News from CETA

The Connecticut Space Grant Consortium, led by the University of Hartford, marked the 40th anniversary of the rescue of the Apollo 13 mission with three events the week of April 12. Three engineers who worked for Hamilton Sundstrand, which was involved in developing the rescue plan, participated in the events. Dick Wilde, former UTC (United Technologies Corporation) Apollo Program chief systems engineer; Jerry Pasco, UTC Apollo 13 Exhibit Committee chair; and Don Rethke (also known as Dr. Flush for his work on the shuttle bathroom facilities), former NASA life support system technology expert; talked about their experiences during the 1970 mission.

Dr. Flush explains the Apollo missions to school children at the Connecticut Science Center as the Apollo 13 Mission is remembered.

The three events, at the Connecticut Science Center in downtown Hartford on April 13, at the University of Connecticut on April 15, and at the University High School of Science and Engineering on April 16, also included a display of artifacts from NASA’s space program including a space suit and backpack and a replica of an Apollo-era lunar module.

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Dr. Lou Manzione, dean of CETA threw out the first pitch on CETA Day, April 20. The Hartford Hawks played the Quinnipiac Bobcats and won, 10 to 4, spurred by an eight-run third inning.

Dean Manzione coaches a Little League team in West Hartford, so he was well prepared to pitch.

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Dr. Ivana Milanovic, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering and chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in CETA, has received a 2010 NASA Fellowship Award. She will be hosted by the Turbomachinery and Propulsion Systems Division at NASA’s Glenn Research Center this summer, where she will investigate wake vortices in a jet in cross-flow. Her work will provide projects for graduate students interested in computational simulation studies.

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Dr. Akram Abu-aisheh, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in CETA, will conduct a workshop in Sustainable Energy Sources at Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron in May (10 to 13). The workshop is orgranized by the Power Electronics and Signal Processing Research Unit (PESPRU) at Palestine Polytechnic with the cooperation and support of the Consulate General of the United States in Jerusalem. The goal of the workshop is to introduce and train Palestinian academic staff and engineers in alternative energy sources, their applications and modeling.

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On April 22, several CETA students were honored to present their projects at the Undergraduate Research and Creativity Colloquium. 

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  Sadie Heald, Dan Luedke, Clay Pipkin, Ellen Skoczenski, and Keith Vaccaro; an interdisciplinary group from the College of Arts & Sciences and CETA; “A Multidisciplinary Approach for Increasing Access to Clean Water, Providing a Sustainable Water Supply, and Improving Sanitation in a Rural Indian Community”; advisor: Dr. David Pines 

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  Neftali Torres; CETA; “Hydrogen Refueling Station Network Development and Analysis”; advisor: Dr. Clara Fang

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  Brad Deschenes and Klaudio Doko; CETA; “The Heat Is On: A Research Project on Microwave Simulation”; advisor: Dr. Patricia Mellodge

CETA congratulates all the students who participated in the Colloquium for their fine research work.

CETA to Offer Sustainability Seminars

Efforts to live create a sustainable environment can take many forms using science and engineering, such as developing renewable energy, creating eco-municipalities, and more vibrant and livable cities, designing green buildings, and constructing sustainable transportation and water supply infrastructure. Sustainability is an emerging field of study, most frequently used in connection with various biological, human and engineering systems. Its development requires different disciplinary perspectives, but few opportunities for this necessary cross-fertilization of ideas or for sustained discussion about it currently exist.

To create such opportunities, Dr. Clara Fang, assistant professor of Civil, Environmental, Biomedical Engineering, and Dr. Tom Filburn, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the NASA CT Space Grant Consortium, have organized a College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (CETA) Seminar Series on Sustainability. Sponsored by a Sustainability Grant from the Office of the Provost, a series of seminars on various topics related to “Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment” will be offered in the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters, generally one per month. The seminars will be led by CETA faculty and corporate executives.

This series is an opportunity to share knowledge and scientific research with peers and students in a relaxed, informal environment. The seminar leaders will provide about one hour of content with additional time available for questions and discussion (both questions and discussion will be strongly encouraged). The seminars are open to all faculty, staff and students of the University as well as the general public. All CETA graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to attend.

We believe the study of sustainability is both cutting-edge and timely. This seminar series will provide a unique opportunity to advance research on sustainability across disciplinary and professional boundaries and, in particular, to consider its implications for research and practice in lifelong learning.

Below is a list of seminar dates, topics and speakers. The guest speakers have diverse interests and expertise in sustainability as a field of study. They approach it from different disciplinary and professional backgrounds (for example, mechanical, environmental, energy, transportation, education, industry) and with a wide range of experience and expertise. They have begun to address some of the issues noted above from their own perspectives and to explore them in conjunction with other colleagues in the University, in industry, and in government.
Seminar Series Schedule

• On Thursday, October 15, 2009, from 12:15- 1:50p.m., in Mali I, Dr. Cy Yavuzturk, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering, will lead a discussion of Net Zero Energy Buildings.
• On Thursday, November 12, 2009, from 12:15 to 1:50p.m., in Mali I, James Fuller, professor of Architecture, will lead a discussion of Architecture and the Environment.
• On Thursday, December 3, 2009, from 12:15 to 1:50p.m., in Mali I, Dr. David Pines, associate professor of Civil, Environmental, and Biomedical Engineering, will lead a discussion of Sustainable Water Supplies.
• On Thursday, February 4, 2010, from 12:15 to 1:50 p.m., in Mali II, Dr. Thomas Filburn, associate professor of Mechanical and biomedical Engineering, will lead a discussion on Campus Energy Use and Renewable Potential.
• On Thursday, March 4, 2010, from 12:15 to 1:50 p.m., in Mali II, Dr. Clara Fang, assistant professor of Civil, Environmental, and Biomedical Engineering, will lead a discussion on Sustainable Transportation.
• On Thursday, April 8, 2010, from 12:15 to 1:50 p.m., in Mali II, Dr. Lou Manzione, dean of CETA, will lead a discussion on Cyberspace and Inner Space as Facilitators of Sustainability.
• On Thursday, April 29, 2010, from 12:15 to 1:50 p.m., in Mali II, Mike Ahern, vice president of Northeast Utilities, will lead a discussion.

The event is co-sponsored by the Office of Provost’s Sustainability Grant and the student chapters of ASME and SWE. Light refreshments will be served. CETA hopes that many people, whether faculty, staff, students, or community members, will attend these important discussions.