TWIE | This Week in Engineering

February 6, 2023 | Issue 5

Engineering Career Services

Virtual and F2F advising hours here.

FAMU Academics

Links to academic info, student services, student life and more.

FSU Student Academic Resources

Links to academic info, official university announcements and public health information.

University and College News

Engineering Strategic Planning Initiative Update

Inclusive Excellence: Strategic Planning for the Next 5 Years - We are excited to announce that the College’s Strategic Planning exercise is in full swing and there are still several opportunities for you to join the process as we map out the College’s goals and objectives for the next five years. Currently, we are completing a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities) analysis for each of our strategic priorities: Student Success, One College, Operational Support, Visibility and Research and Graduate Studies.


And, we want to hear from you. Email strategicplanning@eng.famu.fsu.edu and let us know your thoughts on the College’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats for any of our identified priorities.


To find out more about the process, visit College Strategic Planning 2023 | FAMU-FSU or email strategicplanning@eng.famu.fsu.edu.

Save the Date | College of Engineering Awards Night

Friday, April 07, 2023 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Capital City Country Club


Celebrate the excellence of our faculty, staff and alumni

with dinner and awards. 


Event Contact: Morgan Burch 



Take time to check-in with yourself. It's a mindfulness thing.

Welcome to The Breakroom, B226-H, which is available from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm on normal business days. Reserve a 50-minute slot using this link:

https://www.picktime.com/engineeringbreakroom

Quick Links | Did You Know?


In case of emergencies call 9-1-1. If you have concerns about your safety while on the engineering campus, call FSU Police 850-644-1234.


The Engineering Library Circulation Desk hours are: Monday - Friday – 8am to 5pm | (850) 410-6328 | A225 & A248


Join the official FAMU-FSU Engineering Events & Info GroupMe to get brief news & information updates on events and more for #RattlerEngineers and #NoleEngineers. Look for “FAMU-FSU Engineering Events & Info” in the FSU and FAMU Campus Communities on GroupMe.


Student Services, B111, is the keeper of the college lost and found. If you've found something, drop it off here and if you've lost something, check here first!


Mental health help for Engineering student -

FAMU students – have access to FAMU’s in-person counselors on the main campus during office hours and self-directed help via the WellTrack website or app. To schedule a counseling session in the office, call (850) 599-3145. Students who would like to speak with a counselor after hours can do so free with WellConnect at (833) 848-1765



FSU students - have access to FSU’s tele-mental health treatment options via Zoom (HIPAA link) as well as FSU’s after-hours crisis hotline. To initiate these services, just call 850-644-TALK(8255) during office hours (8-4pm) for tele-mental health services, and at any other time for crisis services.

Noontime Nuggets Returns with Crowd-Sourcing Goals

Grab some delicious pretzel bites and leave your opinion nuggets for the “Inclusive Excellence” Strategic Planning team!


Everyone is welcome to join the conversation and answer brief questions that will have a big impact on the 5-year planning for the college, such as, “what’s the #1 thing we can do to impact student success,” “name the top 3 best aspects of this college,” and more.


It will be a fun, lively event where you can share your unique and important opinion and enjoy food, friends at the same time. 


First-come, first-served; vegetarian options available. Event info here.

Civil Discourse for Engineering | Feb.15 in B202

“Designing Technologies to Support Older Adults With and Without Cognitive Impairments”


Engineering solutions can both serve and divide communities. They meet the needs of humans while also degrading the environment and depleting resources. How does the accessibility of infrastructure, telecommunications, education, etc., by underserved or rural communities affect those individuals and society as a whole? At what point is innovation not socially responsible? Participants will engage in civil debate and examination of both sides of the issue, working in small groups and free exchange with the whole. More info here.

January Update: Capital City Chaotic Coders (C4)

The college has sponsored a local robotics team that will be competing in the March 23-26 FIRST Robotics Competition.


The team has a wishlist of needs that will help them succeed and get to the competition:

  • Mentors with business & technical skills
  • Gift certificates for meals during build season & competitions
  • Enclosed trailer for transporting the robot to & from the competition


Anyone interested in being a mentor, coach or supporter, get in touch with Tisha Keller.


Download Capital City Chaotic Coders' update flyer here.


CBE Announcement: Chemical & Biomedical Engineering 2023 Research Day

We will hold our 2023 Research Day on March 31st in the Aero-Propulsion, Mechatronics and Energy Building (AME). This annual event seeks to showcase research activities of our department, promote collaborations, and learn from a top researcher in chemical and biomedical engineering. For you information, attached please find the program book of our 2022 Research Day.

 

Every non-first-year thesis-based graduate student is required present her/his work. Three graduate students will be selected to give 30-minute oral presentations (25-minute talk and 5-minute Q&A). All other students will give a poster presentation. Further guidelines on the oral presentation and poster presentation will be provided later. A best oral presentation award with a $500 prize and a best poster presentation award with a $300 prize will be given by the department. The prizes can only be used for research-related travel expended through the Department. If you would like to give a 30-minute presentation, please email me by February 28th

 

Postdoctoral associates and undergraduate researchers are also encouraged to present posters without competing for the prize. 

 

Every presenter is required to email an abstract to me by March 10th. The abstract needs to be a Microsoft Word file. A template is attached to this email. Examples of the abstracts can be found in the attached program book of 2022 Research Day. Please indicate in the email if you are a postdoc or an undergraduate student.

 

We will be hosting Dr. Stuart L. Cooper as the keynote speaker. Dr. Cooper is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The Ohio State University. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 2011 in recognition of his contributions to polymer chemistry, biomedical polyurethanes, blood compatibility, and academic administration. In addition to his keynote lecture, he will be available for conversations with interested students and faculty. Scheduling for meetings with Dr. Cooper will be forthcoming by email.

Online Masters in Systems Engineering Program Debuts in Top 50 for National Rankings

Rufina Alamo, a chemical engineer developing more environmentally friendly materials and a geologist exploring the chemistry of Earth’s carbon reservoirs are the latest Florida State University faculty members to be named Fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS.


Alamo, the Simon Ostrach Professor of Engineering and a distinguished research professor of chemical and biomedical engineering in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Florida State University (FSU), and Rob Spencer, a professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science in FSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, were elected by their peers to the 2022 Fellows class in recognition of their contributions to science, engineering and technology.


“Selection as an AAAS fellow is recognition of outstanding contribution to science and research,” said Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson, “As we grow our research and innovation ecosystem, it’s wonderful to see FSU faculty honored by their peers in this way.” 


Read the full article 

Engineer One of Two Researchers Named Fellows of American Association for the Advancement of Science

The faculty search committee for the Environmental Resilience Position from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering will hold the first committee meeting on February 1st at 1:00 -2:00 pm. It is a Zoom meeting. 


The committee will screen applications and select candidates for Zoom interview.

Rufina Alamo, a chemical engineer developing more environmentally friendly materials and a geologist exploring the chemistry of Earth’s carbon reservoirs are the latest Florida State University faculty members to be named Fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS.


Alamo, the Simon Ostrach Professor of Engineering and a distinguished research professor of chemical and biomedical engineering in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Florida State University (FSU), and Rob Spencer, a professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science in FSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, were elected by their peers to the 2022 Fellows class in recognition of their contributions to science, engineering and technology.


“Selection as an AAAS fellow is recognition of outstanding contribution to science and research,” said Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson, “As we grow our research and innovation ecosystem, it’s wonderful to see FSU faculty honored by their peers in this way.” 


Read the full article 

Researchers Test New High Polymer-Modified Asphalt Materials for More Sustainable and Resilient Pavements

Michael Elwardany, assistant professor of civil & environmental engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering with a paving crew in Wakulla County, FL. (M Wallheiser/FAMU-FSU Engineering)

Story By Trisha Radulovich


New high polymer-modified asphalt binder technology by Kraton Polymers and tested by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers may be the answer to more sustainable, durable, and resilient roadways in Florida and beyond.


Michael Elwardany, an assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and an expert in asphalt materials and pavement structures, is testing Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) polymers for their unique properties specific to pavement and the new technology of highly modified mixtures, also known as HiMA. This new technology may contribute to pavement durability and resistance to surface distresses under harsh climatic conditions.


Elwardany is part of a group of FAMU-FSU engineering faculty in the RIDER Center dedicated to promoting next-generation engineering solutions improving infrastructure and disaster resilience in communities.


“Pavements are multilayer structures and thus, pavement resilience is the resultant of how these various layers respond to extreme weather events and climate change,” Elwardany said. “For the durability of the surface layers, strain-tolerant asphalt materials, such as high-polymer modified asphalt technology (HiMA), can help resist surface distresses under harsh climatic conditions. However, the whole pavement structure should be designed to withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions and changing conditions.”  Read the full article.



You are Invited to Attend: 2nd Annual POLY/PMSE Research Symposium

On February 18th 2023, the FAMU-FSU POLY/PMSE chapter is hosting its Second Annual Polymer Research Symposium to celebrate graduate and undergraduate research excellence. This student run event will highlight graduate and undergraduate research by enabling students to give a 20-minute talk or a poster presentation. Interested students and attendees should register to give either a poster presentation or a 20-minute talk on their work with polymeric materials. Registration can be completed at the link below:

 

https://polypmsefamufsu.wixsite.com/website/register

 

The event will feature a keynote speech from Prof. Nitash Balsara, renowned pioneer in the fields of polymer electrolyte batteries and advanced energy sustainability. A second keynote talk will be given by FAMU-FSU's own Dr. Rufina Alamo on her extensive and groundbreaking work studying polymer crystallization. Food and coffee will be provided at the event. 

 

We hope to see you there!

Pat Blatt

FAMU-FSU POLY/PMSE Vice President

Call for Volunteer Judges: FIRST Robotics Regional March 25 & 26

We are getting closer to the Tallahassee Regional in March and need to start filling out our Judging needs for the event. Below is a description of what potential judges can expect.


FRC judges talk to teams and decide on many diverse awards. Some of these are technical and some are non-technical. In that light, we like to have Judges with various background experience. I've included a link to the official FIRST description for the Judge role below. Judges work in groups of 2-3 and talk to teams on all aspects of their team operations, robot design and build, fundraising, outreach, finance, business plan, etc. The role is not that difficult and there will be plenty of administrative assistance. Judges will receive training and guidance and advice throughout the event.


Commitment. Primary day of Judging will be Saturday, Mar 25. There will be Judge deliberations that day and specific teams will be selected to receive callback discussion with certain judges on Sunday, Mar 26. Judges will observe teams in their Pit as well as on the practice and competition fields.


So the bottom line is we need judges from all disciplines. Judges draw upon their experiences and then talk to teams using the FIRST judge materials.


Judge role link is https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/frc/judge


Here is the process that each person must follow to volunteer which starts with creating a FIRST account.


How do you apply? Simply follow the steps below. I look forward to seeing your application.

 

  1. Login or Create an account at http://my.firstinspires.org/Dashboard/
  2. Click the Volunteer Registration tab & click ‘Volunteer at an Event’
  3. Filter events by program (FIRST Robotics Competition) and area to find an event near you
  4. Select roles you are interested in
  5. Complete the FIRST Youth Protection Background Screening, required of all volunteers (renewable every 3 years) & ensure you have agreed to the Consent & Release Form.

Undergraduate Opportunities

Are you an engineer who thinks differently?

By Scott Thourson, PhD


I’m a teaching faculty in CBE. College was very challenging for me with ADHD and it still is even as a faculty member. I started a group to support students—formally we call “Engineers Who Think Differently,” but, we casually call it “DiffEQ.”After having several successful meetings last year, it was clear from the students that the best part of this group was just meeting other students like them. Some meetings we just talked and ate pizza, some meetings I had guest speakers in industry and graduate school who have learning differences, and some meetings we played games. YOU’RE INVITED to join us! We met every other week, but we can meet once a month if that is too much or weekly if that is too infrequent.


You might be like how I was as a college student: I avoided commitments like the plague because I never know when I will have motivation to work. I also had a lot of social anxiety, so I particularly avoided joining new groups unless I knew someone else who was going to be there. I also struggled with time management and got stressed even thinking about adding something else to the load.

 

If you are anything like me, I strongly encourage you to find a way to attend. At best, this group could improve your life, and at worst, you never come again but leave knowing some other faces who know what you are struggling with. If you are interested, email me or Tisha Keller, the Director of Marketing and Communications at the COE who helps with the group. She is a phenomenal advocate and ally for those with learning differences.



RSO Fair, Monday, Feb. 20, 11:00 AM-3:00 PM

Monday, February 20 | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, B atrium connector


Contact: mamwake@eng.famu.fsu.edu


Event Info: https://eng.famu.fsu.edu/event/rso-fair-0

FSU 1st Annual Sport and Exercise Psychology Conference!

The 1st Annual Sport and Exercise Psychology Conference will be held held all day on Friday March 24th, 2023, on campus in the FSU Student Union.

 

The conference is aimed to give the FSU/FAMU community more insight about the sport psychology field. Attendees of the conference will be able to listen to current students and faculty in the sport field present their research, hear from established members of the sport psychology community, and learn from alumni from the FSU Sport Psychology program about their current work in the field. 

 

Download the flyer with the QR code to the website and the registration QR code. If you are interested in submitting an abstract to present either a poster or 15-minute lecture, the abstract submission can be found on the website here: https://fsuspc.wordpress.com/. Registration is free, however, anyone wishing to attend MUST register. 

Manage Stress

Click the flyer graphic above to download the PDF and calendar the dates.



FSU CAPS Workshops - Spring 2023

Mark Your Calendars

Events


February 2023


Black History Month


Noontime Nuggets: Crowd-Sourcing Goals, Tuesday, February 07, 2023 @ 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM | FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Building B, Room B202


FAMU-FSU College of Engineering 41st Anniversary, February 13


Second Harvest Food Distribution, Monday, February 13 | Bust stop circle, 10am


Civil Discourse for Engineering, Wednesday, February 15, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, B202


Engineers Week, February 19- 25


RSO Fair, Monday, February 20, 11AM - 3PM | B Atrium Connector


MagLab Open House, Saturday, February 25 | Including: FCAAP, CiSCOR, HPMI and CAPS research centers.



March 2023


Women’s History Month


World Engineers Day at Challenger Learning Center hosted by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Saturday, March 4 | Challenger Learning Center, 9AM - 3PM


FSU Great Give, March 8-9 | Mid-night to mid-night, online: https://greatgive.fsu.edu/


Spring Break, March 13-17 | No classes


FSU Day at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 21 | 10AM - 2PM


FIRST Robotics Competition Regional, March 23-26 | FAMU Lawson Center

Opening Ceremony, Saturday, March 25, 8:30AM



April 2023


Senior Design, Thursday, April 6


COE Awards Night, Friday, April 7 | 6PM - 8PM


FAMU Day at the Capitol, April 13 | 10AM - 2PM


Focus on Gulf Scholars Program, Thursday, April 13 | 9 AM - 7 PM


LAUNCH! and Order of the Engineer, Tuesday, April 25 | More Information to come


FAMU's De-Stress Day | More information to come


Last Day of Classes, April 28



May 2023


Mental Health Awareness Month


Jewish American Heritage Month


Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month


Final Exam Week, May 1-5


Memorial Day Holiday, Monday, May 29 | College Closed.




Bookmark college events webpage.

Academic Calendars

FAMU Official University Academic Calendar

https://www.famu.edu/academics/registrars-office/pdf/Spring-Calendar-2023-02-21-2022.pdf | https://www.famu.edu/academics/registrars-office/academic-calendars.php


FSU Academic Calendar:

https://registrar.fsu.edu/registration_guide/spring/academic_calendar/


FAMU-FSU Engineering Academic Calendar & Deadlines: https://www.eng.famu.fsu.edu/students/academic-deadlines



Things to Do

Challenger Learning Center

Celebrating Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month, we are spotlighting Black scientists, engineers, artists, and mathematicians, who have contributed to the advancement of space exploration. 


This week we are highlighting Captain Winston Scott, former NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Navy captain. To help arm future generations with competitive skills in math and science, Scott was one of three founders that created the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee. Read more.

Ant-Man: Quantumania

Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi


Super-Hero partners Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. Jonathan Majors joins the adventure as Kang.


Showtimes


Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ChallengerTLH for updates on when new virtual lessons are available and other engaging content. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

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