OSU MECHANICAL ENGINEERING E-BULLETIN

Issue #31

Week of May 29, 2006

 

OSU MINI BAJA TAKES MIDWEST GOLD

 

Congratulations to this year’s OSU SAE Mini Baja team on your brilliant performance at the 2006 Mini Baja–Midwest. Only two weeks out from the Mini Baja West, and you did it all over again—and even better! Out of the ~120 competing teams at last weekend’s international competition, Beaver Racing placed:

 

§         1st in Design

§         1st in Endurance

§         2nd in Maneuverability

§         2nd in the Mud Bog event

§         3rd in the Combined Friday Dynamic events (acceleration, chain pull, mud bog, maneuverability)

 

and…1st OVERALL

 

NOTE: This is the FIRST TIME EVER that Beaver Racing has taken the Gold in BOTH the West and Midwest Competitions. 2005-06 OSU Mini Baja Team: YOU ROCK!!!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

This Week...

 

Tuesday, May 30: "Development of Acoustic Emissions Testing Procedures Applicable to Conventionally Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder Bridges Subjected to Diagonal Tension Cracking." PhD defense by Steven Lovejoy. 10 am, Rogers 226

 

Thursday , June 1: University Honors College Thesis Poster Fair. 11:30-1:30, MU Ballroom. About 70 senior projects will be on display at this event, and the authors will be present to answer questions and discuss their work.

 

Thursday , June 1: Lebanon High School Engineering Day. 1-3:15 pm. This event is targeted to the 350 students in the Physical Systems Academy, which has an engineering-based curriculum. The media and local businesses are invited.  This is an excellent opportunity to promote OSU Engineering and solicit possible donations for next year’s clubs and teams. Currently, the SAE Mini Baja and Formula, Human Powered Vehicle, and Oregon WAVE (DARPA Grand Challenge) teams, along with the “Control Mechanisms for Parafoil and Payload Aircraft” Senior Design team, are slated to participate. If others are interested in attending/participating, please contact Steve Adams at 737-2862 or steven.adams@oregonstate.edu ASAP.Directions to Lebanon High School: Take HWY 34 East until you get to Denny School Road. Turn right on Denny School Road (there will be a separate lane to the right - Lebanon-Truck Route). Stay on Denny School Road (it will turn into Airport Way).

Turn Left on Seventh St.  (you will see the football and baseball fields). Follow Seventh just past the baseball field and turn right into the parking lot.

 

Thursday , June 1:  Student Sustainability Project Grants and Application Process: Informational meeting. 6 pm, MU 208. Offered by the Student Sustainability Advisory Board (SSAB), SSP grants will be awarded for up to $5000 for projects that can be completed by the end of the 2006–07 academic year. Projects should promote conservation and direct action at OSU. For more information, see Announcements section below.

 

Plan Ahead…

 

Monday, June 5: Fulbright Information Meeting. 10:30-noon, Van de Water Conference Room (448 Snell Hall). See the “Scholarships and Fellowships” section (below) for more information on Fulbright grants and how to apply.

 

Thursday, June 15-Saturday, June 17: Formula SAE West Competition at California Speedway, Fontana, CA.

 

Saturday, June 17:  ME Graduation Ceremony, This ceremony will be held at  4–6 pm in the Lasells Stewart Center, and will include individual recognition of each graduate. Caps and gowns are required. RSVP at the following link:   http://me.oregonstate.edu/springpicnic.php.  This invitation extends to any and all family members – no limit. 

 

 

FACULTY/GRADUATE SEMINARS

 

—No seminars are scheduled for the remainder of spring quarter.

 

Note: The most current ME Seminar schedule and other OSU seminar information is available on the Rogers Hall bulletin boards near the ME main office or at http://me.oregonstate.edu/seminars/.

 

MISCELLANEOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Department-wide…

 

CONGRATULATIONS to ME student Ashley Swander on her funding award from the Undergraduate Research, Innovation, Scholarship and Creativity (URISC) Summer 2005-06 program. Ms. Swander will work this summer with Michael Pavol, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, on “Effects of Age on the Landing Techniques of Boys and Girls.”

 

BOOKS FOR ZIMBABWE. So the OSU bookstore doesn’t want your used textbooks?  The University of Zimbabwe does.  Engineers Without Borders – OSU is a student group that organizes projects to improve the quality of life in developing countries.  Currently Engineers Without Borders is planning an end-of-term book drive through Better World Books to provide the University of Zimbabwe with much-needed resources.  Consider donating your used textbooks to support this effort and impact literacy efforts worldwide.  The book drive will run for two weeks, from June 5th through June 16^th.  There will be collection bins in the following locations:  The Valley Library, and the History Department (Milam 306). Contact:  ewb_osu@yahoo.com

 

Want to make a difference on campus? Put your ideas in action and APPLY FOR A STUDENT SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT GRANT. Offered by the Student Sustainability Advisory Board (SSAB), grants will be awarded for up to $5000 for projects that can be completed by the end of the 2006–07 academic year. Projects should promote conservation and direct action at OSU. An informational meeting about the grant opportunity will be held on June 1st in MU 208 at 6:00 PM. We will go over the grant proposal process and answer questions. Here’s how to apply:

1.       Attend an informational meeting on June 1st at 6:00 PM in MU 208

2.       Develop a statement of interest for a feasible project that can be implemented by the end of the 2006-2007 school year. Include the outcomes and intended methodology.

3.       Identify a professor or other campus official to mentor the project

4.       Submit your statement of interest to the SSAB by Friday, June 16, 2006.

5.       Each letter will be reviewed and provided feedback

6.       Successful applicants will have the summer to complete a full grant proposal.

For more information, please contact: Darci Connor, Student Sustainability Advisory Board, 644 SW 13th St, OSU, Corvallis, OR 97331. student.sustainability@oregonstate.edu. Or, talk to ME student Sam Walker, samuelawalker@yahoo.com.

 

The COE IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD AMBASSADORS. Do you enjoy sharing your collegiate experiences with others? Do you want to gain valuable communications and leadership skills, and event-planning experience? Do you welcome the opportunity to contribute to the university's recruitment and diversity efforts? Would you like the chance to work directly with university faculty members and administrators? Could you benefit from networking with peers and professionals in your field of study? Are you a hard worker who enjoys having fun? If you answer "yes" to many of these questions, you may be an ideal candidate to serve as an Ambassador for the College of Engineering! Ambassadors serve as representatives for the College of Engineering and are responsible for supporting recruiting and diversity efforts. Ambassadors lend support in many ways They may mentor new students, travel to high schools to make presentations, assist in family science nights, attend on-campus recruiting events, professional conferences, industry and alumni events, host students and parents who visit campus; and contact prospective students. (Note: Because of travel, priority will be given to students who have one full day per week available for work.)  Benefits of CoE Ambassadorship include: Prestige associated with serving on a team of highly motivated and respected undergraduates; the opportunity to network with university administrators, faculty, industry professionals, and political figures; the chance to positively contribute to the colleges' student-recruitment efforts; valuable work and leadership experience to include on resumes and to discuss during interviews; and last but not least, $10/hour. Application forms are at: http://engr.oregonstate.edu/wme/amb_apply.htm

 

The OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENT CENTER (IAC) is currently recruiting student employees. The minimum commitment for involvement is two summers & one school year, 10-20 hours/week during school, full time in summer. The IAC offers small and medium-sized manufacturers comprehensive on-site energy, waste and productivity assessments. Student teams led by engineering faculty visit Northwest manufacturers