It’s ‘dead week’ again. To explain, dead week is the time of the semester when no new material is covered in class, so that students can take time to prepare for finals the following week. There’s just one problem…the week so far has been alive and kicking!
Some of the tasks for the week are the following: finish my Dynamics, Vibrations, and Control project, finish the homework that is due the day of my final, and, oh yeah that’s right, study for finals. It’s really not all that bad though. This is because I have found a few activities that really come in handy when looking to relieve stress that is related to finals:
1) Throwing Frisbee with my Cohorts – Never study for more than two hours at a time. One way I accomplish this is to study with a group of friends. After hitting the books for a solid amount of time, we all head out to the field right outside the Discovery Park building. It’s huge, and makes for an ideal spot to hurl the Frisbee around.
2) Implementing Energy drinks when appropriate – the simple answer to ‘when is it appropriate?’ is always. Usually a monster does the trick, but any other brand that causes you to stop worrying about finals and actually start studying is also acceptable. This leads to another good practice; don’t waste time worrying about the outcome of your finals. This is valuable time that you could be using to study!
3) Staying on top of coursework during semester – This is the best way avoid end of the semester stress. I know it sounds lame, but trust me, it works. Not only does it work to prepare you for your final, but it also makes you a better engineer. If you can truly understand your coursework, as opposed to just memorizing strategies which will get you through the test, you will be able to implement your college training in a professional environment.
Above all, any strategy that works for you is a good one, as long as it doesn’t involve large amounts of alcohol or any other mind-altering substance. I’ve got to go now though, lots of work to do!
May 05, 2010
April 26, 2010
It's Easy...I Think
“A wise man learns by the mistakes of others, a fool by his own.” This quote, taken from an old Latin proverb, encompasses a simple, but insightful philosophy that has proven quite useful during my recent studies at UNT. The first two years of my academic career consisted of core and undergraduate curriculum, where a majority of my time was spent delving into textbooks in order to extract the basic skills that would one day be used in my career, whether it be within industry or academia.
My coursework has taken a drastic but exciting turn during the transition from underclass to upperclass coursework. I now have several lab courses each semester, where I am able to implement the basics learned during my first two years. There’s one important thing I have learned though: never underestimate the complexity of a lab topic. In other words, there are some things you just can’t learn unless you actually conduct an experiment.
This concept in its simplest form is best illustrated by a situation I came across yesterday where I attempted to fasten two pieces of board together with a wood screw. The final result was a halfway inserted screw that had been completely stripped. It turns out that my drill bit was slightly too small; something I could not have known, unless I had asked someone else their opinion first. Instead I spent an hour wondering why I hadn’t thought about this problem occurring.
This goes back to my opening quote. If I would have asked someone, or done some research first, I could have avoided wasting my time. This also extends to our lab experiments. This is why we do literature searches, the first step in any experiment, to see how others conducted their research, and see if they encountered any problems.
So when my teacher told us to calculate the efficiency of a solar panel, I didn’t just say,”That’s easy”. I knew that I would have to do some research first, then take the measurements myself before I could be so confident. So for all you future engineers out there, always heed this Latin Proverb.
My coursework has taken a drastic but exciting turn during the transition from underclass to upperclass coursework. I now have several lab courses each semester, where I am able to implement the basics learned during my first two years. There’s one important thing I have learned though: never underestimate the complexity of a lab topic. In other words, there are some things you just can’t learn unless you actually conduct an experiment.
This concept in its simplest form is best illustrated by a situation I came across yesterday where I attempted to fasten two pieces of board together with a wood screw. The final result was a halfway inserted screw that had been completely stripped. It turns out that my drill bit was slightly too small; something I could not have known, unless I had asked someone else their opinion first. Instead I spent an hour wondering why I hadn’t thought about this problem occurring.
This goes back to my opening quote. If I would have asked someone, or done some research first, I could have avoided wasting my time. This also extends to our lab experiments. This is why we do literature searches, the first step in any experiment, to see how others conducted their research, and see if they encountered any problems.
So when my teacher told us to calculate the efficiency of a solar panel, I didn’t just say,”That’s easy”. I knew that I would have to do some research first, then take the measurements myself before I could be so confident. So for all you future engineers out there, always heed this Latin Proverb.
April 15, 2010
Power: The Energy Flow Rate (Part II)
Upon further investigation I realize now that I made a rather large mistake in one of my previous blogs entitled, Power Output: The Energy Flow Rate, (03/08/2010), or so I think. First off, the title was not wrong, but inaccurate. I revised the title now to say simply ‘Power’ because the rate at which energy flows can refer to either a power input or output.
Secondly, my calculation of the amount of Watts that my body was operating at was, let’s say, skewed. I originally stated that for a 30-minute workout, I burned around 400 calories. I then converted these 400 calories to Joules and divided by the number of seconds in 30 minutes. This gave me 0.928 Watts. At first I thought this seemed low, but was at the time completely convinced that the calculations were done correctly.
It turns out that the calculations themselves were performed correctly, but instead it was in my conversions where there was a discrepancy. A unit for energy is the ‘thermodynamic’ calorie, but workout equipment measures food calories, or large calories, which equates to approximately 4.1868 kilojoules per food calorie. I assumed ‘thermodynamic’ calories in my original calculations.
So in actuality I burned 400 food calories x 4186.8 Joules of energy in my workout, which equals 1,674,720 Joules total, assuming the workout bike measures food calories. Dividing this by the number of seconds in 30 minutes, 1800, gives me 930 Watts. This is a huge difference from my original result, but I believe more accurate. Again, if anyone has any input into this subject feel free to email at: studentjournalist1@gmail.com, because at this point I’m not sure if workout equipment manufacturers know what the heck they are talking about.
April 09, 2010
MEE Seniors Surge On
It is the culmination of pretty much any undergraduate engineering degree. It defines whether or not a student has learned anything in their studies. It is…the SENIOR DESIGN PROJECT! This year’s seniors have got an interesting idea. They will be participating in the ’Live Green Expo’ in Plano, where they will introduce a bicycle-powered entertainment center. Included in the entertainment center will be an HD LCD 1080p television set and a Nintendo Wii console.
I’ve seen one example of their idea on the news. It was some all-female prison where the inmates had to ride a bike just to power the TV so they could watch it! No leg pumping = no Judge Joe Brown. If you would like to see the senior’s exhibit in action, attend the ‘Live Green Expo’ on April 17 from 9am-7pm.
Admission is FREE!
UNT’s exhibit will be made up of several stationary bicycles. Spectators will be encouraged to ride the bikes to contribute power to the entertainment center. Where does a mechanical engineering design project factor into all of this? The answer is that the seniors designed the bicycle racks (which are what keep the bike from moving) so that the back wheel of the tire will turn a generator shaft which will send energy into a battery. The energy that is stored in the batteries will power the television throughout the day. The underlying message here is that energy generation can come from other places other than just fossil fuel.
Apply this concept to a gym. In theory, if an engineer were to come up with a practical application for this type of technology, the members of a gym could provide the energy necessary to run all of the lights, TV’s, and computers that assist in the normal day-to-day operations of the business, just by doing their normal workout. Technology such as this will be hot in the near future, so it’s cool to see the seniors displaying their version of a cutting edge idea.
Admission is FREE!
April 07, 2010
Dicovery Park at a Glance
When you look at the Discovery Park campus here in Denton, you think of all of the possible innovative research and cutting edge technological discoveries that could be taking place on the inside. The building is massive, and was formerly a factory for missile production, which is evident from its design. But aside from the engineering/scientific setting that the campus provides, it is a surprisingly ideal niche for an abundance of nature.
The area surrounding the campus is a wide open flat plain with cow pastures and a few apartments sprinkled throughout. This terrain makes for some rather high wind velocities, which leads me to believe that the campus will have a wind turbine in the near future. These high winds also tend to attract birds to the building; specifically a family of vultures; Black Vultures. It seems that everyday the vultures can be seen gliding on the strong wind gusts surrounding the building, scanning the ground below for dead mice or whatever else seems edible. Vultures aren’t picky eaters I hear.
The Black Vultures are common throughout Texas and the lower Americas, but seeing them take such a liking to the Disco Park building has been a lesson on the unpredictability of nature. Last year the mother vulture laid two eggs, which successfully hatched. The interesting part is that the vultures’ choice for the location of their nest is right next to the window at one of the entrances to the building.
The location of the nest has allowed for a front seat to observe the growth of the vultures from eggs, to chicks, and finally fledglings. The fledgling stage is when the birds begin to fly. The mother vulture laid two more successful eggs this spring, and again the nest is in the same place, right next to the entrance window.
So what began as a missile factory has slowly evolved into an institute of higher learning, and a small zoo. One can only speculate as to what new surprises the future holds for Discovery Park.
March 29, 2010
'The Engineer' Continues to Dominate
What are some stereotypes that people have about engineers? Lanky… Unathletic…Tech junkies. Not true. We don’t want to be labeled with these misdirected adjectives. One person who is helping to change the minds of those so quick to judge is the recently-crowned interim heavyweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championships mixed-martial arts circuit, Shane Carwin, who works as an engineer for his full-time job.
Carwin, standing 6’2 and weighing in at a whopping 265 lbs., defeated Frank Mir in the first round on Saturday night when he unloaded with an assault that began with two left uppercuts. The final result was an unconscious Mir, who had a look on his face like “what in the wacky wide world of sports just happened to me?” The win marks another addition to Carwin’s already perfect record which now stands at 12-0.
The UFC is comprised of fighters that come from a wide array of disciplines; Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and wrestling are some of the more common types, with some fighters being trained in multiple styles. Mr. Carwin is a prime example of this with his college heavyweight wrestling championship and training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. But what separates Shane from his opponents is not just his dominating ability, but the simple fact that fighting is his part-time job.
The UFC is comprised of fighters that come from a wide array of disciplines; Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and wrestling are some of the more common types, with some fighters being trained in multiple styles. Mr. Carwin is a prime example of this with his college heavyweight wrestling championship and training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. But what separates Shane from his opponents is not just his dominating ability, but the simple fact that fighting is his part-time job.
Believe it or not, he received a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, and is married with a child. This got me thinking. Why couldn’t UNT implement a mixed-martial arts training course into the curriculum? If he can do it, we can do it. We could get Dr. Traum to teach the course too. Alright that’s just not gonna happen, but you can’t deny that it’s a good idea. Shane Carwin just goes to show that anyone from any walk of life has the ability to be an engineer.
Vs.
...Shane Carwin vs Dr. Traum...hey it could happen.
March 26, 2010
The Art of the Hustle
“C’mon, big money! Big money!”…“Seven Hundred.”…”M.”…”Three M’s!” These are the all too familiar words spoken between Pat Sajak and a contestant on the timeless classic Wheel of Fortune game show. The lucky few who get to participate and encounter such a situation have the potential to win 2100$ if they can guess the puzzle. But not everyone is fortunate enough to showcase their skills on TV, especially not college students. We must find a more tangible way of earning money.
Anyone who has been a college student knows that getting money can be a struggle at times. That’s why we have to get creative. No, don’t rob a bank. Here are the top three money-making activities that I have found via intense deliberation with my peers:
1) Find a random part-time job: Of course it is not required that the job be random. It should be part-time however. This allows enough time to keep up with coursework. Fortunately, UNT has a great system called the Eagle Network that assists students with finding on-campus, as well as off-campus jobs.
2) Donating plasma: This is probably the most controversial of the three tactics, but nevertheless can be a reliable source of income if done regularly; approximately 180$/month reliable. Although not for the faint of heart due to the enormous needle used to extract said plasma, it is not a time consuming form of income, not to mention the fact that you potentially save a life with every donation.
3) Selling back textbooks at the end of the semester: Don’t show your parents this article. And don’t be surprised if you get back far less than half of what you originally paid for the book, but still when looking for a good time after the completion of finals, this can be a quick and effective strategy.
Let’s be honest, none of these is a desirable way to make a living, but for the purposes of a busy college student can actually work quite well. I would suggest pursuing these tactics in the order listed here. If 1) is unavailable, go to 2), etc. There’s no rule saying you can’t do all three, unless your parents tell you not to sell your books back. If you still choose to you could see yourself on the receiving end of the instrument depicted below:
There are many ways to make money if you put your mind to it. If you are lucky enough and smart enough, you could engineer and patent the solar-heated carport I mentioned in a previous blog. You’ll have to beat me to it though. Bring it on people :)
1) Find a random part-time job: Of course it is not required that the job be random. It should be part-time however. This allows enough time to keep up with coursework. Fortunately, UNT has a great system called the Eagle Network that assists students with finding on-campus, as well as off-campus jobs.
2) Donating plasma: This is probably the most controversial of the three tactics, but nevertheless can be a reliable source of income if done regularly; approximately 180$/month reliable. Although not for the faint of heart due to the enormous needle used to extract said plasma, it is not a time consuming form of income, not to mention the fact that you potentially save a life with every donation.
3) Selling back textbooks at the end of the semester: Don’t show your parents this article. And don’t be surprised if you get back far less than half of what you originally paid for the book, but still when looking for a good time after the completion of finals, this can be a quick and effective strategy.
Let’s be honest, none of these is a desirable way to make a living, but for the purposes of a busy college student can actually work quite well. I would suggest pursuing these tactics in the order listed here. If 1) is unavailable, go to 2), etc. There’s no rule saying you can’t do all three, unless your parents tell you not to sell your books back. If you still choose to you could see yourself on the receiving end of the instrument depicted below:
There are many ways to make money if you put your mind to it. If you are lucky enough and smart enough, you could engineer and patent the solar-heated carport I mentioned in a previous blog. You’ll have to beat me to it though. Bring it on people :)
March 22, 2010
Return of the Engineer
It’s Sunday night and school is set to commence this week. I struggle to awake from my Playstation 3 induced coma so that I can focus on the tasks at hand for a week that follows what was an incredibly relaxing spring break. Unfortunately I have a lab report due tomorrow which erases any possibility of easing my way back into the normal routine so to speak. This lab report encompasses two separate labs actually: Velocity Measurements in a Wind Tunnel and Analyzing of Flow Over a Cylinder. For these two experiments we used, surprise surprise, a wind tunnel located in one of the many lab rooms at Disco Park. Disco Park is the cool name for Discovery Park, but I would not be surprised if many of you challenged this claim. I’ve also heard people call it “The Park”, which may be slightly cooler than Disco, but I’ll leave that decision up to you.
Maybe the decision would be easier if each were used in a sentence: “Yeah man, I’m at The Park studying for my test”, or “What are you doing tonight? I’m going to Disco Park, where all my Saturday Night Fever dreams come true.” Alright, I’m gonna make the decision right now: neither name is acceptable, stop trying to be cool.
This week also promises new and exciting material in my courses. For example, in my Heat Transfer class, I know we will begin to study the phenomenon of multi-dimensional heat flow behavior. I look forward to this because we all know that heat doesn’t just move in one direction, which is what the entire first half of the course taught. Above all, I look forward to the second half of what is my final semester as a junior. Hopefully my morning coffee will help with the walking coma syndrome I currently possess. I’m sure that it will. Thank you Folgers.
Maybe the decision would be easier if each were used in a sentence: “Yeah man, I’m at The Park studying for my test”, or “What are you doing tonight? I’m going to Disco Park, where all my Saturday Night Fever dreams come true.” Alright, I’m gonna make the decision right now: neither name is acceptable, stop trying to be cool.
This week also promises new and exciting material in my courses. For example, in my Heat Transfer class, I know we will begin to study the phenomenon of multi-dimensional heat flow behavior. I look forward to this because we all know that heat doesn’t just move in one direction, which is what the entire first half of the course taught. Above all, I look forward to the second half of what is my final semester as a junior. Hopefully my morning coffee will help with the walking coma syndrome I currently possess. I’m sure that it will. Thank you Folgers.
March 15, 2010
Spring Break 2010
It’s spring break this week. Instead of planning my trip to Cinemark Movies 14 I’m left with the thought of how I am I going to measure the amount of heat transfer from a light bulb to a body of water. Why? It’s a project in one of my classes this semester. The light bulb is powered by a 9V battery, and is encased in an insulated container along with a small pool of water that has a thermocouple in it. Right away I encounter some issues with this because finding a light bulb that is compatible with 9V is difficult.
My group wired two 4.8V light bulbs in series. This way the battery would be giving 4.5V to each bulb. We tried heating 50ml of water with the bulbs, but we couldn’t get a significant amount of temperature change because the lights weren’t getting hot enough. When I say significant I mean measureable. The power output of the bulbs was too low.
One requirement of our project is to measure the energy content in the 9V battery we are using in the experiment. The amount of Joules. Yes the battery is full of priceless, shiny Joules of energy. No not rubies or diamonds. The unfortunate truth is that a unit of energy itself is undetectable to the human eye. This leaves many scholars to question the concept of energy.
In order for us to measure the energy content of the battery we have to have a measureable amount of temperature change in the water. To achieve this we replaced our two series-connected light bulbs with one 12V car headlight bulb. We were now getting about a 1 degree change in celcius in ten minutes, but now the battery stops powering the bulb after about 25 minutes, while the battery itself still has charge in it. So how do we now determine the amount of charge that still remains?
We are required to use a 9V battery for the project. We have decided to measure the energy content via a different experiment, but the teacher might not approve. If anyone has any tips on how to wire this circuit so that we can get enough power out of the light bulbs to heat the water quickly, while at the same time draining the battery fully, please email me at studentjournalist1@gmail.com
My group wired two 4.8V light bulbs in series. This way the battery would be giving 4.5V to each bulb. We tried heating 50ml of water with the bulbs, but we couldn’t get a significant amount of temperature change because the lights weren’t getting hot enough. When I say significant I mean measureable. The power output of the bulbs was too low.
One requirement of our project is to measure the energy content in the 9V battery we are using in the experiment. The amount of Joules. Yes the battery is full of priceless, shiny Joules of energy. No not rubies or diamonds. The unfortunate truth is that a unit of energy itself is undetectable to the human eye. This leaves many scholars to question the concept of energy.
We are required to use a 9V battery for the project. We have decided to measure the energy content via a different experiment, but the teacher might not approve. If anyone has any tips on how to wire this circuit so that we can get enough power out of the light bulbs to heat the water quickly, while at the same time draining the battery fully, please email me at studentjournalist1@gmail.com
March 11, 2010
Mean Green Basketball Win!
For those of you who regularly follow my blog, which is probably about two people, you remember my prediction for the fate of the UNT Men’s Basketball team. If I remember correctly, it was back in December when I prophesized their current state. This past week, UNT knocked off Denver in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference championships, led by Tristan Thompson’s 19 point output. The very next night, UNT again was victorious over Troy, this time led by Eric Tramiel, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds. The wins sealed UNT’s second conference championship, and more importantly second NCAA tournament bid in the last four years. The team also set a record with 24 wins this season.
The NCAA tournament, also known as March Madness, welcomes only the top 65 Division I teams in the nation. The tournament is single elimination, and UNT still has yet to find out who they will face in the first round. Last time they were in the tournament, they faced No. 1 seeded Memphis in the first round, which resulted in an early exit for the Mean Green.
I highly recommend supporting the team by watching their first round game. I know a lot of the bars near campus will have it on their televisions. Put on some green and get crazy for the home team! This is another huge step for UNT in improving their athletic program. The University also has plans to build a new football stadium, which will be ready for the 2011 season. Being a sports fan, I like to see these strides within the athletic program.
My prediction for the Mean Green in this year’s tournament? I could easily say championship all the way baby, but I’m gonna be realistic and say that they will make it to the Sweet 16. This would be a huge boost for the university’s reputation. This Sunday the team will be at the Pourhouse Bar and Restaurant in Denton to watch the tournament selection show where they will find out who they play in the first round.
I highly recommend supporting the team by watching their first round game. I know a lot of the bars near campus will have it on their televisions. Put on some green and get crazy for the home team! This is another huge step for UNT in improving their athletic program. The University also has plans to build a new football stadium, which will be ready for the 2011 season. Being a sports fan, I like to see these strides within the athletic program.
March 08, 2010
Power Output: The Energy Flow Rate
As my studies continue here at UNT, I notice myself beginning to think more like an engineer. This time I really mean it. The other day I calculated the power output of my body. The calculations were pretty messy, but it was worth it just to get a quantitative comparison of my body to an electric motor. The calculation itself is quite easy actually, just messy.
When I go to the gym, I typically ride the stationary bike for about 30 minutes. Sometimes I run on the treadmill, but the type of activity here is unimportant. What I want to highlight is the area on exercise equipment that displays the amount of calories you have burned during a workout. I typically burn around 300-400 calories every 30 minutes, depending on the type of exercise, sometimes it’s more, but for the purposes of this discussion we’ll say it’s 400.
In my studies, I learned that the calorie is a unit of energy. Energy is what makes everything work. Energy manifests itself in several different forms. Electricity, heat, magnetism, and mechanical work are the simplest forms of energy. The calorie is just one of many different ways to quantify these said forms of energy. Calories can also be expressed in a unit called Joules. There are approximately 4.18 Joules in 1 calorie. A unit of power called the watt is commonly used to quantify power, and watts are a measure of the amount of Joules per second. So I figured that if I simply took my total amount of calories burned in thirty minutes, multiplied by 4.18, and then divided by the number of seconds in thirty minutes that I would have my body’s power output during my workout. The numbers were staggering.
400 times 4.18 is 1672. That’s the number of Joules. 1672 divided by 1800, which is the number of seconds in thirty minutes, is 0.928. My body’s power output is only 0.928 Watts. You gotta be kidding me! To compare, a common light bulb runs at about 40 Watts, more than forty times my body’s power output. And to think, I could only keep that pace for thirty minutes, light bulbs can last for years.
These kinds of calculations humble me. The capability that we now have to harness energy is astounding. You can clearly see that the human body is no match to the power output of an electric motor. We even measured a quarter-sized motor in my lab class that ran at around 1- 1.5 Watts, and as long as the motor has power it will continue to run assuming no friction or other unforeseen electrical problem. At that power output, my body could probably only run for about an hour. I wonder if there is any way to battery power a human…
In my studies, I learned that the calorie is a unit of energy. Energy is what makes everything work. Energy manifests itself in several different forms. Electricity, heat, magnetism, and mechanical work are the simplest forms of energy. The calorie is just one of many different ways to quantify these said forms of energy. Calories can also be expressed in a unit called Joules. There are approximately 4.18 Joules in 1 calorie. A unit of power called the watt is commonly used to quantify power, and watts are a measure of the amount of Joules per second. So I figured that if I simply took my total amount of calories burned in thirty minutes, multiplied by 4.18, and then divided by the number of seconds in thirty minutes that I would have my body’s power output during my workout. The numbers were staggering.
400 times 4.18 is 1672. That’s the number of Joules. 1672 divided by 1800, which is the number of seconds in thirty minutes, is 0.928. My body’s power output is only 0.928 Watts. You gotta be kidding me! To compare, a common light bulb runs at about 40 Watts, more than forty times my body’s power output. And to think, I could only keep that pace for thirty minutes, light bulbs can last for years.
Arnold figured it out.
March 04, 2010
Spring Brings New Societies
Several students were honored last week by being welcomed into the recently created Energy Engineering Honor Society. The society seeks students who excel within the Mechanical and Energy Engineering program. This is a huge step for the people involved, as well as the University of North Texas College of Engineering as a whole because it marks the first society of its kind.
Several names have been discussed, but the most promising Greek name currently is Sigma Sigma Pi. ΣΣΠwhich currently has 13 members, but the hopes for the future are that the society will catch fire nationally. Although this society identifies itself with Greek letters, it is not a fraternity. The society is co-ed, and there are no harmful hazing rituals that take place for initiation.
The Energy Engineering Honor Society, made up of juniors and seniors, hopes to be a provider of tutoring for underclassmen. This is just one example of the many philanthropic deeds that the society plans to accomplish in the future. Another example would be to attend high school math competitions in order to judge and proctor the participants.
All future members will be required to complete a minimum amount of hours of charity work in order to gain membership, but the exact amount has not yet been decided. The creation of the society is a direct result of the creative mind of Dr. Matt Traum, assistant professor within the MEE program. Dr. Traum selected the first members, and has high hopes for the program. Being a member of several honor societies himself greatly increases the chances of the society’s success and expansion.
It goes without saying that membership in a society such as Sigma Sigma Pi greatly improves one’s resume; however, this is not the sole goal of the founding members. We seek to improve the MEE program as a whole by providing guidance to underclassmen, working closely with faculty, and seeking new areas of research. One can only speculate what is to come from the society, but personally I predict good things.
Several names have been discussed, but the most promising Greek name currently is Sigma Sigma Pi. ΣΣΠwhich currently has 13 members, but the hopes for the future are that the society will catch fire nationally. Although this society identifies itself with Greek letters, it is not a fraternity. The society is co-ed, and there are no harmful hazing rituals that take place for initiation.
The Energy Engineering Honor Society, made up of juniors and seniors, hopes to be a provider of tutoring for underclassmen. This is just one example of the many philanthropic deeds that the society plans to accomplish in the future. Another example would be to attend high school math competitions in order to judge and proctor the participants.
All future members will be required to complete a minimum amount of hours of charity work in order to gain membership, but the exact amount has not yet been decided. The creation of the society is a direct result of the creative mind of Dr. Matt Traum, assistant professor within the MEE program. Dr. Traum selected the first members, and has high hopes for the program. Being a member of several honor societies himself greatly increases the chances of the society’s success and expansion.
It goes without saying that membership in a society such as Sigma Sigma Pi greatly improves one’s resume; however, this is not the sole goal of the founding members. We seek to improve the MEE program as a whole by providing guidance to underclassmen, working closely with faculty, and seeking new areas of research. One can only speculate what is to come from the society, but personally I predict good things.
February 26, 2010
Rings of Gold
As the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver near their end, we can’t help but reminisce about some of the memorable moments that made up this epic event. USA hockey beats Canada in that Sunday night thriller. Shaun White rides to the gold while executing his signature Double McTwist. There was even the story of Joannie Rochette, the female ice skater from Canada whose mother had died just days before she competed. It was impossible not to root for her.
I’ve noticed this year that I no longer watch the games solely for the reason of watching athletes display their physical abilities. It occurred to me this year that only certain athletes make the Olympics. Okay maybe this isn’t such a ground breaking revelation. What I’m trying to say is that only certain athletes, rich athletes, make the winter Olympics; which in turn means that there are more athletes who have at least one engineer as a parent in the Winter Olympics than in the Summer Olympics.
How did I come to this conclusion? Simple. It’s not as if winter Olympic athletes have to necessarily jump high, or run fast, of lift unbelievable amounts of weight. Winter Olympians compete in all of the expensive sports. Go skiing some time. By the time you’ve purchased a lift ticket, skis, ski clothes, etc… you’ve probably spent close to 500$, and this is not including the fee for a hotel room. What about ice hockey? All those pads! I spec’d out some hockey equipment for close to $600. I never paid more than $50 for a basketball jersey. And there was no ‘court fee’ for basketball, which if existed would be synonymous to what people pay to use an ice skating rink, also not cheap.
So it could only be that the parents of winter Olympians are fairly well off financially. Engineers make pretty good scrap last time I checked. Naturally, studies should show that my speculation is in fact truthiness. All I have to do now is get someone to conduct the study. Why they would want to? I can’t answer that, I just have to continue to hope someone one day has a ridiculous amount of time on their hands.
I’ve noticed this year that I no longer watch the games solely for the reason of watching athletes display their physical abilities. It occurred to me this year that only certain athletes make the Olympics. Okay maybe this isn’t such a ground breaking revelation. What I’m trying to say is that only certain athletes, rich athletes, make the winter Olympics; which in turn means that there are more athletes who have at least one engineer as a parent in the Winter Olympics than in the Summer Olympics.
How did I come to this conclusion? Simple. It’s not as if winter Olympic athletes have to necessarily jump high, or run fast, of lift unbelievable amounts of weight. Winter Olympians compete in all of the expensive sports. Go skiing some time. By the time you’ve purchased a lift ticket, skis, ski clothes, etc… you’ve probably spent close to 500$, and this is not including the fee for a hotel room. What about ice hockey? All those pads! I spec’d out some hockey equipment for close to $600. I never paid more than $50 for a basketball jersey. And there was no ‘court fee’ for basketball, which if existed would be synonymous to what people pay to use an ice skating rink, also not cheap.
So it could only be that the parents of winter Olympians are fairly well off financially. Engineers make pretty good scrap last time I checked. Naturally, studies should show that my speculation is in fact truthiness. All I have to do now is get someone to conduct the study. Why they would want to? I can’t answer that, I just have to continue to hope someone one day has a ridiculous amount of time on their hands.
February 21, 2010
Engineering Week Continues...
Yesterday marked my second time to attend the Engineering and Computer Science Career Fair, or ECSCF, which is pronounced phonetically, Ehk-siff. Warning: Use of this acronym in daily conversations may result in your peers thinking you have swine flu! So you may just want to say the entire phrase instead.
The career fair this year was very informative for me. Being a Mechanical Engineer, I was looking for companies who I thought would need my specialized skills. I stumbled upon some premier players of industry such as Bell Helicopter, DRS Infrared Technologies, and Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. Let the handshakes commence! I'm a fan of the 'wink-and-the-gun' greeting myself.
Every booth had its respective free trinkets. Frito-Lay was passing out their plastic potatoes and single-serve bags of chips, which was nice because I hadn’t had lunch yet, and I had recently lost my other plastic potato. Across the aisle, Bell Helicopter had its helicopter-shaped pencil erasers and temporary tattoos like you would get out of the vending machines from CiCi’s…what am I, 8 years old? But the real reason the companies and I were here at this moment, was not because of the free-stuff. The reason we were here was so underclassmen could gain valuable experience at networking with potential employers, and upperclassmen could possibly find a job or internship upon graduating.
I, being a junior in the MEE program, was looking for an internship and was especially glad to stop at the DRS booth, because they seemed sincerely interested in my knowledge of a certain program called Pro Engineer. They even talked about the possibility of full-time Co-Op, which is similar to an internship. A Co-Op, for those of you who don’t know, is when you work for a company, get paid a salary, while at the same time receiving course credit towards you major…Deal. With an internship, no course credit is given. I’ll have to check back with them soon.
Above all, very glad that I attended this year. I think I’ll get lucky, and should be on my way very soon to gaining some quality experience in industry. Thanks UNT CENG and fellow Career Center cohorts for organizing this great opportunity!
The career fair this year was very informative for me. Being a Mechanical Engineer, I was looking for companies who I thought would need my specialized skills. I stumbled upon some premier players of industry such as Bell Helicopter, DRS Infrared Technologies, and Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. Let the handshakes commence! I'm a fan of the 'wink-and-the-gun' greeting myself.
Every booth had its respective free trinkets. Frito-Lay was passing out their plastic potatoes and single-serve bags of chips, which was nice because I hadn’t had lunch yet, and I had recently lost my other plastic potato. Across the aisle, Bell Helicopter had its helicopter-shaped pencil erasers and temporary tattoos like you would get out of the vending machines from CiCi’s…what am I, 8 years old? But the real reason the companies and I were here at this moment, was not because of the free-stuff. The reason we were here was so underclassmen could gain valuable experience at networking with potential employers, and upperclassmen could possibly find a job or internship upon graduating.
I, being a junior in the MEE program, was looking for an internship and was especially glad to stop at the DRS booth, because they seemed sincerely interested in my knowledge of a certain program called Pro Engineer. They even talked about the possibility of full-time Co-Op, which is similar to an internship. A Co-Op, for those of you who don’t know, is when you work for a company, get paid a salary, while at the same time receiving course credit towards you major…Deal. With an internship, no course credit is given. I’ll have to check back with them soon.
Above all, very glad that I attended this year. I think I’ll get lucky, and should be on my way very soon to gaining some quality experience in industry. Thanks UNT CENG and fellow Career Center cohorts for organizing this great opportunity!
February 18, 2010
Solar Crown Rests in ETEC
This past Tuesday, for the third time in its recent history, the College of Engineering at UNT held the Solar Powered Winch and Cart Race, which makes up a small part of the Engineering Week at UNT. Other activities this week include catered lunches from a local barbecue called Metzler’s, a gaming competition, and the always interesting poster competition. Dr. Matthew J. Traum, Assistant Professor in the Mechanical and Energy Engineering Department, officiated the solar powered race. For those of you who don’t know, Dr. Traum is the creator of the increasingly popular engineering competition that challenges participants to couple their design and building skills with alternative energy sources.
The competition was stacked high with several participants from the Mechanical and Energy Engineering department, but for the first time, one group of students from the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department decided to enter the race. I could see from their design that they would have a good run. Their winch was made out of welded together steel and their cart was made with the same material, only much lighter. Their knowledge of welding and access to materials was clearly evident.
At first the atmosphere in the room was laid back; students chatting, sizing up the carts, while at the same time having a laugh. But after the time trials...things got a little more serious. What’s this? The ETEC boys had the fastest time in the trials! MEE now had reason for concern. We don’t want to let our professor down. Surely one MEE student would have a faster cart than ETEC.
After several more runs, it was clear that the ETEC cart was the best. Hopefully in the future, ETEC can bequeath some of its unused materials and resources for other departments to use. 
February 15, 2010
A Day for Guiness
February 11, 2010. A day that usually meant that spring was right around the corner. It was not to be this year as a torrential record setting downpour blanketed the city of Denton with a flawlessly white helping of snow. From the weather reports I saw in the early morning, I was sure that UNT would cancel its classes, especially since Denton ISD had done so just minutes before. But as each sip of coffee and minute passed, UNT remained open.
Oh bother. I guess I was gonna have to make the trek up to campus, UNT had not yet canceled classes. I understood however, because the weather channel predicted the high to be in the mid 30's throughout the day, which meant that driving would be no concern. So I made my drive to campus up I-35, all the while my windshield being pelted with millions of snowflakes. At this point the roads were normal.
I got to school around 9:30am, did some work on the laithe, sanded down the mount for my groups’ friction brake dynamometer, and talked to anyone I could find really. Discovery Park was a ghost town. The door to my major’s office was even locked. It was slowly starting to look as if even though the authorities chose to keep the university open initially, they might soon change their mind. Sure enough, soon after this thought I got a text from the ‘Eagle Alert’ system on my phone saying, “the university will close at 12 noon”. Are you kidding me? I drove all the way up here and NOW you want to close it?!
Above all I couldn’t be that upset. I had homework due that day and now I knew that I wouldn’t have to turn it in until next week. This made everything even out. When I went to leave I quickly realized the magnitude of what had happened over the last three hours. As I made my way to my car, my boat shoe-covered feet were engulfed with almost six inches of snow that had the consistency of a 7-Eleven slurpy! This university is in Texas folks. It was even more funny after I got behind the wheel of my car. There was virtually no traction as I began to drive, or rather hydroplane, out of the parking lot. Lot 3 actually.
I knew that I was witnessing a record setting day in the city of Denton. When I got home I noticed a note on the door of my apartment. It said, “Warning: Car port may collapse from accumulation of snow.” Wow, you got to be kidding me, now I have to park 10 miles from my apartment to keep my car safe. This gave me an idea though. Heated Car ports. See you put solar panels on top of the car ports. Not only can they power the lights, but they can collect energy that can be used to heat the roofs in times like this. See, this engineering thing is really paying off. I better hurry up and patent that idea before one of you takes it!
Oh bother. I guess I was gonna have to make the trek up to campus, UNT had not yet canceled classes. I understood however, because the weather channel predicted the high to be in the mid 30's throughout the day, which meant that driving would be no concern. So I made my drive to campus up I-35, all the while my windshield being pelted with millions of snowflakes. At this point the roads were normal.
I got to school around 9:30am, did some work on the laithe, sanded down the mount for my groups’ friction brake dynamometer, and talked to anyone I could find really. Discovery Park was a ghost town. The door to my major’s office was even locked. It was slowly starting to look as if even though the authorities chose to keep the university open initially, they might soon change their mind. Sure enough, soon after this thought I got a text from the ‘Eagle Alert’ system on my phone saying, “the university will close at 12 noon”. Are you kidding me? I drove all the way up here and NOW you want to close it?!
Above all I couldn’t be that upset. I had homework due that day and now I knew that I wouldn’t have to turn it in until next week. This made everything even out. When I went to leave I quickly realized the magnitude of what had happened over the last three hours. As I made my way to my car, my boat shoe-covered feet were engulfed with almost six inches of snow that had the consistency of a 7-Eleven slurpy! This university is in Texas folks. It was even more funny after I got behind the wheel of my car. There was virtually no traction as I began to drive, or rather hydroplane, out of the parking lot. Lot 3 actually.
I knew that I was witnessing a record setting day in the city of Denton. When I got home I noticed a note on the door of my apartment. It said, “Warning: Car port may collapse from accumulation of snow.” Wow, you got to be kidding me, now I have to park 10 miles from my apartment to keep my car safe. This gave me an idea though. Heated Car ports. See you put solar panels on top of the car ports. Not only can they power the lights, but they can collect energy that can be used to heat the roofs in times like this. See, this engineering thing is really paying off. I better hurry up and patent that idea before one of you takes it!
February 10, 2010
Jaws 14
Lots 3 and 4. A vast and seemingly treeless frontier, these lots make up the two biggest areas to park at Discovery Park. They also require the cheapest parking permit, roughly 27$ for a full year, but like any parking lot, the people who arrive the earliest get the best spots. Now don’t get me wrong, there are no really “bad” spots per say, a token to the civil engineers who designed the layout, but it’s always nicer to get the premium spots…VIP if you will.
Sometimes I think that if I don’t arrive to school before the sun rises that I will never get one of these coveted VIP spots. Some of the people that work up here are super dedicated! I have started to figure out a strategy to acquire one of these spots.
Think for a moment of the way a shark might hunt its prey. The sharks hang back and observe from a not-too-close, not-too-far base, hunt strategically and learn from previous attempts. We too must be like sharks. It goes like this. Pull slowly into lot 3. Scope the horizon for potential departures, typically around 1:50pm the noon classes should be getting out. When you spot someone, drive slowly in the general direction you suspect they are walking. Monitor your breathing…stay steady…patient.
When you see someone make a b-line towards the ocean of cars, then it’s time to move in. Follow slowly behind them because there’s a lot of other sharks out there. As a rule of safety keep a 50 ft distance between you and the target, and, if you follow this procedure exactly as I say you may just luck out. Now if this does not work, revert to the classic “circling” method, but again as a rule of thumb, keep your speed under ten miles per hour.
In conclusion, think like a shark. A shark that has a human brain of course…yeah, that just happened. Just the other day I had a successful hunt, and was fortunate enough to park in the first row! I plan to hone my skills but now I guess since I revealed the tricks my competition will go up. May the best nerd win!
P.S. And don’t even think about trying to get away with the excuse displayed below!
February 08, 2010
Identifying the Engineer
There are certain traits that must be inherent in order to be considered a legitimate engineer. Yes of course there should exist a keen sense of math skills, as well as an ability to concentrate even when the walls are falling down around you. But there are some criterion for proper identification that tend to go unchecked and need to be reiterated, and the avenue for such reiteration shall be, what I like to call, the Engineer’s Tactical Course.
Obstacle One - Problem Solving Strategies Simulation. The process here is simple. Take a picture on a wall in your living room and make it crooked, then invite one of your friends over. Your friend will most likely choose one of three options: straighten the picture, ignore the picture, or buy a copy of Pro Engineer and spend the next 48 hours (5 of them sleeping) designing a solar-powered picture straightening device. Obviously, if he or she chooses the last option then you’ve got yourself an engineer.
Obstacle Two - Wardrobe Selection. Take the candidate to a department store. A Marshall’s, or a TJ Maxx, something that has a wide selection of brands. Tell them to pick out an outfit. What we’re looking for here for example would be a combination of boat shoes, a Slazenger button up shirt (tucked in), and jeans. This is a typical outfit for an engineer. Similar derivations will also fit into engineer wardrobe category, just be sure to use careful discretion.
Final Stage - Place a computer in front of the subject that’s only possible function is to play games of Galaga. While it is tempting to just give in and play the classic video game, the real engineer will most likely get more satisfaction out of breaking the machine down into its smallest possible functioning components. Sick I know, but true.
In conclusion, as engineers, we are not the most “normal” people, but who cares. Without us, the world would still be trying to roll cars on square wheels, or even worse, we would still be drying all of our meat so that it would last the entire winter. Nough said. That’s all folks.
Obstacle One - Problem Solving Strategies Simulation. The process here is simple. Take a picture on a wall in your living room and make it crooked, then invite one of your friends over. Your friend will most likely choose one of three options: straighten the picture, ignore the picture, or buy a copy of Pro Engineer and spend the next 48 hours (5 of them sleeping) designing a solar-powered picture straightening device. Obviously, if he or she chooses the last option then you’ve got yourself an engineer.
Obstacle Two - Wardrobe Selection. Take the candidate to a department store. A Marshall’s, or a TJ Maxx, something that has a wide selection of brands. Tell them to pick out an outfit. What we’re looking for here for example would be a combination of boat shoes, a Slazenger button up shirt (tucked in), and jeans. This is a typical outfit for an engineer. Similar derivations will also fit into engineer wardrobe category, just be sure to use careful discretion.
Final Stage - Place a computer in front of the subject that’s only possible function is to play games of Galaga. While it is tempting to just give in and play the classic video game, the real engineer will most likely get more satisfaction out of breaking the machine down into its smallest possible functioning components. Sick I know, but true.
In conclusion, as engineers, we are not the most “normal” people, but who cares. Without us, the world would still be trying to roll cars on square wheels, or even worse, we would still be drying all of our meat so that it would last the entire winter. Nough said. That’s all folks.
February 04, 2010
The Born Identity
I could hear my heart almost beating out of my own chest. Something was obstructing the system, which was clear from the high amount of friction. I knew I was short on time, but the fact still remained: what could be stopping my system from achieving its goal? Immediate action was necessary, but how could I solve something when I was unaware of my own abilities? The shrill sound coming from the other room of, “You’re a mechanical engineer! You should be able to do it!” echoed through my head. The pressure was on. I proceeded to the closet to grab the only thing that I could think of…my toolbox. As I turned the machine over, something seemed to take over...my hawk eye vision kicked in as I pin-pointed each screw that held it together. My arm shot out as if it had a muscle spasm…a carefully calculated muscle spasm that led to my Phillips head screw driver being clutched in my white knuckled hands. I loosened the screws, and pulled the bottom off the machine, careful not to damage it.
What I saw next was simply horrific. Someone or something had snapped the drive belt! The mission was now to determine the closest Home Depot, Lowes, or any home care oriented organization for that matter. My target…a new vacuum belt for my upright Dirt Devil Bagless Breeze! After the target was collected, I quickly rushed home so as to not allow for one more wasted minute to pass that the carpet might remain unclean. My girlfriend’s eyes lit up as I came through the door, wielding the newly purchased flawless rubber belt. After a few minor cuts on the fingers, the machine was now fixed, and the apartment was full of the harmonious sound of a fully functioning vacuum cleaner.
What began as a personal proclamation of, “I’m not a vacuum repair man!”, quickly turned into a realization that my problem solving skills have drastically improved since starting my engineering studies at UNT. Much like Jason Bourne in the highly acclaimed action series, I was unaware of exactly just what I was capable of doing. In his case, he realized he was a highly specialized assassin/martial artist, where as I determined I would make a good home appliance repair man. Close enough.
The main point I’m trying to get across here is that studying engineering has in fact refined the way I look at things that are “broken”. It’s almost like I’ve been brainwashed to see a problem through until I deem the solution satisfactory. It’s a cool epiphany, and one that I look forward to utilizing the next time I’m playing a video game on a Sunday afternoon and hear a cry for help.
What I saw next was simply horrific. Someone or something had snapped the drive belt! The mission was now to determine the closest Home Depot, Lowes, or any home care oriented organization for that matter. My target…a new vacuum belt for my upright Dirt Devil Bagless Breeze! After the target was collected, I quickly rushed home so as to not allow for one more wasted minute to pass that the carpet might remain unclean. My girlfriend’s eyes lit up as I came through the door, wielding the newly purchased flawless rubber belt. After a few minor cuts on the fingers, the machine was now fixed, and the apartment was full of the harmonious sound of a fully functioning vacuum cleaner.
What began as a personal proclamation of, “I’m not a vacuum repair man!”, quickly turned into a realization that my problem solving skills have drastically improved since starting my engineering studies at UNT. Much like Jason Bourne in the highly acclaimed action series, I was unaware of exactly just what I was capable of doing. In his case, he realized he was a highly specialized assassin/martial artist, where as I determined I would make a good home appliance repair man. Close enough.
The main point I’m trying to get across here is that studying engineering has in fact refined the way I look at things that are “broken”. It’s almost like I’ve been brainwashed to see a problem through until I deem the solution satisfactory. It’s a cool epiphany, and one that I look forward to utilizing the next time I’m playing a video game on a Sunday afternoon and hear a cry for help.
February 01, 2010
My Jacket's Not Working!
Who is a fan of Man vs Wild? If you are then you’ve seen the extreme weather conditions that star host Bear Grylls, the youngest man to ever summit Mount Everest, is subjected to on a weekly basis. The modern day MacGyver must keep his body at a survivable temperature even in sub zero environments. Being that he’s a former member of the British Special Forces I’m sure he is familiar with what materials to wear in order to keep himself alive. But think about the common man…or woman…that goes out for that weekend of fun to a local state park for a little camping, hiking…a little R&R if you will. And let’s say that the temperature suddenly drops to freezing temperatures. Will he or she know how to properly bundle up?
The reason I pose this question is due to a topic that was recently introduced in my Heat Transfer class. Heat Transfer is an extension of my Thermodynamics classes in that it explains the behavior of heat on a smaller, more detailed scale. By this I mean, in Thermo we just learn how to quantify a certain amount of heat, Q that goes into or out of a system. In Heat Transfer we learn the definition of Q, for example Q = -kA dT/dx…so basically we now know all of the little parts that make up the entire Q value.
What really got my attention the other day in class was a thing called the Critical Radius. The Critical Radius is a distance from a heat source at which if you were to stop your insulation barrier, you would lose the largest amount of heat; Which means that if the critical radius of a certain material is 2 cm, you would lose more heat from applying 2cm of insulation than if you were to supply 1.5 cm of insulation. Counter-intuitive yes I know. Some of the things I learn in this major never cease to make me think.
Which leads to the tangent I’m perusing right now. Is it possible that you could be lost in a cold climate, a camping trip gone bad if you will, and actually put on too many clothes? While you think you are doing what we call “bundling up,” you’re actually putting on the clothes that will make up your soon to be deathbed! It doesn’t get much more ironic than that, don’t you think?
The reason I pose this question is due to a topic that was recently introduced in my Heat Transfer class. Heat Transfer is an extension of my Thermodynamics classes in that it explains the behavior of heat on a smaller, more detailed scale. By this I mean, in Thermo we just learn how to quantify a certain amount of heat, Q that goes into or out of a system. In Heat Transfer we learn the definition of Q, for example Q = -kA dT/dx…so basically we now know all of the little parts that make up the entire Q value.
What really got my attention the other day in class was a thing called the Critical Radius. The Critical Radius is a distance from a heat source at which if you were to stop your insulation barrier, you would lose the largest amount of heat; Which means that if the critical radius of a certain material is 2 cm, you would lose more heat from applying 2cm of insulation than if you were to supply 1.5 cm of insulation. Counter-intuitive yes I know. Some of the things I learn in this major never cease to make me think.
Which leads to the tangent I’m perusing right now. Is it possible that you could be lost in a cold climate, a camping trip gone bad if you will, and actually put on too many clothes? While you think you are doing what we call “bundling up,” you’re actually putting on the clothes that will make up your soon to be deathbed! It doesn’t get much more ironic than that, don’t you think?
January 27, 2010
Stimulate Your Mind
I would like to take this time to talk about an important event that will take place at Discovery Park very soon. This event particularly interests me because I am an active undergraduate researcher. What I’m talking about is the great ‘Poster Competition’ that will take place February 12th. I know what you’re thinking, “It must have taken hours for them come up with that name!“ and, “Why in the name of Joe Smith would I want to participate in some poster competition?”. For those of you who don’t know, Joseph L. Smith is like the Nostradamus of entropy, and the inspiration for a majority of my Thermodynamics II studies last semester.
The first rebuttal I have for you is simply, money. If the word alone does not motivate you I recommend listening to Pink Floyd’s “Money”, a poetic tribute to the root of all evil. Yes…money. The best poster will receive a $300 award, 2nd $200, and 3rd $100. This is also an opportunity for students to share their research ideas with peers, faculty, and even the coffee stand girl if she happens to walk by!
I challenge all willing and able participants to take the time to submit a poster. This is because I want to see if anyone can beat me. I mean it’s going to be tough. My research is cutting edge, my literature search abilities are second to none, and my power point skills are impeccable. I am a humble man. It’s just that reverse psychology can be a powerful form of persuasion. Above all, I really don’t care if anyone else participates…more money for me.
I know I will be competing against some other strong opponents. The Nano-Pore Heat and Mass Transport Modulation for Simultaneous Cooling and Protection project really poses a threat. So too does the Nano-Pore Diameter Modulation in Polymer Barriers via Annealing project, not to mention the Massive Liquid Surface Area Extension for Accelerated Cooling project, they’ve really got some interesting stuff going on! Remember to submit your posters by February 8th in order to participate. And for more info on these interesting projects visit: http://www.mee.unt.edu/public/traum/research%20areas.php
The first rebuttal I have for you is simply, money. If the word alone does not motivate you I recommend listening to Pink Floyd’s “Money”, a poetic tribute to the root of all evil. Yes…money. The best poster will receive a $300 award, 2nd $200, and 3rd $100. This is also an opportunity for students to share their research ideas with peers, faculty, and even the coffee stand girl if she happens to walk by!
I challenge all willing and able participants to take the time to submit a poster. This is because I want to see if anyone can beat me. I mean it’s going to be tough. My research is cutting edge, my literature search abilities are second to none, and my power point skills are impeccable. I am a humble man. It’s just that reverse psychology can be a powerful form of persuasion. Above all, I really don’t care if anyone else participates…more money for me.
I know I will be competing against some other strong opponents. The Nano-Pore Heat and Mass Transport Modulation for Simultaneous Cooling and Protection project really poses a threat. So too does the Nano-Pore Diameter Modulation in Polymer Barriers via Annealing project, not to mention the Massive Liquid Surface Area Extension for Accelerated Cooling project, they’ve really got some interesting stuff going on! Remember to submit your posters by February 8th in order to participate. And for more info on these interesting projects visit: http://www.mee.unt.edu/public/traum/research%20areas.php
January 21, 2010
Tip Jar Transformation
One of the more exciting parts of my day comes fairly early in the morning. No, I’m not referring to my bowl of Kroger brand corn flakes, or my perusing of the weather channel. What I’m talking about is an ingestion of a certain, what I like to call magic elixir…coffee. Mainly because it helps with the shakes I get from caffeine withdrawal. Just kidding, I’m not that dependent on it, but a fresh cup always sounds good. Funny thing is, I told myself I would never drink coffee and if you are like I used to be, you will soon be a consumer. Currently my fridge contains three variations of Starbucks: French Roast, Italian Roast, and Breakfast Blend. But these don’t hold a candle to the Green Mountain Coffee Shop at Discovery Park.
To add to the shear quality of the coffee itself, there is a very pleasant, and seemingly sincere young lady that works there, and she never fails to have a smile accompanied with a “How are you today?” when I approach the stand. Because of this, I always like to leave some sort of tip in the obnoxiously large jar that sits directly in front of the cash register.
This past Tuesday, upon my return to Discovery Park after a nearly month long hiatus, I made my way towards the array of smells coming from the coffee stand. I even closed my eyes and attempted to find my destination solely with the use of my nose. After walking into the wall I decided I should use all of my senses. I was glad to see that the flavor of the day was “Rain Forest Nut”, which I can describe to you only as a bit spicy, yet quite robust. Okay I took that line that I used to describe the coffee from the movie “Cabin Boy” after he drinks the chum. Check it out sometime, it’s a good movie. Actually stars Andy Richter, who, for those of you who don’t know is the sidekick of Conan O’Brian on the soon to be terminated Tonight Show. The fact that Jay Leno is reclaiming his show really bothers me. He sucks. Conan Rules. By the way, I hope you are taking notes on all of this side information.
Excuse the spontaneous brain fart…back to my story. So I got my coffee, and as I was going to leave my routine tip, I noticed that the gargantuan jar that used to be in front of the register was missing. Upon further investigation, I noticed it had been replaced by a much smaller tin jar that had a small slit in the top. What used to be for tips was now a Red Cross donation canister for the unfortunate citizens of Haiti. This made me empty my wallet, as I had already been looking for some direct way to help out.
I really like the fact that the coffee stand did this. They even put a small note on the jar that asked people to put what they would normally tip into the new Red Cross jar. I would encourage people to put more money than usual, as this tragedy in Haiti is shaping up to be one of the most damaging in documented human history. Visit the Green Mountain Coffee Shop at Discovery Park, and kill two birds with one stone. Get a great cup of coffee and do a good deed by donating what you can.
To add to the shear quality of the coffee itself, there is a very pleasant, and seemingly sincere young lady that works there, and she never fails to have a smile accompanied with a “How are you today?” when I approach the stand. Because of this, I always like to leave some sort of tip in the obnoxiously large jar that sits directly in front of the cash register.
This past Tuesday, upon my return to Discovery Park after a nearly month long hiatus, I made my way towards the array of smells coming from the coffee stand. I even closed my eyes and attempted to find my destination solely with the use of my nose. After walking into the wall I decided I should use all of my senses. I was glad to see that the flavor of the day was “Rain Forest Nut”, which I can describe to you only as a bit spicy, yet quite robust. Okay I took that line that I used to describe the coffee from the movie “Cabin Boy” after he drinks the chum. Check it out sometime, it’s a good movie. Actually stars Andy Richter, who, for those of you who don’t know is the sidekick of Conan O’Brian on the soon to be terminated Tonight Show. The fact that Jay Leno is reclaiming his show really bothers me. He sucks. Conan Rules. By the way, I hope you are taking notes on all of this side information.
Excuse the spontaneous brain fart…back to my story. So I got my coffee, and as I was going to leave my routine tip, I noticed that the gargantuan jar that used to be in front of the register was missing. Upon further investigation, I noticed it had been replaced by a much smaller tin jar that had a small slit in the top. What used to be for tips was now a Red Cross donation canister for the unfortunate citizens of Haiti. This made me empty my wallet, as I had already been looking for some direct way to help out.
I really like the fact that the coffee stand did this. They even put a small note on the jar that asked people to put what they would normally tip into the new Red Cross jar. I would encourage people to put more money than usual, as this tragedy in Haiti is shaping up to be one of the most damaging in documented human history. Visit the Green Mountain Coffee Shop at Discovery Park, and kill two birds with one stone. Get a great cup of coffee and do a good deed by donating what you can.
January 14, 2010
2010 CENG Draft
I like sports…particularly football. GO COWBOYS! We’re gonna destroy the Vikings this weekend!... or so I hope. The Vikings, led by future hall of famer Brett Favre, make for a formidable opponent, but the Cowboys are definitely good enough to beat them. If for some reason we don’t win, it will be time to look ahead to next season. And one thing coaches do at times like this is start to scout players to pick in the upcoming draft. Specifically, players that will mix well with the structure of the team. Recently, UNT has acquired some serious talent in their “draft” so to speak, to add to some of the other star players that make up the already successful team that is the College of Engineering at UNT.
One of the most valuable additions is the hiring of Dr. Narendra B. Dahotre. Dr. Dahotre will be the new chair for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His credentials are quite impressive. Most notably, his over 30 years of experience working with lasers at the University of Tennessee. What I gathered is that Dr. Narendra identifies UNT’s potential for growth and success as key points in his decision to join the team. He will be welcomed with open arms I’m sure.
Other impressive personnel, who I liken to be veterans at UNT, include Katie Schniebs, an electrical engineering student who received a scholarship from none other than NASA! Her scholarship includes a $40,000 stipend to be distributed over a two year period, as well as a summer internship at NASA.
Lastly, for the purposes of this article at least, I would like to mention associate professor of computer science and engineering Rada Mihalcea, who was honored with the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers. And yes, when we say Presidential, we’re talking about the head honcho, President Barrack Obama. Ms. Mihalcea will have the privilege of meeting the President on January 13th at the White House, where she will be recognized for her accomplishments.
So as you can see, UNT is swiftly signing some of the top free agents throughout the science and engineering world, only making the team stronger. At this rate, UNT should soon move up in the ranks of some of the top engineering universities in the nation. We shall see what is to come in the 2010 CENG draft.
One of the most valuable additions is the hiring of Dr. Narendra B. Dahotre. Dr. Dahotre will be the new chair for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His credentials are quite impressive. Most notably, his over 30 years of experience working with lasers at the University of Tennessee. What I gathered is that Dr. Narendra identifies UNT’s potential for growth and success as key points in his decision to join the team. He will be welcomed with open arms I’m sure.
Other impressive personnel, who I liken to be veterans at UNT, include Katie Schniebs, an electrical engineering student who received a scholarship from none other than NASA! Her scholarship includes a $40,000 stipend to be distributed over a two year period, as well as a summer internship at NASA.
Lastly, for the purposes of this article at least, I would like to mention associate professor of computer science and engineering Rada Mihalcea, who was honored with the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers. And yes, when we say Presidential, we’re talking about the head honcho, President Barrack Obama. Ms. Mihalcea will have the privilege of meeting the President on January 13th at the White House, where she will be recognized for her accomplishments.
So as you can see, UNT is swiftly signing some of the top free agents throughout the science and engineering world, only making the team stronger. At this rate, UNT should soon move up in the ranks of some of the top engineering universities in the nation. We shall see what is to come in the 2010 CENG draft.
January 07, 2010
Santa Digs Science
I had the pleasure of spending the holidays with my family this year, as I’m sure most did. I personally didn’t have a long Christmas list, really no Christmas list at all. But I did receive one gift that surprised me. It is a gift that took me back to my younger years. A gift that, while simple, encompasses several physical properties that make it so perfect. What I’m talking about is the Slinky.
I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to see this gift in my stocking. So excited that I brought out the slinky so that my niece could play with it. My niece is 6…bad mistake. The reason I say this is because what happened is what always happens when you combine a child and a brand new slinky. The child somehow finds a way to deform/tangle the slinky, forever flawing that kinetically powered coil masterpiece…okay a little harsh I know, and until my brother pointed this fact out to me, I had begun to reprimand my niece in an attempt to investigate the order of events that eventually led to the slinky’s death. “Kids break Slinkys!” I just didn’t get it. My brother also reminded me of the multiple victims that fell by my hand as a child.
While I was in mourning I gained a new appreciation for the toys simple genius. Commonly called the “physics lab in a box”, this helical spring demonstrates several physical phenomena such as wave propagation, centripetal force, and energy states. Trust me, you will study all three of these topics and many more during your academic engineering career at UNT.
A quick history lesson: the slinky was invented by naval engineer Richard James in the 1940’s. He was trying to develop a component that would support and stabilize fragile instruments on ships in rough seas, and after accidentally knocking the coil down a flight of stairs, realized the object’s full potential. The slinky has now sold over 300 million units, and is the official state toy of Pennsylvania. Stories like this just go to show the endless possibilities that you get when you equip yourself so to speak with an engineering education, and that’s exactly what I’m trying to do here at UNT.
I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to see this gift in my stocking. So excited that I brought out the slinky so that my niece could play with it. My niece is 6…bad mistake. The reason I say this is because what happened is what always happens when you combine a child and a brand new slinky. The child somehow finds a way to deform/tangle the slinky, forever flawing that kinetically powered coil masterpiece…okay a little harsh I know, and until my brother pointed this fact out to me, I had begun to reprimand my niece in an attempt to investigate the order of events that eventually led to the slinky’s death. “Kids break Slinkys!” I just didn’t get it. My brother also reminded me of the multiple victims that fell by my hand as a child.
While I was in mourning I gained a new appreciation for the toys simple genius. Commonly called the “physics lab in a box”, this helical spring demonstrates several physical phenomena such as wave propagation, centripetal force, and energy states. Trust me, you will study all three of these topics and many more during your academic engineering career at UNT.
A quick history lesson: the slinky was invented by naval engineer Richard James in the 1940’s. He was trying to develop a component that would support and stabilize fragile instruments on ships in rough seas, and after accidentally knocking the coil down a flight of stairs, realized the object’s full potential. The slinky has now sold over 300 million units, and is the official state toy of Pennsylvania. Stories like this just go to show the endless possibilities that you get when you equip yourself so to speak with an engineering education, and that’s exactly what I’m trying to do here at UNT.
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