Washington Engineer - August 2009

In this issue:

Dean's Message
Research News - Self-Destructing E-mail; Multipurpose Nanoparticles; Mixed-Fiber Medical Implants
Campus News - Test Driving the Kindle DX; Making Way for Molecular Engineering; Student-Built Rocket; Electrical Engineer Wins PECASE
Coming Events - Biomaterials Summer Symposium
In the Media

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Dean's Message

Matt O’Donnell congratulates undergraduate and graduate students honored this year, and discusses a new direct-admit program for freshman engineers enrolling this fall. More »

Research News

	This article will self-destruct: A tool to make online personal data vanish A team of UW computer scientists developed a prototype system called Vanish that can place a time limit on Web text. After a set time a message written using Vanish will, in essence, self-destruct. See how it works in this video. The New York Times \| The Economist \| NPR
	A Swiss Army knife for medical imaging: A multipurpose nanoparticle An article in Nature Nanotechnology explains how, for the first time, UW bioengineers were able to combine two medical-imaging nanoparticles in one tiny package.
	Crustacean shell with polyester creates mixed-fiber material for nerve repair Mixing chitosan, found in the shells of crabs and shrimp, with an industrial polyester creates a promising new material for the tiny tubes that support repair of a severed nerve.

Campus News

	Making way for new Molecular Engineering Building Occupants of Cunningham Hall and Johnson Hall Annex are moving out this month, and Cunningham itself will be moving later this summer to make way for the new Molecular Engineering Building on the site.
	Test Driving the Kindle DX This Fall each incoming Computer Science & Engineering graduate student will receive a Kindle DX, Amazon's newest wireless reading device. The UW is one of the universities participating in a pilot project testing the device.
	Student-built rocket blasts more than two miles high The UW’s Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics held its first hands-on graduate course focused on rocket design and construction. Watch the launch and learn about the UW team's medal-winning performance at a Utah rocket competition.
	Hochberg honored with presidential early career award UW electrical engineering professor Michael Hochberg is among 100 outstanding early-career scientists named by President Obama. Hochberg was one of four UW recipients this year. See also the White House press release.

Coming Events

UWEB Summer Symposium: Biomaterials, Entrepreneurship, Innovations, Translation
August 26-28, 2009

Scientist-entrepreneurs will showcase the latest biomaterials-based technologies that are moving from research laboratories to industry and ultimately to reach patients.

In the Media

	Sensors for tracking home water use Technology Review \| June 30 2009
	Research on solar-powered Air Force drones takes off The New York Times \| July 15, 2009
	Can computers decipher a 5,000-year-old language? Smithsonian magazine \| July 20, 2009