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News & events

[em]Washington Engineer[/em] - August 2013

In this issue:

  • Dean's Message
  • Research - Wi-Fi Gestures; Grocery Delivery & C02; Brain-Computer Interface
  • Campus News - Academic Redshirts; UW Formula Motorsports Win; Remembering David Notkin
  • Events - National Engineering Forum; Career Fair; STEM Research Symposium
  • In the Media - Boeing 787; Tracking Genetic Flaws; 3-D Printed Boat

 


Dean's Message

In his introductory message, Dean Michael Bragg touches on the strengths of UW Engineering, current research, and the opportunities ahead. He also highlights the Washington State Academic Redshirt program (STARS) to be launched this fall. Read message »

Michael Bragg

Research

computer screen shows change in the wireless signal as a user moves his hand Wi-Fi signals enable gesture recognition throughout home
Computer scientists at the UW have shown it’s possible to leverage Wi-Fi signals around us to detect specific movements without needing sensors or cameras. Users could control their electronics and household appliances from any room with a simple gesture.
BBC | The Washington Post | The Economist | Los Angeles Times

Amazon Fresh truck

Grocery delivery service is greener than driving to the store
UW civil and environmental engineers have found that using a grocery delivery service can cut carbon dioxide emissions by at least half when compared with individual household trips to the store.
The Washington Post | Time | NPR

image of brain with colors showing changes in activity for those using a brain-computer interface New tasks become as simple as waving a hand with brain-computer interfaces
Learning to control a robotic arm or a prosthetic limb could become second nature for people who are paralyzed.
Los Angeles Times | BBC

Campus News

Math Academy students after a workshop in 2012

New 'academic redshirt' program to support undergraduate STEM education
The UW in collaboration with Washington State University is developing an “academic redshirt” program beginning this fall that will bring dozens of low-income Washington state high school graduates to the two universities to study engineering in a five-year bachelor’s program.
KPLU | Inside Higher Ed | GeekWire

Patrick Sodt, one of the UW drivers, in the race car UW gas-, electric-powered cars claim 1st and 2nd in national contest
The UW Formula Motorsports team clinched the overall win in a field of nearly 80 teams at the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers competition held June 19-22 in Lincoln, Neb. The overall win is a first for the student-run team, now in its 24th year. In the new electric car category, the team placed second out of 20 teams.
GeekWire

David Notkin

Computer science professor remembered through scholarship fund
David Notkin, a UW professor of computer science and engineering, passed away on April 22, 2013 at the age of 58. He will be remembered as a gifted mentor and world leader in software engineering.
The Seattle Times | The (UW) Daily

Events

National Engineering Forum logo Save the Date:
National Engineering Forum Regional Dialogues

Monday, Oct. 14, 5-8 p.m.
Student Union Building (HUB) Lyceum

The UW and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will host this event that brings together leaders and stakeholders to discuss three engineering challenges: capacity, capability and competitiveness. Follow @NatlEngForum for updates. The event is invite-only.

The big W on campus Science and Engineering Career Fair
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 12 - 5 p.m.
Student Union Building (HUB), UW Seattle campus

The career fair is geared toward connecting engineering and science students with companies in the Northwest and around the nation.

student working in the lab Summer STEM Poster Session
Wednesday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Mary Gates Hall Commons, UW Seattle campus

Students will display their posters in this public event.

In the Media

787 fuselage production

New challenges for fixers of Boeing's 787
The New York Times | July 29, 2013
While airlines love how this lightweight plane saves fuel, the recent fire on a 787 at Heathrow Airport in London provides the first test of how difficult and costly it will be to repair serious damage. Mark Tuttle, a UW professor of mechanical engineering, weighs in.

rendered image shows synthetic DNA bonding with real DNA UW team hunts tiny genetic flaws linked to big problems
KPLU | July 30, 2013
Even the tiniest misprint in a person’s genetic code can cause big health problems, but they can be hard to find. Now UW researchers say they’ve designed a better way to track down those mutations.
See also: UW Today

green 3-D printed boat UW club refines its methods to 'print' new milk-carton boat
The Seattle Times | July 12, 2013
For the second year, the Washington Open Object Fabricators team entered a 3-D printed boat in this summer's Seafair Milk Carton Derby. The mechanical engineering students printed the boat over the course of 11 hours.