.

First, welcome to the premier issue of our new Currents Magazine. In the past, Currents was published twice a year as a two-color, 16-page newsletter. Beginning with this issue, Volume 1, Number 1, Spring/Summer 2001, we are going to a four-color magazine format. You will notice more photos and shorter stories; this will enable us to cover more events and bring you a wider variety of information.

In this premier issue, you will read about many “firsts.” Thanks to a design team of four mechanical engineering students, eighth-grader Korbi Bare, for the first time, is able to join her friends when they ride their bikes. Student teams in the Department of Agricultural Engineering continue to win first place honors in international design competitions. During Engineering Week in February, for the first time, the college sponsored the MSU Engineering Poetry Contest. We discovered what we knew all along—engineers can write!

The College of Engineering recently received the largest gift in the history of MSU. Janie M. Fouke Mechanical Dynamics, Inc., an engineering software development company headquartered in Ann Arbor, has donated virtual prototyping software with a commercial value of $60.7 million—their largest gift ever—to be integrated into our mechanical engineering courses beginning this fall.

Our cover story features Bob Hubbard, who has patented the HANS¨—a head and neck support device used by race car drivers. You may have seen the extensive national news coverage that he received this year.

What an exciting time to be in engineering! As you will see in these pages, there are more and more opportunities for our students, our faculty, and our staff to get involved in a hands-on way. Not only will you find examples of clever designs and innovative approaches to problem solving, you will find that we are dedicated to improving our world and the quality of life for the people who inhabit it. I’m certain that as you read these stories, you will feel as proud as I do about what we’re accomplishing.

Currents Magazine will be published twice a year for alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends of the College of Engineering to keep you up to date on all the latest happenings.

I hope you enjoy reading this first issue of the new magazine. And as always, we welcome your comments and suggestions.

Janie M. Fouke Dean

2 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001 Department News & Research

A winning team in the 11th Annual International AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Environmental Design Contest, from left to right: Nichole Ritchie, Maria Suparno, Megan Laird, Kathryn Streams, and Molly O’Flaherty. They competed in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in April 2001.

and vegetables have been subjected to fecal contamination. The team developed a detection method in which fecal contamination is revealed by a chemiluminescent reagent that emits light only in the presence of beta-galactosidase, an enzyme peculiar to coliform bacteria. Concentrations as low as 10 cfu per ml can be detected in about seven hours. The FDA’s current method requires 24 hours. This same team had placed second in the MSU University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum with their presentation earlier in the month. According to Evangelyn Alocilja, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Engineering and the WERC competition team advisor, “Developing rapid methods for detecting human pathogens of animal origin is critical for food and environmental safety, consumer protection and health, and sustainability of agriculture and food industries.” In another competition, sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE), an MSU team won first place out of Biosystems 27 entries for a drain tile laying system. Kris Wardin and John Phillips designed, built, and field tested an Estate-Scale Tiling System. Engineering Students Their project is unique in that a lot of other designs stop at the drawing and computer Winners in Seeking Sustainable Solutions animation stages; Wardin and Phillips carried theirs out to the actual testing phase. The iosystems Engineering students are but foreign farms may use sewage sludge on objective of their system, which is designed Bseeking sustainable solutions. And they their fields. Since it is impossible for U.S. for use on public golf courses in Michigan, is are coming up with winning ideas. agencies to inspect foreign farms’ fertilizer to reduce the amount of time and labor Several students in the Department of practices, there is concern over the safety of involved in the tile-laying process. Optimal Agricultural Engineering have won design imported fruits and vegetables. drainage allows players to use the course competitions during the past few months. The students developed a method using soon after a rainfall, resulting in a more Last spring, a team of six students chemiluminescence to reveal the presence of profitable business. traveled to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Salmonella (a human pathogen) at won first place in the 10th Annual concentrations of 10 colony forming units International Environmental Design Contest (cfu) per ml or greater. The test requires sponsored by WERC: A Consortium for only six hours to complete, as opposed to Environmental Education and Technology the FDA’s current method, which requires Development. It was the first time ever that 72 hours. This same team garnered first place Biosystems Engineering had a team in the in the MSU University Undergraduate competition. Jennifer Davis, Keith Depp, Research and Arts Forum last year. Patricia Huddas, Jamie McConville, April This year’s team, Megan Laird, Molly Pasutti, and Sharon Vennix took first place in O’Flaherty, Nichole Ritchie, Kathryn the Task 6 category of the competition— Streams, and Maria Suparno, also took a Pathogen Detection on Fresh Fruits and first place in April in WERC’s 11th Annual Vegetables. WERC awards a cash prize and International Environmental Design Contest trophy to the first place team in each task. in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The team’s Using raw sewage for soil amendment is task was to demonstrate a novel process not allowed in the U.S. agricultural industry, that can rapidly determine whether fruits

Michigan State University College of Engineering 3 Department News & Research “The folks in that program are going to have a monumental head start,” notes Felder. The Writing’s Today’s technology is certainly helping to move teaching and training in these new directions. Distance learning used to mean pointing a on the Wall—Or Not camera at someone, videotaping the lecture, “ riting on the wall” is not the best Group work in the classroom can prepare and putting it on the Web. But if sitting in Wway to teach today’s engineering students for that. Just as in real-world jobs, a classroom watching someone write on a students, according to Richard M. Felder, when students are placed in a group situation wall is ineffective, watching a video of Hoechst Celanese Professor Emeritus of in the classroom, they not only have to someone writing on a wall is even less Chemical Engineering at North Carolina complete the task at hand, they have to figure effective, Felder says. State University. out how to work with the other people and “The Murky Crystal Ball: Current Issues personalities involved. and Future Directions in Engineering The traditional way of structuring CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Education” was the title of Felder’s engineering curricula has been to: presentation at the Department of Chemical 1. teach the basics (science, math, Engineering’s Third Johansen-Crosby chemistry, physics); Lecture in April. 2. go into applications later; and 3. end with the capstone design project in the senior year (where everything comes together). But many students are practically versus theoretically oriented, Felder says. “They have trouble understanding things that they can’t anchor clearly to the real world. When

they don’t get to see the real world until their Seeley Harley J. Photo by senior year, it doesn’t work particularly well.” Faculty and students attend the Johansen-Crosby Lecture. Using nontraditional methods to train graduate students and new faculty members Today’s definition of distance learning is just as important as teaching undergraduate includes lectures supplemented with Web- students. In 90 percent of the cases, there is a based, interactive modules. Tutorials and learning curve of four to five years before a simulations provide instant feedback.

Photo by Harley J. Seeley Harley J. Photo by new faculty member becomes an effective However, the traditional, live classroom Richard M. Felder teacher and a productive researcher. Only won’t go away completely. Felder predicts about 10 percent of new faculty can come in that an increasing number of undergraduate Felder is coauthor of an introductory and within a year or two be teaching programs across the country will turn to chemical engineering textbook now in its effectively and exceeding the department’s distance-based programs, but the highly third edition, Elementary Principles of expectations. Appointing a veteran faculty ranked research universities—like Stanford Chemical Processes. He received his member to work with the new faculty member and MIT—will continue to teach bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering during his or her first year is one solution. traditionally. Many universities will from the City College of New York in 1962, Last spring, MSU’s College of incorporate interactive, multimedia-based and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Engineering began offering a two-course instructional software into their live Princeton University in 1966. Felder and teaching certificate program for doctoral classroom formats, while at the same time Dr. Rebecca Brent, his wife and colleague, students. In the first course, students learn ensuring that the professors will serve as true codirect the National Effective Teaching how to plan a lesson, how to identify mentors to their students. Institute (NETI). different types of learners, and how to give Many educators may ask: Can we afford Comparing and contrasting the traditional an effective lecture. The following semester, to do all these things? versus emerging methods of teaching the student is mentored by a faculty member. “Can we afford not to?” Felder responds. engineering courses, he outlined why a blend of lecturing with cooperative and interactive teaching is better than the traditional Johansen-Crosby Lecture instructor-centered approach. This endowed lectureship honors the parents of Professor Edwin Johansen “The lecture should not be the sole means Crosby, who received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from MSU in of educating,” Felder says. Part of the pressure to do things differently 1950. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in 1955 from the University of Wisconsin, and is coming from industry. They are saying that spent his entire career as an educator and researcher in the Department of while graduating seniors do have adequate Chemical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, until his death in training in the technical areas, the “softer” 1991. His father, Edwin Rallard Crosby, owned an electric supply company in Flint, social skills are missing. Students are not as Michigan. His mother, Thora Anne Johansen Crosby, was a horticulturalist and a strong in communications and teamwork as volunteer with MSU’s Cooperative Extension Service. they should be.

4 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001 Department News & Research CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Interdisciplinary Research Team Heads into Final Four SU sports teams are not the only ones In 1992, Mike Dybas, assistant professor to remediate the whole plume.” Madvancing to the Final Four. A team of in MSU’s Center for Microbial Ecology and Thus the research team will utilize environmental engineers, chemical engineers, an adjunct professor in the College of two technologies to increase the rates of microbiologists, and geologists are going into Engineering, had discovered that this microbe remediation. One technology the researchers phase four of cleaning up a polluted aquifer and its activity could be controlled by pH will use is bioaugmentation with dechlorinating in Schoolcraft, Michigan, a small town in the levels. Maintaining the pH around 8.2 microbes that actually “breathe” volatile southern part of the state. allowed P. stutzeri KC to be active in situ. organic compounds. A second approach will Known as the Schoolcraft Project, “Prior to that, a lot of work had been done be biostimulation to try to enhance the research began at field scale in 1994 and is in the laboratory but no one had been able to natural attenuation process. Biostimulation nearing completion. The project is now get this to work in real groundwater,” says is defined as the addition of nutrients, entering phase four—the final phase—which Dybas, Schoolcraft Project manager. “So by oxygen, or other electron donors and is full-scale remediation. discovering the microbe, and discovering an acceptors to increase the number of In the 1980s, in response to residential environmental condition that optimized its indigenous microorganisms available for water investigations, the state discovered a activity, we had a potential solution. Much of degradation of contaminants. plume of carbon tetrachloride (CT) in the our work on making this a practical technology St. Joseph Aquifer. (A plume is an elongated focused on issues of delivery and control.” body of fluid, usually mobile and varying in Biological technology has been taken from shape.) Contamination in the mile-long plume the laboratory, through to initial field was measured as high as 150 parts per billion evaluations, to development of practical (ppb); the maximum permissible level set by technology for implementation of full-scale the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) remediation. Construction for the final phase is 5 ppb. will begin later this summer. The chemical spill—estimated at less than Now, the researchers are beginning 30 gallons—was traced to the use of a grain another initiative at Schoolcraft, where they silo fumigant. The insecticide, used in the will apply the techniques they learned in their 1960s to kill boll weevils and other insect earlier research. pests in grains, was 60 percent carbon During the state’s investigation, they had tetrachloride, now a known carcinogen. discovered two other plumes. Plume F contains Enter the research team made up of MSU chromium and arsenic. Plume G contains Photo by Cathy McGowen Cathy Photo by and University of Michigan players. The perchloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), Sampling and monitoring well installation for Plumes G challenge was to come up with an alternative trichloroethane (TCA), and other volatile and F evaluation. to conventional cleanup methods, which are organic compounds (known as VOCs). The researchers have obtained core samples both costly and time consuming. Research But new challenges face the research and groundwater from the site and plan to was funded at approximately $1 million per team. Plumes F and G are larger than plume construct two side-by-side test plots of year through last year. A; combined, they are approximately two 100 50 feet each at the leading edge of the The researchers proposed miles long and a half mile wide, one of the significant contamination near the center of the bioaugmentation, a technique that adds larger in the state of Michigan. And while plume. This field test system, which will nonnative microbes to clean up toxic wastes. plume A is of moderate concentration compare biostimulation versus Fortuitously, in 1988, Craig Criddle, a former (70Ð100 ppb), plumes F and G have a much bioaugmentation, will be installed late this MSU professor who is now at Stanford, had higher concentration of pollutants—one to summer and evaluated after a year. The entire discovered Pseudomonas stutzeri KC, a five parts per million (ppm). More project is expected to run three and a half years. bacteria that breaks down CT. significantly, plumes F and G are a mixed Coming up with cheaper, better, and faster waste, a variety of VOCs plus metals. ways to clean up the Schoolcraft site will A slightly more complicated field benefit Michigan taxpayers, who are experiment will be necessary because of the currently helping to pay for cleanup costs. complexity of this project. In addition, says Dybas, “The technologies “P. stutzeri KC does not degrade any of developed as a result of the Schoolcraft these compounds so we will not be able to go research will be transferable to other, similar back to what we know with that particular waste plumes across the state—and even microbe,” says Dybas. “We will evaluate non-similar plumes.” multiple approaches, both passive and active.” Now that’s team spirit. Dybas says that remediation processes are already naturally occurring at the Schoolcraft For more information about the

Photo by Cathy McGowen Cathy Photo by site. “What you have is evidence of natural Schoolcraft Project, visit the Web site at Schoolcraft Field System: Bob Heine of EFX Systems setting the flow rate. attenuation, but it appears to be not sufficient http://www.egr.msu.edu/schoolcraft.

Michigan State University College of Engineering 5 Department News & Research Steve Akers Gives Advice for Success to Computer Science Undergrads f you are thinking about founding your After graduating from MSU, he was Iown networking company, don’t rush out recruited by a medical company in Boston. He and start your own business the day after you took more computer science courses. Along graduate. That would be Steve Akers’ the way, he received his M.S. in computer recommendation. science from Boston University, and earned an Akers, who graduated from MSU’s M.B.A. from the University of College of Agriculture and Natural Resources MassachusettsÐLowell. His résumé includes with a bachelor’s degree in packaging in firms like Hewlett-Packard and Apollo 1980, offered this advice to computer science Computers. He was a team leader at Stratus and engineering undergrads during a recent Computer, focusing on high-speed, fault- visit to the College of Engineering. tolerant networking projects. He was then CTO

COMPUTER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING COMPUTER “Don’t try to start up a company right and vice president of advanced technology out of college,” he told professor Herman development at Shiva, where he was the chief Hughes’ class. “You don’t yet understand architect for the LanRover Access Switch, business issues. You don’t yet know enough recognized by industry analysts as the best people,” he says. remote access server in its class. And he should know. Heeding his own Akers is now Chief Technology Officer advice, Akers worked for several firms and (CTO) of Lucent’s InterNetworking earned his master’s and an M.B.A. before he Systems Group. started his own business, SpringTide His advice to students who want to Networks, in 1998. He recently sold his become entrepreneurs: successful company to Lucent Technologies, SpringTide 7000 IP Service Switch 1. Seek a job with someone who’ll help Inc. for $1.3 billion. you work with a team. It’s important to SpringTide Networks pioneered the packaging as a major, because he knew he interact with a lot of people, to become a development of a “smart box,” the Internet could get a job in that field. member of a team. Protocol (IP) Service Switch 5000, which, It was not until his senior year that he 2. Decide what kind of person you are according to Akers, “allows a person to have took a computer science course—and loved and recognize your own shortcomings. If all Internet access and other data services as it. He became interested in networking before you care about is the technology and you are ubiquitously as you can get phone service.” the Internet existed. People joked about it not into marketing, you will have problems. When Akers first came to MSU in 1975, then; but people who used to laugh at him for You have to be more than a great technologist he didn’t know what he wanted to do. He was his interest in networking aren’t laughing if you’re going to start a business. You have a humanities major for a while, and even anymore. “You weren’t so wrong after all,” to understand marketing, as well as know considered the seminary. He eventually chose they now say. how to engage customers. 3. Attract “A” players. “A” players will naturally attract other “A” players, people who are as smart as they are. Conversely, “B” players tend to be less secure. They compensate for their insecurity and to avoid intimidation, they tend to shoot themselves in the foot by recruiting “C” players, people less talented than themselves. Akers says the key to success includes learning how to work with other people, recognizing your own strengths and weaknesses, and proactively seeking a variety of experiences at a number of different firms or organizations. Only then can you realistically think about starting your own business. “It may take until you’re

Photo by Laura Luptowski Photo by 30 years old—but that’s the time to start,”

Steve Akers, CTO of Lucent’s InterNetworking Systems Group, speaks to a class of undergraduate engineering students. Akers advises.

6 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001 Department News & Research

From left to right, Katie Yang, Brandon Gregory, Gaurav COMPUTER ENGINEERING & ELECTRICAL Bhatnagar, and Lang Sui, all seniors at Okemos High School, participate in Dean Aslam’s program.

While research at the center is important, educating young people is paramount. “One of the things we need to do is educate our new generation,” says Aslam. “NSF considers it an extremely important part of the center.” In his educational program, Aslam works with young people at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as college students. He has developed a model that other universities are now following. Depending on the age group, Aslam uses various levels of complexity to teach them about the technology. At the elementary school level, the focus is on human/machine interaction. Middle- schoolers learn how to program the LEGO¨ robots. They use PCs to write the program code, and then wirelessly download the program using infrared technology, similar to the interface between the remote control and Photo by Harley J. Seeley Harley J. Photo by your TV, Aslam explains. When teaching 8th- to 12th-grade students, Aslam has them program the From Elementary microcontroller, the “brain” of the robot. At the college level, the focus is on building new WIMS devices, using School to Ph.D. components available in the marketplace. “We also involve some high school students Students Are Learning about at this level,” Aslam says. He is currently working with five juniors and seniors from Wireless Integrated Microsystems the local Okemos High School. he next time you see that seven-year-old Second, every WIMS device has a The final step is WIMS research. Tputting together a LEGO¨ robot, you may wireless interface, a technology similar to High school juniors and seniors, along think she’s just playing. But look again. She wireless telephones. with undergrad and graduate students at the may be on her way to becoming an electrical Finally, there are the microinstruments and college level, are involved. Workshops for and computer engineering major. sensors, devices that measure things like parents and teachers round out the program. Dean Aslam, associate professor of temperature or acceleration, like the device In addition, the NSF ERC program will electrical and computer engineering, runs a that tells the airbag in your car when to deploy. offer a master’s degree in WIMS via the special program—Engineering Education: Everything is then integrated into a very Internet. An Introduction to MEMS Elementary School to Ph.D.—to teach tiny package, along with a battery. (microelectromechanical systems) will be young people about Wireless Integrated So important is this technology that offered this fall, telecast from U of M Microsystems (WIMS). He uses the LEGO¨ in September 2000, the National Science to students enrolled through MSU and MINDSTORMSª Robotics Invention Foundation (NSF) established the Michigan Tech. Aslam, course coordinator System, originally developed at MIT’s Media Wireless Integrated Microsystems (WIMS) for MSU students, said he expects 10 to 15 Laboratory but now available for purchase at Engineering Research Center, a students to enroll. major toy stores, to do so. multiuniversity center housed at the More than 20 industrial partners WIMS devices have far-reaching University of Michigan. This joint initiative support the research and educational applications including industrial by U of M, Michigan State University, and activities of the center, including 3M, Intel manufacturing, environmental monitoring Michigan Technological University is the Corporation, Visteon, Cochlear Corporation, of air and water quality, defense systems, first of its kind in the nation. Texas Instruments, Chevron, and Ford telecommunications, and health care. Currently, the smallest WIMS device Motor Company. A WIMS device is made up of several fabricated in the laboratory is the size of In 15 to 20 years, WIMS devices will be components. First is the “brain” of the about three sugar cubes. so small they will fit into shirt buttons or device, the microcontroller, which is an “But scientists from three universities are even the threads of clothing. These wireless inexpensive, single-chip computer. It has building these devices smaller and smaller,” sensors could potentially monitor the human limited capabilities and memory, and can be Aslam says. The center proposes to build a body, and perhaps identify diseases before found, for example, in microwave ovens, WIMS device about 1 cubic centimeter (cc) they are apparent. And it could be that seven- refrigerators, or toys. in size, smaller than a sugar cube. year-old who will hold the patent for it.

Michigan State University College of Engineering 7 Department News & Research A Bicycle Built for Korbi

t’s always freeing to hop on a cycle and Attachments for the rear wheels and steering Iride off on a nice spring day. But for Korbi assemblies were welded on. High-quality Bare, an eighth-grader at Holt Junior High wheels, sprockets, chains, and the braking School, that was not possible—until now. system were purchased and added to the On a recent spring morning, Korbi cycle. The cycle features foot rests where you tried out her new cycle for the first time, a would normally find foot pedals; instead, special cycling device built by a team of handgrips operate the sprocket that would students in ME 481, Mechanical Engineering normally be attached to the foot pedals. Design Projects. This project was unique because it was Molly DesJardins, Lexington, Michigan; community outreach—not the traditional Drew Reichenbach, Livonia, Michigan; Julie “industrial-sponsored” project.

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Richards, Sterling Heights, Michigan; and “This project reinforces the philosophy Quentin Welch, Midland, Michigan, first that engineers exist to enhance society and constructed a prototype using old bicycle improve people’s lives, a philosophy that is parts in order to evaluate the safety and sometimes lost when designing the door performance of their design. After testing handle for the next generation of cars,” and some modifications, the final product says Craig W. Somerton, associate professor was built and presented to Korbi at the of mechanical engineering and academic Department of Mechanical Engineering’s advisor to the student team that built Thirteenth Student Design Conference on Korbi’s cycle. April 27. Last year, students built a cycle for a Each year, Brian Thompson, professor seventh-grade boy from Okemos, Michigan, and departmental design coordinator who had lost both his legs as an infant. Photo by Laura Luptowski Photo by in MSU’s Department of Mechanical Korbi Bare tries out her new cycle for the first time. Another project was undertaken in the fall of Engineering, contacts John Thon, technology 1998 when a team of students designed a teacher at Holt Junior High School, to see if “trike” for Zack Post, then an 18-year-old there are any special-needs projects that rode. The goal here was to design and build a from Ionia, Michigan, who has a mild form would lend themselves to MSU’s design cycling device that would provide Korbi with of cerebral palsy. Zack’s tricycle has since course, ME 481. Offered each spring and fall, more independence.) carried him many miles along the roads of this capstone design experience requires The solution: Korbi’s cycle was built using Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and around teams of students to come up with solutions a 4130-Chromoly steel aerodynamic tube Mackinac Island. “He is still elated with his to real-world problems. section as the centerpiece of the main frame. newfound freedom,” says Thompson. When Thon told Thompson about Korbi Bare, he knew it was a perfect project for the course. The problem: Design a unique cycling device that would offer freestanding and mobile stability, utilizing the rider’s upper body strength as the main source of power. Durability, ease of use, and reliability were required. (Since Korbi’s spinal cord defect prevented her from riding a regular bike, she was unable to join her friends when they Photo by Laura Luptowski Photo by From left to right: Drew Reichenbach, Molly DesJardins, Julie Richards, and Quentin Welch, the student team that designed the cycle, with Korbi Bare at the Thirteenth Student Design Conference.

8 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001 College of Engineering Holds E-Week Poetry Contest February 18–24 was no ordinary week in the College of Engineering. It was National Engineers Week 2001.

There were some E-Week activities you’d expect of engineers—like a bridge building competition, a paper airplane contest, and even a calculator toss. But one event caused people to stop and wonder whether E-Week stood for Engineering Week or English Week. The announcement of a poetry contest. It was the brain child of Craig Gunn, director of the communication program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. ‘‘I like to advertise the creativity of these fantastic engineers,’’ he says. ‘‘There should be a great deal more of this kind of activity because it exemplifies the truly rounded nature of the engineer.’’ The contest was divided into two categories: engineering topics and all other subjects. Humorous or serious poems of any form, any length, and any topic were accepted. The only limit was no more than five poems per individual. More than 100 poems were submitted by 49 individuals, and included students, faculty, and staff. The panel of judges consisted of faculty and staff members Maggie Blair-Ramsey, Cynthia Sarver, Anne Hornack, Shannon Cunningham, and Jennifer Hodges. Greg Staskowski, a materials science and mechanics student, took first in the engineering category with his poem entitled ‘‘The Ballad of the Engineer.’’ Julie Ann Richards, a mechanical engineering senior, took top honors in the ‘‘all other topics’’ category with her untitled poem. Other winners included: Bob Vance, Joe Kramer, Nicole Aitcheson, Scott Harris, Michael Cykowski, Matt Mercieca, Tony Koenigsknecht, Steve Miller, Amber Rogers, and Kate Stolarski. The poems were ‘‘creations of engineers who showed that the act of writing poetry may not be easy, but it is something that definitely falls into an area in which engineers can succeed,’’ says Gunn. ‘‘Artistically, engineers tend to excel in music, writing, and art. This should be common knowledge for engineers and the world around them. I am exceedingly proud of everyone who took the time to enter and I hope that the numbers entering next year will be mind-boggling.’’

By Julie Richards Having children scares her. In the bedroom and the dining room Terrifies her. And in kitchens and bathrooms She trembles at the thought. And in the back of the car Dirty clothes and faces and diapers They borrowed to drive down to And cuts and bruises and scrapes Connecticut to visit friends And pushing and sweating and nightmares They haven’t seen She doesn’t want any of this. In ages. But she must have it. So then it happens. Her body tells her The plus stares at her. And her head tells her She sobs. And husbands and Everybody is calling and Mothers and sisters and fathers Cards and flowers and balloons And the neighbors that live And presents that are strangely intriguing Behind them in the odd blue house Even though they are lurid in their pinks That is strangely intriguing. and blues and yellows. Determination overcomes her. She becomes everything Drives her. All at once. And suddenly it happens everywhere. And all against her will.

Michigan State University College of Engineering 9 Photo by Laura Luptowski Photo by Professor Hubbard entered more than 100 calls from the media into his phone log the two days following Dale Earnhardt’s death. Inset photo: Sarah Fisher, race car driver and mechanical engineering student at Butler University in Indianapolis, puts on her HANS¨.

ob Hubbard has been a very popular guy lately. So and television stations and appeared on local and national popular, you’d be lucky to get a chance to exchange broadcasts. He was awakened Monday morning at 6:30 for a Beven a few words with him. When I stopped into his live phone interview on WJR radio. He wrapped up his last office one day recently, our conversation was interrupted by yet interview of the day, with local TV station Fox 47, at 7:00 p.m. another phone call from the media. The media all had one question: ‘‘Would Dale Monday, February 19, he says, was ‘‘the busiest day of my Earnhardt still be alive if he’d been wearing Hubbard’s head life.’’ That day, nearly 60 calls from the media came into his and neck support device—HANS¨?’’ Hubbard’s answer: office after the February 18 death of NASCAR racing icon Dale ‘‘Probably.’’ Earnhardt at the Daytona 500. That, added to the calls that were Hubbard personally holds the patent on HANS¨. He and his stacked up in his voice mail from Sunday. brother-in-law, Jim Downing, of Atlanta, Georgia, began Hubbard, a professor in the Department of Materials developing the device in the mid-1980s. Science and Mechanics, was interviewed by a myriad of radio ‘‘It’s extremely gratifying to know that something I’ve

10 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001 Prof’sProf’s RecentRecent NotorietyNotoriety BenefitsBenefits StudentsStudents

worked on for almost 20 years has become recognized as truly the most common way race drivers are killed. The HANS¨ beneficial, and to be involved with an idea that can save reduces these injurious loads and no racers wearing a HANS¨ peoples’ lives,’’ Hubbard says. have had any serious head or neck injuries so far.’’ A lot of people mistakenly call it a ‘‘helmet.’’ The device is applicable to anybody who would wear a helmet ‘‘It’s a composite yoke that fits under the shoulder harness and a double shoulder harness. This would include drivers in all and around the shoulders with a collar that extends up behind classes of race cars—stock cars (NASCAR—the National the head and helmet,’’ Hubbard explains. ‘‘Tethers connect the Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), open wheel cars (CART— collar to the helmet. While driving, the tethers have enough Championship Auto Racing Teams and IRL—Indy Racing League), slack to allow driving, but in a crash the HANS¨ is held to the sports cars, and sprint cars. It could also include many classes of body by the shoulder harness and the tethers keep the head from boats, and would be useful for military pilots. Then there are off- swinging forward so that loading in the neck is dramatically road racers and stunt drivers. All are potential markets. reduced. Fractures at the base of the skull due to neck loading is continued on next page

Michigan State University College of Engineering 11 The HANS® Received Three Major Awards At their 1997 annual convention, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) honored Hubbard with the George G. Snively, M.D., Memorial Award for “outstanding contribution to safety in motorsports.” The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) met at the 2000 Society of Automotive Motorsports Engineering Conference and Exposition to give their Motorsports Engineering Award for “outstanding contribution to the state-of-the-art of motorsports engineering.” This award went to Hubbard, along with Hubert Gramling, research engineer at DaimlerChrysler and Peter Wright, technical consultant to the FIA, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, for their cooperative development of the HANS® for use in FIA Formula 1. In May 2001, the Louis Schwitzer Award was given to Hubbard and Jim Downing, co-developer of the HANS®. The award, named after the dynamic automotive pioneer, recognizes individuals with the courage and conviction to explore and develop new concepts in auto racing technology. Award recipients received $5,000 from BorgWarner, a product leader in highly engineered components and systems for vehicle powertrain applications worldwide. The winners’ names will be added to the permanent trophy in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. “While these formal awards are gratifying in the long work involved in the development and promotion of HANS®,” says

Hubbard, “the positive experiences and feedback of many McQueeney Ron Photo by Bob Hubbard accepts the Louis Schwitzer Award, presented by Lee Fisher (right), HANS® users are the most gratifying.” selection committee chairperson, in May 2001.

The first HANS¨ device was sold in 1990. In the first He often travels to help fit the HANS¨ on the drivers’ 10 years, 200 of the devices were sold. Last year’s total sales bodies and in their cars. ‘‘It’s mainly solving technical were 250. Then, at the end of February 2001, sales exceeded problems. It’s a way for me to hear what the drivers have to say 500 in just one week’s time. Cost ranges from $875 to $2,000. and make changes in response to their needs.’’ But it’s difficult to know just how many drivers are actually Just before Earnhardt’s death, Hubbard had returned from using them. Florida where he had been demonstrating the device to some of Some drivers buy the device but then don’t use it because the NASCAR drivers. Dale Jarrett wore the HANS¨ in a race they view it as ‘‘cumbersome.’’ One driver cited that in the on Friday and Randy LaJoie wore one in the Busch race on event of a fire, the HANS¨ would make it more difficult to Saturday, which he won. exit a burning vehicle quickly. But recently in a NASCAR As soon as the story broke about Earnhardt, everyone race, a driver easily exited a burning car after a bad crash wanted to talk to Hubbard. ESPN, CNN, NBC Nightly News wearing his HANS¨. with Tom Brokaw, Dateline. Local television stations Hubbard explains that his device should not be singled from Lansing, Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo. out as a problem. ‘‘All of the safety equipment makes it The Washington Post, The New York Times. They all sought more difficult to get out of the car—including the window Hubbard’s expertise. He even made the Bob and Mark sports nets, the high-sided seat, the restraining harness, and the talk show (radio) in Anchorage, Alaska. helmet,’’ he says. The highlight was an editorial in The New York Times. ‘‘I’m

12 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001 told by racing experts,’’ says Hubbard, ‘‘that this was the first time ever that motorsports have been mentioned in The New York Times outside the sports section.’’ But there’s ‘‘more to it than the sizzle,’’ he adds. ‘‘There’s been a very positive benefit with the notoriety that I’ve had as a university professor. The process of me inventing, developing, and commercializing a product is at the core of my life as an engineer. And that is translated directly into my effectiveness as a teacher. It has had an influence on my ability to be relevant in the classroom.’’ An example of that is a class Hubbard started in 1987, which is offered every spring. In it, students identify a market need, design and make a functional prototype (a new product idea, a market opportunity, a market need that is not being met), test the prototype with potential users/buyers, refine the product, and do a sales presentation and a brief technical report. ‘‘Many people think it’s the most exciting class they’ve had at MSU,’’ Hubbard says. Current enrollment figures certainly attest to Michael Andretti wears that. Taught cooperatively between the College the HANS¨. of Engineering and the College of Business, typically 140 engineering students and 80 business students are enrolled. The first time the class was offered in 1987, only 12 students took the course. ‘‘That whole class is based on my personal experience in product design and product development both with the HANS¨ device and my university-based research in seating biomechanics. And that’s a direct benefit to the students.’’ Hubbard comments on the discovery that Earnhardt’s seat belt had frayed and pulled apart in the crash. ‘‘From what I understand, the belt pulled apart under high load. In many cases, belts fail at high load, after they’ve done most of their work.’’ Hubbard says it appeared that Earnhardt’s belt failed

after he had already sustained the injuries that killed him. ‘‘If he Kuhn Walter Photo by ¨ Hubbard with Alex Zanardi, had been wearing the HANS , it could have reduced his injuries two-time CART champion. and probably saved his life,’’ Hubbard says. ‘‘We, as engineers, can’t really affect people’s lives until Photo by Harley J. Seeley Harley J. Photo by people buy and use a product or service that we’ve helped design Close-up view of the back of the HANS¨ device and develop. Only then do we have an effect on their lives.’’ shows the carbon fiber composite.

Michigan State University College of Engineering 13 Awards Faculty, Staff, & Students With this five-year, $375,000 grant, Hogan proposes to develop a research and Four Professors educational program to further the knowledge and understanding of nanotechnology through laboratory, classroom, project, and demonstration experiences. Win Prestigious Jaberi is working on the development of advanced computational models for numerical simulation of complex turbulent NSF CAREER Awards reacting flows like those in next generation propulsion systems, IC engines, and the our engineering faculty members have Stirewalt, assistant professor of computer chemical industry. He is working to develop Frecently received Faculty Early Career science and engineering. advanced and efficient propulsion devices Development (CAREER) grants from the Hogan is investigating the fabrication of with low emissions. Jaberi’s $375,000 grant is National Science Foundation (NSF). silicon and gallium arsenide nanowires. expected to run through May 2006. The CAREER program supports junior- The growth technique will yield epitaxial level university faculty in their career interfaces between electrodes and nanowires. development, emphasizing the importance of As part of the study, an additional control integrating research and educational activities. mechanism through the use of electrostatic The award winners are Timothy P. Hogan, forces to join individual nanowires will be assistant professor of electrical and computer investigated. ‘‘One challenge with existing engineering; Farhad A. Jaberi, associate techniques of nanowire fabrication,’’ says professor of mechanical engineering; Hogan, ‘‘is the placement of these nanowires Sandeep S. Kulkarni, assistant professor of on electrical interconnects in a manner that computer science and engineering; and Kurt would be scalable for manufacturing.’’

Timothy P. Hogan Farhad A. Jaberi

Sandeep S. Kulkarni Kurt Stirewalt

Kulkarni’s research focuses on the problem of modifying existing software systems in order to add fault-tolerance properties to them. Currently, he is developing a unified framework that provides structural continuity to developers of fault- Anil K. Jain tolerant applications while they perform several tasks such as design, automated synthesis, testing, verification, and Anil Jain Named refinement. NSF funding for his research is $225,000 and will run for five years. Stirewalt is focusing on the technical Guggenheim Fellow design of interactive systems. He is nil K. Jain, an MSU Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, has developing an automatic generator that can Abeen named a 2001 Guggenheim Fellow. Guggenheim Fellows are appointed on the basis assemble an interactive system from a library of unusually impressive achievement in the past, and exceptional promise for future of reusable parts and provide guarantees accomplishments. The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has chosen 183 Fellows about the correctness of the assembly. from among 2,728 applicants this year. He is also investigating how to define Jain, whose research expertise is pattern recognition, will use the fellowship to study ‘‘Structure concrete, measurable objectives in software- of Multidimensional Patterns.’’ He will also collaborate with researchers at Bell Labs, Murray Hill, engineering courses. The $220,000 grant is and the Institute of Telecommunications, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal. expected to run through April 2004.

14 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001 Awards Faculty, Staff, & Students Engineering Students Receive NSF, NASA, and GEM Fellowships he National Science Foundation (NSF) Thas awarded four Graduate Research Fellowships and an Honorable Mention to MSU engineering students. Graduate fellowship recipients include: Jason Earl Fuller, chemical engineering; Jane Anne Howell, materials science and mechanics; Laurel Catherine Kuxhaus, mechanical engineering; and Marcus Andre Worsley, chemical engineering.

Photo by Harley J. Seeley Harley J. Photo by Christopher Jackson Ritchie, civil and From left to right: Douglas Bohl, Christian Lastoskie, Donald Weinshank, and Mark Urban-Lurain. environmental engineering, received an Honorable Mention in the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, which is considered a significant academic achievement nationwide. Faculty and Grad Student Six doctoral students have been awarded NASA fellowships. Miguel Figueroa- Villanueva, Susan Park Song, Laura Hudy, Honored at and Lisa Oravecz-Simpkins have received Harriett G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowships; Derik Love and Jonathan Lopez-Morell Awards Convocation have received NASA Graduate Student Researcher Fellowships. The fellowships for these six students were administered by the hree College of Engineering faculty and implemented the instruction, written the College of Engineering Sloan Scholars Tone graduate student received accolades textbooks, and created the supporting Program, which focuses on recruiting, at MSU’s 2001 State of the University software for a course that has reached retaining, and graduating underrepresented Address and Awards Convocation on thousands of students and millions of homes, minority graduate students. The recipients February 13. taught at MSU and nationally via video cable. of these NASA fellowships will all be Christian M. Lastoskie, assistant professor The key to the success of these courses is to attending MSU. of chemical engineering, was a recipient of a enable the teaching assistants to become The NSF and NASA fellowships provide Teacher-Scholar Award. He has spearheaded mentors who motivate students to become three years of stipend plus tuition and fees, the inclusion of environmental science and self-reliant, sophisticated users of rapidly with a value of $65,000 to $75,000. engineering into the educational and research changing computing technology. Other fellowships include: Jonathan components of the chemical engineering Douglas Bohl, a graduate student in the Lopez-Morell, master’s student in electrical program, and is seen as a gifted educator and Department of Mechanical Engineering, was and computer engineering, sponsored by first-rate scholar who inspires students with awarded an Excellence-in-Teaching Citation. Intel, a GEM Ph.D. fellowship; John Dixon, knowledge, enthusiasm, and innovative With his gift for teaching, Bohl has changed doctoral student in computer science and teaching methods. Lastoskie has also received the manner in which fluid mechanics is engineering, sponsored by MITRE, a GEM many grants and awards from the National taught in the department. His enthusiastic, Ph.D. fellowship; Gerald DeJean, electrical Science Foundation and other agencies. innovative approach brings material to life and computer engineering senior, sponsored Donald Weinshank, professor of computer with exciting demonstrations and special by 3M, a GEM MS fellowship; and first-year science and engineering, and Mark Urban- projects. Bohl was one of the first students to MS student Eduardo Ortiz Rivera, sponsored Lurain, a specialist in the department, complete the College of Engineering by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, a received the MSU Alumni Club of Mid- Teaching Certificate Program, which he GEM MS fellowship. Michigan Quality in Undergraduate Teaching helped develop. The course enables graduate Graduate Education for Minorities Award. Weinshank and Urban-Lurain, along students to learn and develop effective (GEM) is a program of the National with Gary McCuaig (emeritus, Broadcasting teaching techniques. Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Services), have created three state-of-the-art Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. computer science courses for nonmajors over The GEM awards include a stipend plus all the past 15 years. They have designed and tuition and fees.

Michigan State University College of Engineering 15 Awards Faculty, Staff, & Students GE Fund Fellowships Allow Students to Focus on Research

eceiving the GE Fund Faculty for the three seconds until they hear the next. ‘‘We RFuture Fellowships in 1999 has allowed have to give the customer some guarantee Pedro Torres-Carrasquillo and Dmitri that they’re going to get the quality of service Perkins, both doctoral students, to focus on that they want,’’ Perkins says. their research—something for which they Torres-Carrasquillo received his bachelor’s are grateful. degree in electrical engineering in 1992 from The goal of the two-year grant, says Percy the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez; he A. Pierre, principal investigator and professor received his master’s in electrical engineering of electrical and computer engineering, from Ohio State in 1995 and returned to Percy A. Pierre, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, won the is to increase the number of U.S. women Puerto Rico to teach for three years at the Lifetime Achievement Award at NSBE’s Fourth Annual and underrepresented minorities in faculty Polytechnic University. He then came to MSU Golden Torch Awards on March 16, 2001, in positions in engineering. Each of the to pursue his doctorate degree. Indianapolis, Indiana. departments within the college nominates one The thing that Torres-Carrasquillo is doctoral student annually; two students are grateful to MSU for, in addition to receiving then selected from that pool. Each fellowship the fellowship, is the many friendships he’s Electrical has a value of $41,000. formed. After completing his doctorate, Torres-Carrasquillo, electrical and he plans to return to Puerto Rico to teach. computer engineering, and Perkins, computer But he says he will be taking a part of MSU Engineering science and engineering, were the first two with him. students to receive the fellowships when the Perkins received his bachelor’s degree in GE Fund added the MSU College of computer science from Tuskegee University Professor Engineering to their program. in Alabama in 1995. He completed his Wins Lifetime Since receiving the fellowship, Torres- master’s in computer science and engineering Carrasquillo has completed a summer at MSU in 1997. Now in the fourth year of Achievement Award program at MIT’s Lincoln Labs two years in his doctoral program, his goal is to finish his hen Percy Pierre earned his doctorate a row. He says it is one of only a few groups Ph.D. this December. Wdegree in electrical engineering from in the country focusing on language ‘‘I may work in industry for a couple of The Johns Hopkins University in 1967, he was identification. He will complete a one-year years to gain some experience; my ultimate the first African American to do so. In 1973, internship there next year, which he says is goal is to work as a professor at a university,’’ he co-chaired the National Academy of rare because those internship slots are usually Perkins says. Engineering Symposium, which launched a filled by MIT students. In the program’s second year, Cori L. national minority engineering effort. And Torres-Carrasquillo explains that his Ignatovich, mechanical engineering, and today, he directs several programs in the MSU research focus is speech processing— Jaime A. Graulau-Santiago, civil and College of Engineering designed to recruit, specifically language interpretation—or environmental engineering, received the retain, and graduate underrepresented ‘‘trying to get the computer to identify the doctoral fellowships. Several engineering minority grad students. language that’s being spoken.’’ An application students are also involved with the GE Fund This spring, Dr. Pierre received a Lifetime now in the works is a 911 calling system. For Faculty for the Future Program for Achievement in Academia Award from the example, if a French-speaking individual is undergraduates. National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). visiting in the U.S. and has to call 911 in an They recognize him as ‘‘a towering giant in emergency, the system would automatically the area of minority engineering efforts.’’ identify the language and route the call to He is dedicated to excellence in education, someone who speaks the caller’s native research, and service. language. He received his bachelor’s and master’s Perkins’ research area is quality of service degrees in electrical engineering from Notre of routing protocols. ‘‘When computers Dame in 1961 and 1963, and currently is a communicate with each other, there has to be member of the Board of Trustees of the some way to route the data from one source University of Notre Dame and Hampshire to the destination,’’ he says. This is especially College. Dr. Pierre was also vice president of important with all the multimedia data and research and graduate studies at MSU from voice data on today’s network. The customer 1990 to 1995. does not want to hear one word—then wait

16 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001 Awards Faculty, Staff, & Students Farhad Jaberi Receives Grant from Young Investigator Program arhad A. Jaberi, associate professor of Fmechanical engineering, received $300,000 in research grants from the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) as part of its Young Investigator Program. The three-year grant is designed to support basic research by exceptional faculty at U.S. universities who have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent degree within the last five years. Jaberi received his Ph.D. from the State University of New York in Buffalo in 1996. Prior to coming to MSU in 2000, he was a faculty member at Kansas State University. His research focuses on developing models that would be useful in designing reliable hypersonic propulsion systems, as well as subsonic gas turbine engines. Photo by Harley J. Seeley Harley J. Photo by From left to right, top row: Laura Taylor, Charles Owen, Gregory Wierzba, and Neeraj Buch. Middle row: John McGrath, Christian Lastoskie, Melissa Crimp, and Leo Kempel. Bottom row: Larry Segerlind, Alan Haddow, and Roy Bailiff. Faculty and Staff Receive Withrow/Stragier Awards

everal faculty and staff members were professor of electrical and computer Shonored at a luncheon at MSU’s engineering, were named 2001 Withrow University Club on April 12, 2001, for their Distinguished Scholar Award Recipients. excellence in teaching and service to the The Gloria Stragier Award for Dedicated university. and Creative Service this year was awarded to Recipients of the 2001 Withrow Teaching Laura J. Taylor, graduate secretary for the Excellence Award were Larry J. Segerlind, Department of Civil and Environmental professor of agricultural engineering; Christian Engineering, who ‘‘exhibits a positive attitude M. Lastoskie, assistant professor of chemical and is compassionate and kind in her dealings Photo by Craig Gunn Photo by engineering; Neeraj Buch, assistant professor with others,’’ and Roy A. Bailiff, a technical Farhad A. Jaberi of civil and environmental engineering; Charles specialist in the Department of Mechanical B. Owen, assistant professor of computer Engineering, who is described as ‘‘essential’’ science and engineering; Gregory M. Wierzba, to the daily operations of the Engineering associate professor of electrical and computer Building shop. He has high standards and is engineering; Melissa J. Crimp, associate driven to see the job through. professor of materials science and mechanics; Robert Y. Ofoli, associate professor of and Alan G. Haddow, associate professor of chemical engineering, received a Certificate mechanical engineering. of Recognition for his work as a student John J. McGrath, professor of mechanical organization advisor with the American engineering, and Leo C. Kempel, assistant Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Michigan State University College of Engineering 17 Development MSU College of Engineering Receives Largest Software Gift in History of University from Mechanical Dynamics, Inc.

echanical Dynamics, Inc., an have access to the software, which is designed MSU engineering students a competitive Mengineering software development to do virtual prototyping “for virtually advantage when they enter the workforce, and company headquartered in Ann Arbor, has anything that moves.” create a pool of new engineers able to help donated software with a commercial value of “This is yet another example of how promote and implement our technology at $60.7 million to Michigan State University’s MSU teams up with its partners in industry to companies around the world.” College of Engineering—the largest gift to an advance the educational and research The gift of software also meshes with an academic institution ever by Mechanical missions of this university,” says MSU ongoing program in the College of Dynamics, and the first engineering school President Peter McPherson. “We are very Engineering, and is one of the reasons targeted after Mechanical Dynamics joined grateful to Mechanical Dynamics for this Mechanical Dynamics selected MSU. The forces with the Partnership for the generous gift.” company wants to first offer its software to Advancement of CAD/CAM/CAE Education “We are very pleased to provide this gift schools already associated with PACE, the (PACE) program. to Michigan State University,” says Michael Partnership for the Advancement of The gift of ADAMS¨ (Automatic Dynamic E. Korybalski, chairman and CEO of CAD/CAM/CAE Education. This unified Analysis of Mechanical Systems) software is Mechanical Dynamics. “Together, we can effort of General Motors, Unigraphics the largest gift of software ever received in help the next generation of engineers enhance Solutions, Sun Microsystems, and Electronic the history of MSU. Mechanical Dynamics’ the knowledge they gain during college with Data Systems provides hardware and gift to MSU includes support, training, and an hands-on training on a tool being used by software to train future engineers in unlimited site license to ensure that every hundreds of manufacturing companies computer-aided design. student in MSU’s College of Engineering will globally. This will give current and future The PACE gift, received by the college this past year, consisted of 110 work stations, training, and support valued at $55.4 million. Of the 40 universities selected, MSU received the first and largest of these gifts. As part of the PACE program, MSU assists other universities by configuring software and hardware for them, and providing technical guidance to their faculty. “This most recent gift of ADAMS¨ software will put our graduates one step ahead of the others in software prototyping skills,” says Janie M. Fouke, dean of the College of Engineering. “We are pleased at how well this will complement our PACE program to make our graduates even more valuable to industry.” Mechanical Dynamics describes ADAMS¨ software as “virtual prototyping for virtually anything that moves.” “If it moves,” they say, “you can model it, view it, test it, and refine it with the help of virtual prototyping.” And because of the mathematical accuracy of ADAMS¨, physical prototyping can be significantly Photo by Harley J. Seeley Harley J. Photo by From left to right, back row: Dean Janie M. Fouke; John Janevic, University Program Manager, Mechanical Dynamics, reduced, thus decreasing the time and cost Inc.; David Porteous, MSU Trustee; Ronald Rosenberg, chairperson, Department of Mechanical Engineering; and associated with it. Robert Chalou, academic specialist, College of Engineering. Front row: MSU Provost Lou Anna K. Simon; Michael The company’s software is used by every Korybalski, Chairman and CEO, Mechanical Dynamics, Inc.; MSU President Peter McPherson; and Thomas F. Wolff, associate dean for undergraduate studies, College of Engineering. single automotive company worldwide and a

18 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001 Development

¨ FOUNDED IN 1977, MECHANICAL DYNAMICS’ ADAMS is the solution, but this means employers need people who have the skills ADAMS® SOFTWARE WAS INTRODUCED IN 1980 to use it. Mechanical Dynamics’ customers had AND WAS THE FIRST COMMERCIAL noted that the engineering graduate pool from 3-D MECHANICAL SYSTEM SIMULATION SOFTWARE. which they were hiring seemed to be lacking skills in software prototyping, so they approached Mechanical Dynamics, requesting that the company make their majority of their suppliers, says John Janevic, many other industries including aerospace, software more accessible to students. Now, University Program Manager for Mechanical railway, machinery manufacturing, defense, for the first time, ADAMS¨ technology is Dynamics. Automotive manufacturers and and entertainment. appropriate for student use at the suppliers use virtual prototypes to refine and Whether you’re riding the newest roller undergraduate level. prove everything from suspensions, to tires, coaster at your favorite amusement park, Founded in 1977, Mechanical Dynamics’ to door latches. The car companies “test- marveling at the way your new car ADAMS¨ software was introduced in 1980 drive” entire vehicles in the computer, performs, or washing clothes in the latest and was the first commercial 3-D mechanical running them through a full range of technologically advanced washing machine, system simulation software. Today, it is the maneuvers, under various driving conditions. chances are ADAMS¨ has played a part world’s most widely used. They even use the computer to realistically in its development. MSU will begin integrating ADAMS¨ simulate driver response. In all manufacturing fields, there is prototyping software into its mechanical While 55 to 60 percent of Mechanical increasing pressure to save time, cut costs, engineering courses this fall. Dynamics’ business is focused on the optimize quality in product development, automotive industry, their software is used in and get new products to the market faster.

Computer Science and Engineering Names New Chairperson

ayne Dyksen, professor of computer a research and teaching center in computer Wscience and executive director of the security, which involves an interdisciplinary Nebraska University Center for Information group of researchers throughout the Assurance at the University of Nebraska at University of Nebraska system as well as Omaha, has been named the new chairperson external strategic partners. of the MSU College of Engineering He has been a reviewer for IEEE Department of Computer Science and Computer, Software-Practice and Experience, Engineering effective August 1, 2001. the Journal of Computational and Applied Dyksen is the former dean of the College Mathematics, and the National Science of Information Science and Technology at the Foundation. University of Nebraska at Omaha. Prior to Dyksen is a member of the Association that, he was a faculty member in the for Computing Machinery (ACM), Department of Computer Sciences at Purdue Computing Research Associates (CRA), University for 16 years where he served as and the Institute of Electrical & Electronic associate head and acting head. While at Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society. Purdue, Dyksen received the 1999 Computer He is also a member of the board of Sciences Department Outstanding Teacher of advisors for the College of Information the Year Award. Technology of the United Arab Emirates, a He received his bachelor’s degree member of the advisory board for the Photo by Harley J. Seeley Harley J. Photo by Department of Communication Arts and in mathematics from Calvin College, Wayne Dyksen and earned his master’s and doctorate Sciences at Calvin College, and a member of degrees in applied mathematics from environments, mathematical software, the executive board of the Durham Western Purdue University. windowing systems, and scientific computing. Heritage Museum in Omaha. Dyksen’s research interests include Dyksen established the Nebraska information assurance, advanced computing University Center for Information Assurance,

Michigan State University College of Engineering 19 COMMENCEMENT 2001 Seeley Harley J. Photos by

20 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001 Photo by Harley J. Seeley Harley J. Photo by Dean Janie M. Fouke presents 20th Claud R. Erickson Award to Richard Brown. RichardRichard H.H. BrownBrown NamedNamed 20th20th ClaudClaud R.R. EricksonErickson DistinguishedDistinguished AlumnusAlumnus ichard (Dick) H. Brown was named the Claud R. Erickson reinforcements—metal skeletons that reinforce the plastic Distinguished Alumnus at the College of Engineering instrument panel consumers see in their cars and trucks—to Rspring commencement on Sunday, May 6, 2001. major customers like Chrysler, Goodyear, GM, Ford, Navistar, The Erickson Award, the College of Engineering’s and Kenworth. highest alumni honor, is given each spring to a top graduate In 1997, Brown retired from the corporation, but remains in in recognition of his or her outstanding achievements and a consulting capacity. leadership activities. He is also known as a leader in his community. While a Brown graduated from Michigan State University in 1971 board member of the Ionia Chamber of Commerce, he helped with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and earned spur the creation of an economic development organization his master’s degree in business administration from the (IADC). Brown also served on the Ionia County Planning University of Illinois-Springfield in 1977. Commission, and was President of the Ionia Area Chamber of He served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1966Ð1968, Commerce. Currently, he is chairman of the Precision and from 1971 through 1979 was employed with Allis Metalforming Association. Chalmers, Springfield, Illinois. A strong asset to the College of Engineering, Brown served In 1979, Brown joined The Brown Corporation of America, as a member of the College of Engineering Alumni Board of Inc., a family business started by his father and uncle in 1950. Directors, and as a member of the Mechanical Engineering He served as president and CEO from 1979Ð1996, and as Visiting Board. He was also chairman of the West Michigan chairman from 1996Ð1997. Engineering Alumni Golf Outing. Under his leadership, the corporation grew from a single Brown and his wife Geraldine (Gerri) have been key plant with 50 employees in 1978, to a four-plant operation with contributors to Michigan State University’s educational and nearly 600 employees by 1996. They have received many awards athletic programs. MSU is proud to have the Browns as including ISO-9001 certification, QS-9001 certification, and the members of the Green and White, Jonathan L. Snyder, and Chrysler Golden Pentastar Award for superior performance. Frank S. Kedzie donor societies. Today, more than 50 percent of the Brown Corporation’s They have five children—Steven, Cathy, Carl, Chuck, and business is in supplying metal instrument panel Hillary—and currently live in Ada, Michigan.

Michigan State University College of Engineering 21 Therese Sutphen, civil and environmental engineering senior and Girl Scout Day volunteer, uses balloons as part of her water buoyancy demonstration. GirlGirl ScoutsScouts Photos by Laura Luptowski Photos by EarnEarn WaterWater WondersWonders BadgesBadges

Did you know that it takes 6 gallons of water to produce a serving of French fries, 1,300 gallons to grow a hamburger, and 65,000 gallons to make a car? Don’t feel bad. Most of the 74 Girl Scouts who attended Girl Scout Day did not know that either. That is, until they participated in various learning activities, sponsored by the Environmental Engineering Student Society (EESS), in order to earn their Water Wonders badges.

22 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001 aren Krumm, EESS secretary and organizer of KGirl Scout Day, says the event is held at MSU’s Engineering Building twice a year, spring and fall. The girls, 4th- through 6th-graders, learn about things like the water cycle, acid rain, water usage, buoyancy, and how a septic system works. Each of the activities is run by MSU students who volunteer their time. They are either EESS members, or students in the solids and hazardous wastes class taught by Photo left: The girls test orange juice, cola, and water for acidity levels.

Mackenzie Davis, professor of civil and Photo above: The Girl Scouts watch a demonstration of how a septic system works.

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dd in you. Please keep everyone informed. Fill out the form below and return it dd dd

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dd along with any photos, news clips, or press releases to: Currents Magazine,

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packaging program, says the Girl Scouts dd dd dd

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come to ‘‘learn about water and earn dd dd dd

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dd girls, Krumm says, ‘‘Ours has always dd

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women in engineering. She hopes dd

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programs like this can help change that. dd

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world, that is what I hope for. It took me dd dd dd

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jump start—great!’’ dd

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Michigan State University College of Engineering 23 Class Notes

Gary Romans, BSEE ’68, joined owner with two architect 1940s a new eBusiness technical partners. Angela is part-time Robert W. Krogstad, BSME ’41, consulting company for startups project manager at Golder of Charlottesville, Virginia, has and mature enterprises. Romans Associates in Lansing, Michigan. 1 been semi-retired since 1984 has also been appointed to the Their first son, Thomas, is 2 /2 from ownership of two Board of Directors of Internet years old. Milwaukee Manufacturing Professionals Northwest and the David J. Infante, PHDEE ’99, Companies. Earlier, Krogstad Portland Chapter of the is senior technical staff of Space was CEO of a walk-in coolers Association of Internet Systems at The Aerospace and freezers manufacturing Professionals. He is active in the Corporation in Chantilly, Virginia. company in New Lisbon, Portland area theater, with roles Wisconsin, which was sold in at Lakewood Center in Lake Adelino Yung, BSME ’92, who 1973. He is currently a writer and Oswego, Oregon, Portland just purchased a condo, is partner of Cain and Company Opera, and Gresham, Oregon, president at Biomedical Research Export Representatives. Community Theater. Institute, LLC, in Houston, Texas, where they are expanding research efforts and currently 1970s hiring forensic engineers. Tom Mazuchowski, BSME ’79, is the Director of Product Development and Technical OBITUARIES Services for Tipper Tie, Thomas Hanawalt, BSME ’68, manufacturers of clip closures died suddenly on January 3, 2001. and food packaging machinery Zigurds J. ‘‘Zig’’ Levensteins, for the meat and poultry industry. BSME ’53, MSME ’54, died Mazuchowski is also on the unexpectedly at the age of 71 on Technical Advisory Board for January 22, 2001, in Waterville the Packaging Materials and Valley, New Hampshire. Machinery Institute (PMMI). He He retired from the Navy lives in Apex, North Carolina, Department in 1989, where he with his wife Sandy and four served as an Aeronautical daughters—Jaci, Keri, Dana, Engineer for 32 years. and Lindsay. Levensteins came to the U.S. in 1949 as a displaced person 1980s after spending five years in 1950s Displaced Persons (DP) camps El Houssine Bartali, PHDCE ’86, in Germany. After receiving his Allan W. Harvie, BSCE ’52, of took office as President of the Nokomis, Florida, is no longer a MSME, he served in the U.S. International Commission of Army for two years as Scientific snowbird. Harvie moved to Agricultural Engineering at its Florida in August 2000. and Professional Personnel (SPP) congress held at the University of in the Army Chemical Corps at William E. Splinter, MSAE ’51, Tsokoba, Japan. He will serve as the Army Chemical Center in PHDAE ’55, of Lincoln, President for both 2001 and Edgewood, Maryland. He later Nebraska, received the George 2002. Bartali is professor and worked at the Naval Service Howard Louise Pound Award at head of the Department of Weapons Center at White Oak, Honors Convocation for a Agricultural Engineering at the Maryland, and made his home distinguished career in teaching Hassan II Institute of Agriculture in Silver Spring. He also made and research. He is the founder and Veterinary Medicine in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire and director of the Lester F. Rabat, Morocco. his second residence, where his Larsen Tractor Test and Power Kevin Singel, BSEA ’85, is an passion was downhill skiing. Museum. Splinter was also information consultant with Levensteins was an active elected Fellow in the American Accenture in Englewood, leader in the Latvian Association for the Advancement Colorado. He was recently Organizations of Washington, of Science in 1978 and the named Director of Operations D.C., for over 30 years. He is National Academy of and Unit Lead for a new survived by his wife Valda of Engineering in 1984. Accenture office in the Denver 50 years, two children, and 1960s Technology Center area. one grandson. Gary Cervo, MSME ’64, retired 1990s in August, 1998. Cervo worked Kevin Cook, BSCE ’91, and for 32 years with Lockheed Angela Cook, BSEA ’91, Martin in Sunnyvale, California, MSCEE ’93, had their second as Research Engineer in Missiles son in January, 2001. Kevin is the and Space Division. He resides in director of engineering at CHMP Los Altos, California. Architects and Engineers in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and joint

24 CURRENTS MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2001