PURDUE SPRING 2010 Leading by Risky Example TrendTrend Setters Setters Leading by Risky Example Trend Setters Leading by Risky Example Leading by Risky Example Trend Setters FROM THE DEAN As we settle into 2010, I am extremely optimistic about the opportunities that are unfolding before us, occasionally tempered by uncertainty about the international, national, state, and local financial outlooks. In the balance, I firmly believe that the energy and creativity that are reflected in the college’s strategic plan will carry the day: that we will build on our successes of 2009, chart a course in some exciting blue oceans, and succeed in developing the resources we need to enable our envisioned future of an empowered community making global impact. We are poised to meet the needs of the planet through transformative, field-defining research and a climate that both encourages and supports risk-taking endeavor. In this issue of Engineering Impact, the cover story introduces three members of the Purdue Engineering family whose in- novations are setting new standards — one is a veteran faculty member, one is a rising star, and the third is a graduate who is blazing trails at the University of Florida. Four of our faculty members have been recognized with NSF Presidential Early Career Awards in Science and Engineering (PECASE). Monica Cox, one of the faculty members profiled in the cover story, was presented with the award at the White House in January for her outstanding contributions to the discipline of engineering education. She joins Doug Adams, professor of mechanical engineering, who won the award in 2002; Shirley Dyke, professor of mechanical engineering and civil engineering, who was a PECASE awardee in 1998; and John Sutherland, professor of mechanical engineering and head of the division of environmental and ecological engineering, who won the award in 1996. Such talented, innovative minds will, in turn, inspire creative approaches by a new generation of engineers. Creativity, with a certain degree of risk, is definitely not confined to the classroom and laboratory. Last August, two of our graduates began a yearlong trip together around the world. They are featured in this issue, and you can follow them on their blog. Undergraduate Eduardo Anzueto left campus last year and took to the field, literally, in Costa Rica to learn about sustainable agriculture. In order to have lasting impact in the complex world of the 21st century, it is imperative that current and future engineers under- take innovative, risk-taking and transformative research. The College of Engineering not only encourages this, but has declared it a strategic goal: “Taking risks, fueling innovation by creating an environment that stimulates curiosity, fosters risk-taking, and provides intellectual space and freedom to explore and evolve ideas to see where they will lead.” As you’ll read, our students, staff, faculty, and alumni are doing their part to help us reach this goal. Leah H. Jamieson John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering Ransburg Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Purdue University College of Engineering. The magazine is produced by the Office of Marketing and Media (09-ENG-4-009) and distributed free to more than 72,000 Engineering Impact is printed on recyclable paper alumni and friends of the College of Engineering. Purdue is an equal access/equal from forests that are managed according to strict opportunity university, committed to the development and nurturing of a racially, socially, environmental and socioeconomic standards, and religiously diverse community. including the protection of wildlife, plants, soil, Tell us what you think. Please send your letters to: and water quality. Engineering Impact, Office of Marketing and Media, Purdue University, 507 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907-2025; e-mail: [email protected]. In doing so, you grant us permission to publish your letter in part or in whole in an upcoming issue. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and/or clarity. INSIDE ENGINEERINGPOINTS IMPACTVANTAGE VANTAGE POINTS 3 Featuring: Around the Fountain, Milestones, Prime Numbers, and News from Across the College of Engineering COVER STORY 16 Meet Three Purdue Engineers Who Are Setting Global Trends 05 FIRST PERSON 22 Risk-Taking Research and the Academy 23 Innovative and Transformative Research Defined STUDENT IMPACT 24 Sustainability in Tropical Agriculture: Training Practitioners 25 Life’s a Ball 16 FACULTY IMPACT 26 Spray Coating Life 27 Building Better Catalysts CAMPAIGN IMPACT 28 Passion for Energy Issues Drives Gift to Support Research 30 29 Partnership Supports Biofuel Research ALUMNI IMPACT 30 Taking a Systems View 32 Around the World in 365 Days COLLEGE LIFE 34 Photo Gallery APERTURE 32 36 What Is It? Spring 2010 1 TM COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Administration Dean Leah Jamieson Associate Dean, Academic Affairs Klod Kokini Associate Dean, Graduate Education and Audeen Fentiman Interdisciplinary Programs Associate Dean, Research Ragu Balakrishnan Associate Dean, Research Melba Crawford (interim) Schools, Departments, and Divisions Associate Dean, Resource Planning and Management Vince Bralts Aeronautics and Astronautics Tom Shih Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education Mike Harris Agricultural and Biological Engineering Bernie Engel Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Education Teri Reed-Rhoads Biomedical Engineering George Wodicka Administrative Director Sharon Whitlock Chemical Engineering Arvind Varma Director, Advancement Amy Noah Civil Engineering Kathy Banks Director, Financial Affairs Christopher Martin Construction Engineering and Management Makarand Hastak Director, Global Engineering Program Rabi Mohtar Electrical and Computer Engineering Ragu Balakrishnan (interim) Director, Strategic Planning and Assessment Carolyn Percifield Engineering Education David Radcliffe (interim) Director, Information Technology David Carmichael Engineering Professional Education Dale Harris Marketing and Media Liaison Nancy Hannibal Environmental and Ecological Engineering John Sutherland Production & Media Industrial Engineering Joseph Pekny (interim) Materials Engineering Keith Bowman Director of Publications Julie Rosa Mechanical Engineering Dan Hirleman Managing Editor Linda Thomas Terhune Nuclear Engineering Ahmed Hassanein Production Coordinator Eric Nelson Graphic Designer Jiawei Yue Contributing Writers Joseph Fowler Jan Mathews Moving? Alumni should send change-of-address notices to Kathy Mayer Development and Alumni Information Services, Purdue University, Photographers Andrew Hancock 403 West Wood St., West Lafayette, IN 47907. Mark Simons Other readers may send address changes to Engineering Impact Copy Editor Dan Howell (see contact information at left). LETTERVANTAGE TO THE POINTS EDITOR I graduated from Purdue with a BSEE in 1966. I am extremely appreciative of the excellent electrical engineering education that Purdue provided me. I currently work as the NAVAIR Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense lead test engineer at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at Point Mugu, California. On Sept. 12, 2009, I was selected by the Naval Air Systems Command … as a NAVAIR associate fellow in the research and engineering group fellows, first level tier. Quoting the letter I received: “…Your selection was based on your accomplishments and the significant contributions you made to naval aviation. By nominating you to become a NAVAIR associate fellow, your competency manager recognized you as one of the command’s top 3 percent of the technical engineering and science workforce, and a role model for others to emulate throughout their careers.” I attribute being able to receive this top honor and recognition to the excellent engineering education that the Purdue School of Electrical Engineering enabled me to acquire. Mike Martorano BSEE ’66 Point Mugu, California 2 purdue engineering impact VANTAGEPOINTS POINTSVANTAGE AROUND THE FOUNTAIN Home away from home 10.01.09 • 10:45 A.M. • Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Lab and industry, and work in cardiology and miniature devices. How often can you be found in this spot? Zhang: Between classes, at least four hours a day, not including weekends. Do you have any relatives at Purdue? Zhang: My brother is in First-Year Engineering. He’s also going to go for biomed. Do you have time to do anything else? Zhang: I’m president of the billiards club. I’ve been a member for two years; it’s what I do as a stress reliever. I am also part of BMES (BioMedical Engineering Society) We drop in on Henry Zhang, a biomedical engineering senior from Mishawaka, and EWH (Engineering World Health). I’m Indiana, who is getting ready to meet with his advisor to schedule spring semester going to Pittsburgh to present my sum- classes. (Photo by Mark Simons) mer research project at the 2009 BMES conference. How long have you been preparing for cal engineering because I did so well in Do you Tweet? Does your mother? the meeting? chemistry in high school. I discovered Zhang: I do not Tweet. My mother does not Zhang (laughs): About two minutes. biomedical engineering and felt it was the closest I could get to studying medical either. I have Facebook, but I don’t go on as Are you going to discuss anything else sciences in engineering. much as I used to. with your advisor? Why are you getting a minor in economics? What’s your favorite food? Zhang: I’m going to stay an extra year so I Zhang: Honey BBQ chicken or fried can get a minor in economics, and I want to Zhang: