2021 Building Your Future Engineering by classiccity

JANUARY 2021

Building Your Future in Engineering

Building Your Future in Engineering magazine Publisher : A4 Inc. | 1154 Lower Birmingham Road | Canton, Georgia 30115 (770) 521-8877 | e-mail: rfrey@a4inc.com Managing Editor: Roland Petersen-Frey e-mail: rfrey@a4inc.com

Art Direction/Design Pamela S. Petersen-Frey e-mail: pfrey@a4inc.com

Why Engineering Matters:

A statement by the Royal Academy of Engineering

Engineering underpins human progress. Engineering is about the practical delivery of scientifically informed solutions for the great challenges and opportunities in a rapidly evolving world. Engineers take scientific discoveries and apply them practically. Their work literally creates the fabric of society, whether the buildings we live and work in, the energy that powers our world or the transport networks that we use every day. Engineering is so diverse that it is sometimes hard for the public to see a common thread between its feats. At one end of the scale, engineers are responsible for the massive scale design and build of the Large Hadron Collider and, at the other, to the many applications of nano-technology. Engineering creates the breathtaking yet sustainable new buildings on the skylines of the world’s great cities as well as bringing clean water and sanitation to remote, impoverished villages. Then there is the communications revolution, creating a growing sense of world community, enabling billions of people to access information and services and forging new business opportunities. So what must an engineer know and do in order to be effective and successful? The bedrock of engineering is the application of mathematical and physical theory. But engineering is far more than just about knowledge: an engineer’s core business is to turn theory into practice. As with medicine, engineering expertise only comes with practice, by means of exposure to real-world dilemmas and techniques for addressing them. It is practice that enables an engineer to learn another

crucial core skill—to think strategically about the whole picture while keeping an eye on the detail. This whole systems thinking is what allows an engineer to juggle the competing demands of a project, managing risks, controlling costs, and keeping to time. v

Auburn Engineering Online

by the numbers: 13 Master’s Degrees 7 Graduate Certificates 100% Online Top 25 Program (U.S. News and World Report)

Visit eng.auburn.edu/online or scan:

JANUARY 2021

Table of Contents Why Engineering Matters .........................................................................................4 Letter Governor Brian Kemp....................................................................................7 Technical College System of Georgia By Gregory Dozier, Commissioner ...................................................................8 Educating Georgia’s Future Workforce - By Richard Woods State School Superintendent ...........................................................................10 Early Connections Lead to Great Impact By Dean Janis Terpenny, Tickle College of Engineering UT ...................11 File Your Career Flight Path in Georgia’s Aerospace Industry By Amy Hudnall and Dr. Kelly Griendling.....................................................12 Ethics in Engineering - By Simon Goodhead ..................................................16 Experience GDOT - Innovation at Work - ByNicole Glenn .........................17 Georgia Institute of Technology ..........................................................................20 Kennesaw State University ....................................................................................24 Marine Sponges Inspire Next Generation of Skyscrapers & Bridges ......27 MathCounts (Pandemic Style)..............................................................................29 Middle Georgia State University..........................................................................31 University of Tennessee ..........................................................................................35 Making A Mark in Engineering - by Sara Freeland........................................38 How I Launched a Nuclear Startup ....................................................................40 Nokia Selected by NASA to Build First Ever Cellular Network on the Moon...........................................................................................................43 PERI Builds the First 3D - Printed Residential Building in Germany........45 Apple Marina Bay Sands.........................................................................................48 University of Georgia...............................................................................................52 Georgia Southern......................................................................................................56 Mercer University......................................................................................................58 Auburn University.....................................................................................................60

Advertisers in this Book Auburn University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 GEICC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Georgia Southern University . . . . . 3 GA Institute of Technology . . . . . 64

Mercer University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Technical College System of GA . . 9 University of South Carolina . . . . . 6 University of Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . 2

Participating Universities Auburn University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 GA Institute of Technology . . . . . 20 Georgia Southern University. . . . 56 Kennesaw State University . . . . . 24 Mercer University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Building Your Future in Engineering

Middle Georgia State University 31 University of Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . 52 University of South Carolina . . . . . 6 University of Tennessee . . . . . . . . 35

Composite rendering that transitions from a glassy sponge skeleton on the left to a welded rebar-based lattice on the right, highlighting the biologically inspired nature of the research. (Image Courtesy of Peter Allen, Ryan Allen, and James C. Weaver/Harvard SEAS)

JANUARY 2021

Letter from Governor BRIAN KEMP

Building Your Future in Engineering

Technical College System of Georgia By Gregory C. Dozier | Commissioner

O Dear Students

Gregory C. Dozier

Opportunities in the field of engineering have never been greater and the 22 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) offer programs designed to get you the skills needed to launch your career. TCSG has a number of Engineering Technology programs including bioscience, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, and nuclear engineering. All of these programs can be completed in two years or less, putting you on the fast track to success. TCSG colleges are nonprofit state colleges, which means you can be confident that the credential you are earning has real value in the marketplace. In fact, 99 percent of TCSG graduates either go right into the workforce or continue their postsecondary education at a four-year institution. We have a number of articulation agreements with the University System of Georgia that allow students to pursue a bachelor’s degree after graduating from a TCSG college. TCSG also enjoys some of the lowest tuition rates in the southeast making us an affordable option. In addition, our colleges offer free tuition through the HOPE Career Grant for those students interested in one of 17 high-demand career fields. These are growing careers where busi-

ness and industry desperately needs skilled talent to fill open jobs. Finally, we have 88 campuses throughout the state, which means there is a college close to you. Perhaps you are still considering other options to a degree in engineering. With more than 600 programs to choose from, we are confident you will find a topic, a field, or a program that you are interested in. Look at the programs we offer, either in person at one of our campuses or online at TCSG.edu. When you are ready, our colleges are here to help you take the next step in your educational journey. Sincerely,

Gregory C. Dozier Commissioner

JANUARY 2021

Building Your Future in Engineering

Educating Georgia’s Future Workforce By Richard Woods | State School Superintendent

Dear Students

Richard Woods

I know that, to say the least, the end of last school year and the beginning of this one have not been easy. You, as students, have been asked to adapt to entirely new ways of learning, whether that’s taking your classes virtually, wearing a mask in school, or remaining socially distanced from your friends and classmates. I have been continually impressed by the great resilience our Georgia students have displayed in these trying times. The silver lining is that one day, this challenge will be behind us, and you have a future full of opportunities ahead of you. Your job, right now, is not to know exactly what comes next. Instead, I encourage you to take this time to learn and grow, to ask questions and be curious and figure out what you’re interested in. Our Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education program is set up to help you do just that. Through CTAE, schools have a choice of 127+ Career Pathways to offer you, each of which is designed to blend critical thinking with strong academics and real-world application. CTAE gives you a chance to explore different careers, identify your strengths, and learn by doing. The Engineering Pathway is a perfect example. Jobs in engineering, engineering technology, and industrial technology are off and running here

in Georgia. Five engineering-related occupations are listed on the Georgia Department of Labor’s list of HOT Careers to 2022, with annual wages of at least $79,000. If engineering is a field of interest for you, I encourage you to review this publicatio—and to take advantage of the many resources CTAE offers to help you prepare for your future. Check with your principal or school counselor for more information. Again, I wish to remind you that while things may be difficult now, these times won’t last forever. The future is full of opportunity, and the best is yet to come. Sincerely,

Richard Woods State School Superintendent

JANUARY 2021

Dean Janis Terpenny

STEM fields are often described as difficult—ones where being good in math and science as well as promises for higher paying jobs are the main motivations or even sole selectors for choosing a STEM major in college. I want students to also see STEM majors and career paths as opportunities to make a big difference in the world. Sure, it helps if you’re good in math and science, but what can you do with it? The answer to that question is the one that’s going to change the interest of students—especially for women and girls. Engineers are key to solving problems and advancing technologies for energy, agriculture, sustaining the earth’s resources, equipment for medical diagnosis and treatments, economical and efficient transportation (air, space, ground, water), communication, security, computing—truly, everything around us. There are so many branches of engineering that our reach and impact are without limits. Combined with the desire of Generation Z to do good on a grand scale, engineering becomes an even more compelling career path. Add to that, women bring diversity of thought and approaches to problem solving that consider holistic systems, thinking of not only performance, but aspects such as usability, aesthetics, societal impact, and more. Truly, engineering’s collective ability is strengthened! Preparing women for a successful career in engineering doesn’t start in college. It begins in schools as early as pre-k and must be nourished through teaching, mentoring, parenting, and a supportive community. We must expand on existing efforts to open the eyes and minds of girls to the amazing opportunities, challenges, problems, and differences engineers can and do make

Building Your Future in Engineering

every day, and then give them an active role in the efforts to tackle these challenges. Rather than having pre-K–12 students rely on activities and experiences outside of school (think of scouting, 4-H, camps, and robotics competition), why not integrate more into the curriculum and their classes? One of my primary missions as a dean of engineering is to strengthen collaborations and partnerships with industry and community and more deeply integrate engineering with other disciplines, including the arts, architecture, construction, law, business, agriculture, and so on. I look at this as a win-win in so many ways. These partnerships are key to providing the real problems and context that can be part of learning the methods, approaches, and technologies in classes taught throughout pre-K–12 as well as in engineering degree programs at universities around the country. Combining real problems with teaching provides context to students that leads to deeper understanding, empathy, and a connection to what’s possible. As a first-generation college graduate, I didn’t have an engineer, let alone any family member, to help me see the connection between STEM fields and the real world. My pre-college years provided a strong foundation with basics, but the connection was missing. I’ve always viewed myself as a ‘kid in a candy store’ with the energy and desire to make a difference in the world. I’m thankful that I ‘discovered’ engineering for myself in my search for meaning and contribution. I am so very lucky this happened for me. But, what of the many girls we lose, who miss the opportunity to discover the impact they could have as an engineer? Together, we must forge new ways of working collaboratively, connecting as educators and practitioners, improving curriculum and opportunities for girls to find their passions and make a difference in this world. Won’t you join me in this effort? v

Graduate students at the Ben T. Zinn combustion lab are seen here assembling a high pressure test rig with the lab manager. Courtesy of the AE School Archives

JANUARY 2021

FILE YOUR CAREER FLIGHT PATH IN GEORGIA’S AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

This is such an exciting time to work in the aerospace industry. Technological advancements are expanding the opportunities in so many different areas. Building Your Future in Engineering

Georgia companies and researchers are working on cutting-edge technologies such as hypersonic aircraft, which can travel five times faster than the speed of sound (about 3,836 miles per hour). Space X and Blue Origin’s reusable rockets are just some of the commercial advancements that have reduced the costs of entry into space, creating opportunities ranging from space tourism to launching satellite constellations for global internet service. Advanced Aerial Mobility is exploring the development of new electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles to move people and cargo, with the hope of eventually automating these flights. More than 800 companies make up Georgia’s $57.5 billion aerospace industry. You can find your ideal aerospace career designing and manufacturing state-of-theart business aircraft at Gulfstream Aerospace, flying drones at Phoenix Air Unmanned, or maintaining airplanes at Delta Air Lines. Georgia students interested in pursuing aerospace careers have plenty of opportunities to get a head start while still in middle and high school. The Georgia Space Grant Consortium (GSGC) is dedicated to ensuring Georgia students from all backgrounds are well-prepared in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and are motivated to support space and aeronautics programs vital to the United States. Hosted at the Georgia Institute of Technology, GSGC is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) program with 21 affiliate members and 10 partner organizations serving metropolitan and rural areas of the state. To reach local partners and learn about opportunities available for K-12 students in your region, visit gasgc.org or e-mail gsgc@gatech.edu. Aerospace careers require post-secondary education, and Georgia’s technical colleges and universities offer a multitude of options for students. The Technical College System of Georgia offers free tuition in 17 high-demand career fields, including aviation technology, certified engineer assistant, computer programming and computer technology. For more information on these programs, visit tcsg.edu/free-tuition/. Georgia is also home to the 2020 U.S. News and World Report No. 2 undergraduate aerospace engineering program in the county. The Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology provides more than 1,400 aerospace stu-

dents a world-class education supported by amazing enrichment opportunities. Students have access to clubs and competition teams, research opportunities, study abroad programs, internships and co-operative education, the Yang Aero Maker Space, and a small satellite program that has launched two satellites. The aerospace industry needs a diverse workforce with many different types of engineers. The University System of Georgia offers engineering programs at Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia (UGA), Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University and Georgia Southern University. Each school offers unique student opportunities; for example, the UGA Small Satellite Research Laboratory just launched their first research satellite into space on October 2, 2020. Wherever your interests lie, you can build a rewarding career in Georgia’s aerospace industry. v

A researcher at the Ben T. Zinn combustion lab is seen here completing a weld repair. Courtesy of the AE School Archives.

JANUARY 2021

Graduate students at the Ben T. Zinn combustion lab are seen here reviewing an optical diagnostic setup with their professor. Courtesy of the AE School Archives

Building Your Future in Engineering

ETHICS IN ENGINEERING By Simon Goodhead | Coxe Group

When I was at High School, I didn’t fully understand the meaning of being an engineer. Even at University, engineering was a concept in lecture halls, not what was practiced. I could argue, even when I started my first internship, before senior year, engineering was just plans reviews and calculations. It wasn’t until I went to my first construction site and inspected systems I had designed that it hit me: My engineering will be felt, walked on, kept people safe. Decisions I made with an excel sheet, a drawing package, and a code book, defined whether people live or die a fire. It was only after my career started that I truly realized that engineering is everywhere. The computer I am writing this article on was engineered, the paper the article will be printed on was engineered (yes, paper engineers who often come from chemical engineering backgrounds!), the printer that printed it, the vehicle that transported it. All engineering. The “what” of engineering made more sense. The “right” decisions that must be made; however, can sometimes be murky. Decisions ~ I am a Fire Protection Engineer. The decisions I make as I practice feed into the built environment. The calculations I make, the peer reviews I seek, the guidance I provide to architects all result in a system working well, or not working at all. I have conducted fire investigations that inform design, post construction reviews, worked on new buildings and existing buildings. In every instance for my field, consideration has to be given to the people in the building who will leave during a fire and the fire department entering a building during a fire. I design systems and layouts that I hope never get used, but if they are needed tomorrow or in 50 years, they have to work. Ethics ~ Some ethical aspects are very easy. Using the fire protection field—a sprinkler requires 0.15 gallons of water per minute at the point of discharge and 7 psi. With a great piping layout and the city water supply only 6.5 psi can be provided. A fire pump is needed. Therefore, specify and design a fire pump for construction, despite the cost and consternation of the owner. Some ethical aspects are harder. Imagine. You

are tasked with confirming the lighting around a warehouse. When walking with the plans you notice an exit door is not installed. It doesn’t affect your tasks—it just means your company doesn’t have to install a light which saves time and money. It is; however, indicated on your plans. This is outside of your knowledge area. Do you raise this with your supervisor or construction site superintendent? Or do you just do your job? I would argue, even though it is outside of your task, it needs to be raised up. As a best case, it means your plans are out of date and your task may be wasted. At worst, it means that an entire door has been missed from the construction project (including all the peripherals for the door). What is more—it is an exit door. A fundamental life safety device and therefore potential safety implications. Integrity ~ One last word on ethics. The integrity you hold within the community you are moving into, whether as an engineer, or if you choose a different path, will travel with you. It can be the foundation from which your career is formed. It can be the basis of a company you start, or be the reason you are hired. Integrity requires consistency, reliance, continual improvement, curiosity, and ethics. What is always true: your integrity takes years to build up, and can take seconds to tear down. Make sure the choices you make throughout every part of every day in every walk of life doesn’t scratch, ding, or dent your integrity. And your ethics can help with that mission.v Simon Goodhead | Principal Consultant | The Coxe Group ~ The Coxe Group is a management consulting firm to the design professions providing leadership development, ownership transition, strategic planning, and other key business services. Visit us at www.coxegroup.com

JANUARY 2021

EXPERIENCE GDOT – INNOVATION AT WORK

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION | A CULTURE OF INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION By Nicole Glenn

What do archeologists, librarians, and scuba divers have in common with bridge designers and lawyers? They all have fulfilling careers at the Georgia Department of Transportation. Georgia is home to the 10th largest transportation network in the nation and Georgia DOT is responsible for planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and improving its roads and bridges. To take on such a gargantuan task, the department employs thousands of employees in many areas, from engineers to accountants to Highway Emergency Response Operators (HEROs) to recruiters and technicians, just to name a few. These integral positions form a team that keeps the traveling public moving. The department offers positions in all areas of transportation engineering. Offices include: Bridge Design, Roadway Design, Materials and Testing, Construction, Utilities, Maintenance and Traffic Operations. The department’s civil engineers work throughout GDOT to solve transportation-related issues and create innovative solutions. Each year the Recruitment Team partners with subject matter experts (SMEs) from a variety of offices to travel to 50+ events in the southeastern U.S. to recruit civil engineers to join the GDOT team. The events include career fairs, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) events, resume workshops, career days and other STEM programs. At the events, GDOT showcases the many career opportunities in the field of transportation—from bridge maintenance to designing roads to timing traffic signals and the numerous opportunities in

Building Your Future in Engineering

between. SMEs from across GDOT share how they entered the field and the career paths they have chosen. At these events students also learn about Georgia DOT’s Summer Internship Program. Each year, the department receives hundreds of applications from interested students who want to enter the 12-week program. GDOT selects many students to Experience GDOT, the department’s initiative to showcase the culture, innovation and hard work that takes place every day across Georgia. Students are given the opportunity to Experience GDOT through hands-on work experiences in various offices that demonstrate the important and exciting work available while also learning about GDOT’s culture of collaboration and innovation to drive continuous improvement. During the internship, engineering and transportation students are traditionally paired with offices in statewide locations including Bridge Design, Traffic Operations, Roadway Design, Maintenance, Utilities and Construction. Students learn how transportation systems are designed and how the office they have been assigned to contributes to the process. Interns have the opportunity to pair their classroom experiences with real world applications. The internship offers students an experiential learning opportunity that helps develop a sense of direction for future career choices. The internship experience is where a spark of interest ignites into a passion for transportation. Many of Georgia DOT’s fulltime employees were previous interns during their college years. And while an internship does not necessarily result in a fulltime posi-

tion, those that are hired find the learning process does not stop with graduation Students interested in full time employment are encouraged to apply early in their final semester; interviews typically take place during the middle of the semester. As with the transportation projects that GDOT plans, designs, constructs and maintains, a solid foundation is necessary for a successful future. New hires are offered many training opportunities to help develop this foundation including a nationally recognized Training and Development Program. A new GDOT civil engineer also has the opportunity to participate in the Professional Engineer Development Training Program, where they learn how offices work together to complete projects. It is important for new employees to see the big picture and the important role

they play while networking with various teams to become a valuable team member. The learning process continues throughout a Georgia DOT career and the Training and Development Team works tirelessly to ensure opportunities are presented to build the best workforce of innovative and creative employees to not only serve the great state of Georgia but to enable GDOT to continue to be among the national leaders in transportation. To learn more about internship opportunities, visit the Team Georgia Careers website where internships are posted January through March http://www.dot.ga.gov/Pages/Employment.aspx Nicole Glenn is recruitment manager for the Georgia Department of Transportation. www.dot.ga.gov.

JANUARY 2021

Keep the roads clear.

We don’t litter here. Building Your Future in Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology

Excellent faculty, cutting edge and relevant research, and a wide range of study options and career paths that let students design, build, and do. Engineering at Georgia Tech we challenge students who can then challenge the world.

January 2021

Building Your Future in Engineering

Q&A with Chase Brooks Engineer and Entrepreneur At the Georgia Tech College of Engineering, our students can do anything. With a degree from the College, you can focus on research, intern at a fortune 500 company, or start your own business as an entrepreneur. Chase Brooks, a recent graduate from the School of Industrial Systems and Engineering, chose the path of entrepreneur and has no regrets.

When you were in high school, what got you interested in engineering? I’ve always had an interest in building and creating things, and my older sister, Savannah, studied civil engineering at Tech. Hearing about her experiences really opened my eyes to all of the cool applications of engineering.

What brought you to the College of Engineering? Was wanting to be an entrepreneur part of it? Originally, one of the major things that attracted me to the College of Engineering was its affiliation with CREATE-X. I came in as a mechanical engineer because I wanted to learn how to design and develop new products, so I could eventually work in a startup. In fact, the first class I ever took at Tech was Startup Lab.

How did your engineering degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering help you become an entrepreneur? At its core, entrepreneurship is about finding and solving painful problems, and a large part of that is being able to break down complex systems and processes and improve them. This is exactly what industrial engineers do, and I feel my degree gave me the necessary foundation to apply this process in the real world.

Did your education at Tech contribute to you wanting to be an entrepreneur? And if yes, how? Yes! Aside from the classes and clubs I was involved with

that related to entrepreneurship, there was a lot of cool research and innovation happening on campus, and seeing this firsthand helped me to realize that becoming an entrepreneur is a lot more attainable than most people think.

Tell us about Cheff and how it came to be. Cheff helps independent restaurants manage their inventory. The core problem we’re solving is that restaurants need to track hundreds of items across multiple locations, then forecast what they need to order on a weekly basis, but they never know how much they’ll sell on any given day. Big restaurant groups have built complex systems to solve this issue, but independent restaurants don’t have teams of engineers and computer scientists to build their own solution. I originally learned about this problem while consulting on an advertising campaign for a local restaurant. During the campaign, the restaurant ended up losing tens of thousands of dollars in food costs because of this exact problem. We participated in CREATE-X Startup Launch last summer and have been working to solve this problem ever since.

For high school students reading this, what advice do you have for them in terms of getting involved with entrepreneurial opportunities? Why is it important? The most important thing is to start somewhere. For me, that was the CREATE-X program, but there are a lot of other programs at Tech and around Atlanta too. I would also highly recommend working in a startup while in college, even if you plan on going the corporate route after graduating. In any early stage company, you’ll wear many hats and quickly pick up skills you wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to. v

JANUARY 2021

Building Your Future in Engineering

Kennesaw State University Where Georgia’s Engineers Are Made

Sisters in STEM

Ian Ferguson, Ph.D. Dean and Professor

Welcome from the Dean

Welcome to the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. Our programs combine hands-on experience with a thorough grounding in the underlying theory, thereby enabling our students to apply engineering techniques to solve today’s real-world problems and face tomorrow’s challenges. In addition, we conduct research in many areas of engineering, including engineering education. All of us, faculty and staff, are committed to student success. We encourage you to explore these pages and find out more about us, our students, our faculty and staff, our programs, and our research. Ian Ferguson, Ph.D. Dean and Professor

When Katherine Mitchell graduated from Kennesaw State University, she had plenty to hang her hat on. While pursuing a mechanical engineering degree in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, she co-authored three research papers as a member of the College’s Nuclear Energy, Science and Engineering Laboratory (NESEL) and presented her work at numerous academic conferences across the country. Another point of pride, she said, are the doors she opened for her younger sister, Anna Mitchell, who is a student in the same degree program at Kennesaw State. “My biggest advice to her has been to get involved early and often,” Katherine said. “I’ve tried to introduce her to my classmates and professors, and connect her with clubs so that she can find an area of mechanical engineering that speaks to her.” The younger Mitchell is now one of nearly 5,000 students this year who have pursued their passions at Georgia’s second-largest engineering college. With 20 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in engineering disciplines such as robotics and mechatronics, industrial, electrical, environmental, computer and mechanical, the College is a top producer of Georgia’s engineers with 73 percent of its graduates landing in engineering jobs within the state one year after graduation and 68 percent remaining after five years, according to the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. Many students work alongside KSU’s award-winning faculty to conduct research that resolves an underlying issue or creates a proof of concept in areas

January 2021

Katherine and Anna Mitchell

Building Your Future in Engineering

such as wireless power or robotics. While a student at Kennesaw State, Katherine Mitchell tailored her undergraduate experience to focus on nuclear engineering before launching a career at Kennesaw-based Crane Nuclear. Recently, engineering professor Simin Nasseri and a team of her students developed a new finger support that could ultimately help those suffering from finger deformities regain motor function. KSU administrator Renee Butler was also named 2020 Engineer of the Year in Education by the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers (GSPE), marking the fifth consecutive year a University student, faculty member or administrator has been recognized by the organization as the state’s best. Since 2016, no other university has seen its faculty and students receive more recognition in the GSPE annual awards than KSU. In addition to research opportunities, some of the benefits for Kennesaw State students are the strong relationships the University has with business and industry, which often lean on the engineering college for expertise. As part of these educational partnerships, students are introduced to real-world industry challenges and learn to develop innovative solutions for global companies and engineering firms through these hands-on experiences. The University was also recently awarded a $997,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve gender diversity among the institution’s engineering programs and to increase degree success for academically talented students with demonstrated financial need. Experiential learning is the norm for KSU students, who often apply their studies as members of one of the College’s 14 competition teams. Each year, KSU students test their engineering prowess against top collegiate teams across the country in competitions such as steel bridge, electric vehicle, Formula race cars and au26

tonomous underwater vehicles. In March, Kennesaw State engineering students bested more than 60 teams en route to a fourth-place finish at the SAE Aero Design East competition in Lakeland, Fla. KSU’s Electric Vehicle Team is also the reigning champion of the evGrand Prix, an intercollegiate competition of electric-powered go-karts. In addition to the University’s engineering degree programs, opportunities to collaborate on a team, with industry experts and through internships or coops, are readying Kennesaw State students for an innovative and technologically savvy workforce. v

Faculty: 100 (full-time) Dean: Ian Ferguson, Ph.D. Undergraduate Students: 4,614 Graduate Students: 216 B.S. Engineering: Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Surveying and Mapping, Environmental Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Operations and Supply Chain Logistics. M.S. Engineering: Applied EngineeringElectrical, Civil Engineering, Quality Assurance, Systems Engineering, Engineering Management, and Mechanical Engineering. Scholarships: Kennesaw State offers numerous scholarships Learn More: engineering.kennesaw.edu

JANUARY 2021

MARINE SPONGES INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF SKYSCRAPERS AND BRIDGES BIOINSPIRED ARCHITECTURE COULD PAVE THE WAY FOR STRONGER, LIGHTER STRUCTURES

By Leah Burrows | Science & Technology Communications Officer | Harvard, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science | This paper was also co-authored by Joanna Aizenberg, the Amy Smith Berylson Professor of Materials Science and Professor of Chemistry & Chemical Biology at SEAS, and the research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation through the Harvard University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center DMR-2011754 and NSF DMREF Grant DMR-1922321

When we think about sponges, we tend to think of something soft and squishy. But researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) are using the glassy skeletons of marine sponges as inspiration for the next generation of stronger and taller buildings, longer bridges, and lighter spacecraft. In a new paper published in Nature Materials, the researchers showed that the diagonally-reinforced square lattice-like skeletal structure of Euplectella aspergillum, a deep-water marine sponge, has a higher strength-toweight ratio than the traditional lattice designs that have used for centuries in the construction of buildings and bridges.

“We found that the sponge’s diagonal reinforcement strategy achieves the highest buckling resistance for a given amount of material, which means that we can build stronger and more resilient structures by intelligently rearranging existing material within the structure,” said Matheus Fernandes, a graduate student at SEAS and first author of the paper. “In many fields, such as aerospace engineering, the strength-to-weight ratio of a structure is critically important,” said James Weaver, a Senior Scientist at SEAS and one of the corresponding authors of the paper. “This biologically-inspired geometry could provide a roadmap for designing lighter, stronger structures for a wide range of applications.”

Building Your Future in Engineering

The skeleton of Euplectella aspergillum, a deep-water marine sponge. (Image courtesy of Matheus Fernandes/Harvard SEAS)

If you’ve ever walked through a covered bridge or put together a metal storage shelf, you’ve seen diagonal lattice architectures. This type of design uses many small, closely spaced diagonal beams to evenly distribute applied loads. This geometry was patented in the early 1800s by the architect and civil engineer, Ithiel Town, who wanted a method to make sturdy bridges out of lightweight and cheap materials. “Town developed a simple, cost-effective way to stabilize square lattice structures, which is used to this very day,” said Fernandes. “It gets the job done, but it’s not optimal, leading to wasted or redundant material and a cap on how tall we can build. One of the main questions driving this research was, can we make these structures more efficient from a material allocation perspective, ultimately using less material to achieve the same strength?” Luckily, the glass sponges, the group to which Euplectella aspergillum—otherwise known as Venus’ Flower Basket belongs—had a nearly half billion-year head start on the research and development side of things. To support its tubular body, Euplectella aspergillum employs two sets of parallel diagonal skeletal struts, which intersect over and are fused to an underlying square grid, to form a robust checkerboard-like pattern. “We’ve been studying structure-function relationships in sponge skeletal systems for more than 20 years, and these species continue to surprise us,” said Weaver. In simulations and experiments, the researchers replicated this design and compared the sponge’s skeletal architecture to existing lattice geometries. The sponge design outperformed them all, withstanding heavier loads without buckling. The researchers showed that the paired parallel crossed-diagonal structure improved overall structural strength by more than 20 percent, without

the need to add additional material to achieve this effect. “Our research demonstrates that lessons learned from the study of sponge skeletal systems can be exploited to build structures that are geometrically optimized to delay buckling, with huge implications for improved material use in modern infrastructural applications,” said Katia Bertoldi, the William and Ami Kuan Danoff Professor of Applied Mechanics at SEAS and a corresponding author of the study. The Harvard Office of Technology Development has protected the intellectual property relating to this project and is exploring commercialization opportunities. v

JANUARY 2021

MATHCOUNTS Pandemic Style

By Betty Jean Jordan, PE, MS4CECI | Executive Director | Georgia Society of Professional Engineers

If you or your student is in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, I invite you to participate in MATHCOUNTS. MATHCOUNTS is a nationwide math enrichment program to build excellence in and enthusiasm for math among middle school students. The Georgia Society of Professional Engineers coordinates chapter and state MATHCOUNTS competitions in Georgia. Founded in 1983, MATHCOUNTS is adapting its longstanding competition series for pandemic conditions. An important part of the MATHCOUNTS experience has always been the in-person aspect of

Building Your Future in Engineering

competitions, but we take very seriously the health and safety of the students, coaches, volunteers, and coordinators in the program. Therefore, chapter level and state level competitions will be conducted online for 2020-2021. We hope that this will allow as many student “mathletes” as possible to experience the fun and challenge of MATHCOUNTS in these unusual times. Up to 15 students per school can compete in the 2020-2021 MATHCOUNTS competition series. Four practice chapter competitions will be offered this fall and early winter to help students and coaches get used

to the online format and practice for the official chapter competitions. Georgia has 13 MATHCOUNTS chapters. Chapter competitions will be held online February 5-6 for a 24hour period. Next will be the chapter invitational, an additional online level for 2020-2021. The top 20 percent of students from each chapter competition will advance to the chapter invitational. Additionally, any school not represented in the top 20 percent of its chapter will advance its top scoring student. The chapter invitational will be held on February 25, and all students participating in this level will do so at 7:00 pm ET. As of this writing, the requirements for advancing from the chapter invitational to state have not been finalized. Likely it will be the top four to six highest scoring students from the chapter invitational plus the next 10 highest scoring students in the state. The state competition is set for March 25 at 7:00 pm ET. The top four students from each state will advance to the national MATHCOUNTS competition, according to usual protocol. For now, the national competition is

planned to be an in-person event, but that is subject to change. Although many aspects of the 2020-2021 MATHCOUNTS competition series must be adapted because of COVID-19, some things will remain the same. MATHCOUNTS will continue to offer problems across a variety of mathematical topics, including algebra; coordinate, plane, and solid geometry; logic; number theory; probability; statistics; and more. Also, top scoring mathletes will be honored at the chapter, state, and national level. In addition, dedicated chapter and state coordinators and volunteers will work hard to provide a fun and worthwhile competition experience for all participants. Finally, mathletes will gain valuable experience that will help pave their way for careers in engineering and other technical fields. Whether you are a previous participant or are new to the program, please join us for a dynamic and exciting year of MATHCOUNTS. For more details and the most current information, please visit www.mathcounts.org, or contact me at bettyjean@gspe.org or 404-840-2542. v

Piedmont Chapter Team

January 2021

Middle Georgia State University Regents’ Engineering Pathway Program Begin Your Engineering Studies at Middle Georgia State University

Middle Georgia State University (MGA) proudly participates in the Regents’ Engineering Pathway Program (REPP), which allows students to begin their engineering studies at an affordable price and closer to home before transferring to complete their bachelor's degree.

REPP students may transfer to other Georgia institutions with engineering programs, such as Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern University, Mercer University, Kennesaw State University and UGA. Students take all of their math and science courses, as well as some engineering courses, at Middle Georgia State. MGA professors work closely with the partner schools to develop a well coordinated curriculum.

Students on Cochran Campus

Building Your Future in Engineering

Program Details

•

REPP is not a degree program but a curriculum of courses designed to make transfer as an engineering student as seamless as possible.

•

Admission requirements, including GPA, vary at the partner institutions. To review requirements, visit the institutions’ websites.

•

More than 75 percent of REPP students at MGA who transferred to a partner school completed their engineering degree.

•

REPP, formerly known as Regents’ Engineering Transfer Program, has been around for 30 years. It makes engineering programs more accessible to students throughout Georgia. Students—and their families—save money in tuition, fees, housing and meals because they attend a university closer to home for their first two years of study.

Want to learn more about REPP at Middle Georgia State? Go to mga.edu/REPP or contact Dr. Chris Hornung, REPP coordinator for MGA: chris.hornung@mga.edu, 478.471.2741 v

JANUARY 2021

Students in IT class on Macon Campus

Building Your Future in Engineering

JANUARY 2021

UNIVERSITY of TENNESSEE

The University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a dynamic community of Volunteers who are committed to serving others and leading by example. With an emphasis on research, hands-on learning, and internships and co-ops, a degree from UT prepares students for what’s next.

Building Your Future in Engineering

UT QUICK FACTS •

Founded in 1794

•

29,460+ students

•

A global network of 250,000 alumni

•

The ﬁrst public university chartered west of the Appalachian Divide.

•

Undergraduate cost of attendance for out-of-state students (tuition & fees): $31,684.

•

Located in East Tennessee, UT is 45 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and 30 minutes from Oak Ridge National Laboratory— the nation’s largest science and energy national lab.

•

Knoxville residents enjoy a thriving arts, culinary, and cultural scene, and the city’s Urban Wilderness is a network of hiking and biking trails, waterways, and greenways with outdoor adventures waiting for people of all ages and experience levels.

TICKLE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Established in 1838, The college consists of eight departments of study, seven nationally renowned research centers, and more than 100 state-of-the-art laboratories. We offer degrees in most major engineering disciplines ranging from aerospace to nuclear. • •

• •

•

• •

Dean: Janis Terpenny Ranked 32nd (graduate) and 34th (undergraduate) among public US programs of engineering. Undergraduate-student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1 Robust co-op and internship program that places students in well-paid positions 38% growth in PhD enrollment since 2012—one of the fastest-growing PhD programs in the nation $81M+ annual research expenditures Three new buildings opened since 2012 with a fourth new engineering complex set to open in the fall of 2021..

JANUARY 2021

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: engage ENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS All incoming engineering students are automatically enrolled in engage, one of the nation’s most innovative first-year engineering experiences. The program is designed to build camaraderie and teamwork while establishing a solid base of engineering fundamentals through collaborative, hands-on activities and projects. Through engage, students develop an understanding of each discipline. The program also helps ease the transition to college life and builds a network for studying and mentoring that students rely on throughout their time at UT and beyond. Students may also choose to live in the Engage Living & Learning Community, an oncampus residential and social experience exclusive to engineering students. Residents benefit from living with students studying the same coursework, peer-to-peer mentoring, industry field trips, and more! Student Resources • The Innovation and Collaboration Studio provides access to 3D printing, milling, laser cutting, and everything in between •

Large student workshop and project areas

•

30+ student organizations to ﬁt a wide variety of interests

•

Amazing student support through professional academic advising

•

State-of-the-art facilities and equipment

•

Lecturers, professors, and staff who genuinely care about you and your educational experience

Building Your Future in Engineering

SCHEDULE A WEBINAR OR CHAT WITH A STUDENT AMBASSADOR AT TOURS.TICKLE.UTK.EDU CONNECT WITH THE COLLEGE TCE@UTK.EDU TICKLE.UTK.EDU PH: 865-974-5321 @UTK.TCE

@UTK_TCE

@UTK.TCE Construction is well underway on the Zeanah Engineering Complex that will provide state-of-the-art research and educational facilities for engineering students, faculty, and staff. The space is being framed as UT’s Gateway to Engineering, providing engineering students hands-on experiences from their first day on campus.

MAKING A MARK IN ENGINEERING ENGINEERING STUDENT PUTS HIMSELF THROUGH SCHOOL, FINDS A WAY TO GIVE BACK By Sara Freeland

Jack Bush wanted to leave his mark at the University of Georgia. Not content to just be a College of Engineering ambassador and member of the 2018 Homecoming court, Bush had more in mind. In fall 2019, Bush gave out the first Bush Engineering Scholarship for minorities interested in engineering. “I really wanted to make an impact,” he said. “I want to help future students who are really interested in engineering and may not have the financial means to do it.” He started this with his own hard-earned money— earned from engineering internships, an engineering coop and part-time jobs in retail. He has pledged to endow his scholarship after he graduates. Bush, the son of a truck driver and a nurse, has put himself through school, working more than 20 hours per

week while carrying a full course load. He had no other scholarships besides the HOPE Scholarship. He got the idea on long drives back to his hometown of Savannah. He kept thinking about how to make a difference. He had the idea in the fall and saved his money and turned in the paperwork in the spring of his fourth year at UGA. “I’m a pretty definitive person. When I set my mind on something I go after it and do it,” Bush said. The scholarship was first awarded that fall. It was one of his proudest moments at UGA. His other proudest moment was walking on the Sanford Stadium field with his mother as part of the Homecoming court, representing the College of Engineering. It was a proud moment for his family—and part sibling rivalry. His older sister, Sydnee, also attended

Jack Bush

JANUARY 2021

UGA and excelled. For Bush, “coming to UGA was following in her footsteps, but she left big shoes to fill.” Stepping on that field for Homecoming signified his own success at UGA. Student Commencement speaker

Bush served as UGA’s spring 2020 student Commencement speaker. He talked about hard work, growth and excelling inside and outside the classroom. He said one of the most important lessons he learned at UGA was that he was just an “average Dawg.” “I’m just an average Dawg that majored in mechanical engineering while working 20-plus hours per week and still found time to make lifelong friends. An average Dawg who was a part of the National Society of Black Engineers while simultaneously becoming a first-generation engineer. An average Dawg who stressed about that fluid mechanics exam but still attacked the day and came out on top,” he said. “Because the average UGA student aspires to excel, forge paths and be influential in the world around them.” Plans post graduation

After completing coursework this spring, Bush now works as an electronics engineer at Lockheed Martin Corporation. He graduated with 34 months of work experience. He’s learned 3D computer-aided design, software development and coding. What he’s taken away from that experience is “understanding how we as engineers are going to design fu-

Building Your Future in Engineering

ture systems—airplanes, trucks, cars. … How do we move to that next level, that next phase, in technology?” Engineering

Bush knew he wanted to be an engineer in sixth grade. He always enjoyed taking apart remote controlled cars and seeing how they worked. Putting them back together was another matter, and eventually he learned not to disassemble cars without having the right tools. He’d always been interested in aerospace engineering, which UGA doesn’t offer. But as a huge Bulldogs fan, Bush bled red and black and had to come to UGA. During his freshman year, he did research with a senior capstone project team in aerospace engineering. That led to a meeting with an aerospace company, where he completed five rotations as part of a co-op program—and eventually land a fulltime job. “I had every opportunity at UGA that I could have gotten anywhere else,” Bush said. But only at UGA would he have had “late night study sessions at MLC, that overtime Rose Bowl win … and becoming a member of the Victory Lap Community and the Presidents Club all in the same year.” To the Class of 2020, Bush said, “We’re the next great CEOs, politicians, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, curers of terminal illnesses or advancers of technology—we’ve gone from average Dawgs to alumni of the greatest university in the world.” v

Dr. Jose Reyes | Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer | NuScale Power

JANUARY 2021

How I Launched a Nuclear Startup By NuScale Power

Growing up, science was always a big part of my life. I would spend hours in my basement laboratory surrounded by test tubes and bunsen-burners, mixing chemicals outlawed in chemistry sets available these days. My Dad was stationed at Port Canaveral where we watched launches from the deck of a Navy tracking ship. The roar of the rocket engines and fiery plumes made a lasting impression. However, not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I’d be the founder of a nuclear energy startup. And yet it happened. Here’s the story of how I got there. The NuScale Power Plant

It all started when I was working as a faculty member at Oregon State’s School of Nuclear Science and Engineering. At that point, I’d already spent two fantastic decades working in nuclear energy—including at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)—but the most exciting project of my career was just about to begin. I started working with a team of researchers through a Department of Energy (DOE) and Oregon State University (OSU) partnership to develop a nextgeneration advanced nuclear reactor. The reactor was based on a scaled-down, traditional reactor but with improved safety features such as the use of natural circulation, as well as a revolutionary modular design. We built a one-third scale electrically-heated version of the power module and in 2003 our team successfully completed the first safety tests in the world for this new type of self-protecting nuclear reactor. The funding for the project ended shortly afterward; but that was just the start of a new chapter. In 2004, I took a sabbatical leave from OSU to work at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. Little did I know that this would be the eye-opening experience that would motivate me to move what we call our small modular reactor (SMR) from the lab to the market. I met with nuclear engineers and scientists from all

Building Your Future in Engineering

over the world who shared with me that they did not have the grid to support, nor could they afford, large nuclear power plants. They needed something much smaller. My “aha” moment came when I realized that what they needed was already sitting in my lab! It was this potential to revolutionize nuclear energy technology; making it more accessible to those who needed it, that led a group of us to restart our research in 2005. Subsequent testing and analysis resulted in three patents, a product that was commercially viable, and a business model for a start-up company that was investment-ready. In 2007 we reached an agreement with OSU to obtain exclusive rights to the design, and NuScale Power was born. The Department of Energy’s research programs in the early 2000s had helped position the US as a global leader in SMRs against competitors like Russia and China. It was now up to NuScale Power to carry the project forward to commercialization. By 2008, we had informed the NRC that NuScale Power intended to pursue Design Certification (DC) for the technology—something required before a new type of nuclear plant can be built in the US. It struck me that there was a massive need to address growing global energy demand while tackling what is arguably the greatest challenge facing our planet: climate change. We needed a reliable way to provide clean, safe, cost-efficient energy, both for ongrid and for remote locations. In the early years of NuScale, such a mandate sounded like a tall order for a single energy technology, but today I am more convinced than ever that we’ve found the answer. I began to understand how SMR technology could completely upend how we think about our energy needs for residential, commercial and industrial purposes. Our new SMR design addressed public concerns about nuclear power by simplifying and streamlining earlier models. It also offered unparalleled reliability and safety without the financial burden and the imposing size and siting challenges of traditional nuclear facilities.

More than a decade of intensive research, testing and review later, NuScale’s SMR technology is the first and only SMR to complete NRC design certification— a milestone accomplished ahead of schedule earlier this year. With a smarter and simplified design, our NuScale reactor offers a new level of safety, economy and resilience in nuclear power, requiring fewer staff and having lower operating costs than designs that have come before. Not only that, but it is fully capable of integrating with variable renewables. One of our first NuScale power plants is set to go online in 2029 at the Idaho National Labs, where it will provide reliable, carbon-free electricity for Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems’ members across six western states. The path from innovation to commercialization of this groundbreaking technology has been a long and challenging one, but I’m proud to share that NuScale Power, which started in a vacant bank building in downtown Corvallis, is on track to deliver. The NuScale story is one of innovation and perseverance; a game-changing technology stemming from an exciting collaboration between academia, govern-

ment and the private sector and now attracting aspiring customers on five different continents. Our goal has always been simple—to change the power that changes the world. I’d say we’re well on our way. Dr. Jose Reyes is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of NuScale Power. An internationally renowned nuclear energy expert, he has served as an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) technical expert on passive safety systems and worked nearly 10 years as a thermal hydraulics research engineer in the Reactor Safety Division of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He holds Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Florida. He is currently professor emeritus of nuclear engineering at Oregon State University, the Henry W. and Janice J. Schuette Endowed Chair in Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Health Physics and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. v

Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I’d be the founder of a nuclear energy startup. And yet it happened ~ Dr. Jose Reyes, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, NuScale Power

JANUARY 2021

NOKIA SELECTED BY NASA TO BUILD FIRST EVER CELLULAR NETWORK ON THE MOON

Espoo, Finland – Nokia has an-

●

LTE/4G technology promises to revolutionize lunar surface communications by delivering reliable, high data rates while containing power, size and cost.

●

Communications will be a crucial component for NASA's Artemis program, which will establish a sustainable presence on the Moon by the end of the decade. 19 October 2020

Building Your Future in Engineering

nounced further details after being named by NASA as a partner to advance “Tipping Point” technologies for the Moon, deploying the first LTE/4G communications system in space and helping pave the way towards sustainable human presence on the lunar surface. Nokia Bell Labs’ pioneering innovations will be used to build and deploy the first ultra-compact, low-power, space-hardened, end-toend LTE solution on the lunar surface in late

2022. Nokia is partnering with Intuitive Machines for this mission to integrate this groundbreaking network into their lunar lander and deliver it to the lunar surface. The network will self-configure upon deployment and establish the first LTE communications system on the Moon. The network will provide critical communication capabilities for many different data transmission applica-

tions, including vital command and control functions, remote control of lunar rovers, real-time navigation and streaming of high definition video. These communication applications are all vital to long-term human presence on the lunar surface. Nokia’s LTE network—the precursor to 5G—is ideally suited for providing wireless connectivity for any activity that astronauts need to carry out, enabling voice and video communications capabilities, telemetry and biometric data exchange, and deployment and control of robotic and sensor payloads. Marcus Weldon, Chief Technology Officer at Nokia and Nokia Bell Labs President, said: “Leveraging our rich and successful history in space technologies, from pioneering satellite communication to discovering the cosmic microwave background radiation produced by the Big Bang, we are now building the first ever cellular communications network on the Moon. Reliable, resilient and high-capacity communications networks will be key to supporting sustainable human presence on the lunar surface. By building the first high performance wireless network solution on the Moon, Nokia Bell Labs is once again planting the flag for pioneering innovation beyond the conventional limits.” Nokia’s lunar network consists of an LTE Base Station with integrated

Evolved Packet Core (EPC) functionalities, LTE User Equipment, RF antennas and high-reliability operations and maintenance (O&M) control software. The solution has been specially designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the launch and lunar landing, and to operate in the extreme conditions of space. The fully integrated cellular network meets very stringent size, weight and power constraints of space payloads in an extremely compact form factor. The same LTE technologies that have met the world’s mobile data and voice needs for the last decade are well suited to provide mission critical and state-ofthe-art connectivity and communications capabilities for any future space expedition. LTE is a proven commercial technology, has a large ecosystem of technology and component suppliers, and is deployed worldwide. Commercial off-theshelf communications technologies, particularly the standards-based fourth generation cellular technology (4G Long Term Evolution (LTE)) are mature, proven reliable and robust, easily deployable, and scalable. Nokia plans to supply commercial LTE products and provide technology to expand the commercialization of LTE, and to pursue space applications of LTE’s successor technology, 5G. Through the Tipping Point solicitation, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate seeks industry-developed space technologies that can foster the development of commercial space capabilities and benefit future NASA missions. The public-private partnerships established through Tipping Point selections combine NASA resources with industry contributions, shepherding the development of critical space technologies. NASA plans to leverage these innovations for its Artemis program, which will establish sustainable operations on the Moon by the end of the decade in preparation for an expedition to Mars. As a market leader in end-to-end communication technologies for service provider and enterprise customers globally, Nokia develops and provides missioncritical networks adopted by airports, factories, industrial, first-responders, and the harshest mining operations on Earth, for automation, data collection and

reliable communications. By deploying its technologies in the most extreme environments, Nokia Bell Labs will validate the solution’s performance and technology readiness level, and further optimize it for future terrestrial and space applications. About Nokia

We create the technology to connect the world. Only Nokia offers a comprehensive portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing opportunities across the globe. With our commitment to innovation, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we are a leader in the development and deployment of 5G networks.

Our communications service provider customers support more than 6.4 billion subscriptions with our radio networks, and our enterprise customers have deployed over 1,300 industrial networks worldwide. Adhering to the highest ethical standards, we transform how people live, work and communicate. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia. Media Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 E-mail: press.services@nokia.com v

JANUARY 2021

PERI BUILDS THE FIRST 3D-PRINTED RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN GERMANY

Weissenhorn (Bavaria) / Beckum (North Rhine-Westphalia)

•

Germany's first 3D-printed residential building is undergoing construction in Westphalia

•

New construction technique comes through all regulatory approval processes with ease

•

3D construction printing technology for residential construction is now market-ready

Building Your Future in Engineering

PERI GmbH is building Germany’s first 3D-printed residential building in Beckum, North RhineWestphalia. The two-storey detached house with approx. 80 sqm of living space per floor is not being constructed in the conventional manner, it is being printed by a 3D construction printer. This construction technique, which is being put into practice in Germany for the first time, has

come through all of the regulatory approval processes over the last few weeks and months. The engineering office Schießl Gehlen Sodeikat supported the development of the concept for obtaining the approval, the planning and execution of the corresponding approval tests was carried out by the Technical University of Munich.The building was planned by MENSE-KORTE ingenieure+architekten and the client is Hous3Druck GmbH. The materials used to produce the

printable concrete are being sourced from HeidelbergCement. The federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia is supporting the 3D construction printing project in Beckum as part of its “Innovatives Bauen” (innovative construction) development scheme. Today, Ina Scharrenbach, Minister for Regional Identity, Communities and Local Government, Building and Gender Equality in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, was briefed on the current state of affairs at the construction site in Beckum. “North Rhine-Westphalia innovation for Germany: digital, dynamic, ready to print—these are our keywords for the future of construction. We are proud that the first house to be 3D printed is being built in our federal state. This makes North Rhine-Westphalia a pioneer for Germany. Not tomorrow, not some day, but today. The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia is provid-

ing specific support for investments in the innovation engine of construction: the 3D house is being subsidized with 200,000 euros. Further projects are in the printing loop,” explains Scharrenbach. “The construction of the 3D-printed residential building in Beckum is a milestone for 3D construction printing technology,” says Thomas Imbacher, Innovation & Marketing Director at PERI GmbH. “We are very confident that construction printing will become increasingly important in certain market segments over the coming years and has considerable potential. Other residential printing projects are now being drawn up in Germany. We are proud that PERI’s involvement in the project in Beckum has seen us become a pioneer and forerunner for this new construction technique.” “At PERI, we see ourselves as a leading innovator in our markets,” says Dr Fabian Kracht, Finance & Organisation Director and Spokesperson of the PERI Group

JANUARY 2021

management board. “Investing wisely in start-ups that are offering new solutions in our markets is another aspect of that. 3D printing is a business segment that has emerged from this investment portfolio and has now made its way onto the market. The success story in Beckum is validation that we have taken the right approach.” “3D construction printing fundamentally changes the way we build and the process of residential construction. As this is the first building of its kind, we are making a point of printing at a slower rate than what is actually possible,” says Leonhard Braig, Production & Supply Chain Director at PERI GmbH. “We want to take the opportunity to gain further experience in dayto-day operations as this will help us to leverage the cost reduction potential of our technology to a greater extent in the next printing project.” The building was planned by MENSE-KORTE ingenieure+architekten and the client is Hous3Druck GmbH. “The concrete printing process affords us designers a high degree of freedom when we are designing buildings. With conventional construction methods, this would only be possible at great financial cost,” says architect Waldemar Korte, partner of the architectural practice MENSE-KORTE ingenieure+architekten in Beckum. “With our printed residential building in Beckum, we are demonstrating the potential of the construction printing process. It is a huge privilege for our team to realize the first 3D-printed residential construction project in Germany. We believe in the future viability of construction printing technology for the construction sector and already have other 3D printing projects on our radar.” Printing technology and materials

PERI uses 3D printers of type BOD2 for printing. This printing technology comes from the Danish manufacturer COBOD. PERI acquired a stake in COBOD back in 2018. The BOD2 printer used in Beckum is a gantry printer, which means that the print head moves about three axes on a securely installed metallic frame. The benefit here is that the printer can move along its frame to any position within the construction and only needs to be calibrated once. The “i.tech 3D” material used in the printing process was developed by HeidelbergCement specifically

Building Your Future in Engineering

for 3D printing. Its properties are tailored to the specific requirements of 3D construction printing and it works perfectly with the BOD2 printer. This ensures that consistent progress is made throughout the construction project. “We had an efficient and innovative collaboration with HeidelbergCement. They have been instrumental in clarifying all outstanding questions regarding construction methods and printing materials quickly and easily,” says Fabian Meyer-Brötz, Head of 3D Construction Printing at PERI. The building consists of triple-skin cavity walls, which are filled with an insulating compound. During the printing process, the printer takes into account the pipes and connections for water, electricity, etc. that are to be laid at a later time. The BOD2 has been certified in such a way that it is possible to carry out work within the printing area while printing is in progress. This means that manual work, such as the installation of empty pipes and connections, can be easily integrated into the printing process. Only two operators are required to run the printer. The print head and the print results are monitored by a camera. With a speed of 1 m/s, the BOD2 is currently the fastest 3D construction printer available on the market. The BOD2 only takes around 5 minutes to complete 1m² of a double-skin wall. v About PERI: With sales of € 1,685 million in 2019, PERI is one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of formwork and scaffold systems in the world. The family-owned company, with its headquarters in Weissenhorn (Germany), a workforce of more than 9,500 employees, more than 60 subsidiaries and well over 160 warehouse locations, provides its clients with innovative system equipment and comprehensive services relating to all aspects of formwork and scaffolding technology. Contact: Markus Woehl Head of Communication PERI GmbH Tel. +49 (0)7309 950-1310 Mobile +49 151 728 33274 markus.woehl@peri.de

JANUARY 2021

APPLE MARINA BAY SANDS

A NEW GEMSTONE ON THE SINGAPORE WATERFRONT AND A CELEBRATION OF LIGHT

Recently opened to the public, Apple Marina Bay Sands creates a new distinctive presence on Singapore Bay. The 30-metre-diameter structure is a fully glazed dome with a black glass base, complementing the sister pavilions through its scale and materiality. The design is the result of a close collaboration between Apple’s design teams and the integrated engineering and design team at Foster + Partners. David Summerfield, Foster + Partners said, “Apple Marina Bay Sands is all about the delicate interplay between transparency and shade. The structure dissolves the boundary between the inside and outside, creating a minimal platform that floats gently in the water, looking out over the bay and the spectacular Singapore skyline.” Structurally, the dome acts as a hybrid steel and glass shell, where the grid of steel sections support the weight of the glass and shading, and the curved structural glass panels restrain the steel elements laterally and stiffen the overall form against lateral loads. Integrated solar shading devices keep the interior cool. Each of the 114 panels of glass is carefully selected to meet glazing indices as prescribed by BCA Green Mark, Singapore’s own sustainability rating system.

Building Your Future in Engineering

Each of the multifunctional concentric light sunshade rings reduce in size as they progress towards the top of the building, providing acoustic absorption for the store. More importantly, they diffuse and reflect daylight to the baffle above, creating a magical effect and dematerialising the structure. At the top a semi-opaque oculus provides a dramatic shaft of light that travels through the space, reminiscent of the famous Pantheon in Rome. Stefan Behling, Foster + Partners said, “The dome appears ephemeral. The effect is very calming, and the changing intensity and colour of the light is mesmerising. It is not only a celebration of Apple’s incredible products, but a celebration of light.” The garden city ideal of Singapore flows from the promenade into the interior spaces, with ten trees placed along the perimeter providing additional shading and soft shadows through the foliage. Set within leather-topped planters, they also provide comfortable places to sit and enjoy the ambiance of the store and the fantastic views of the marina The store can be entered through The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands via a beautifully curved stone entrance, flanked by Apple’s signature Avenue display on either side of a 45-metre long and 7.6-metre wide space. This leads directly to a set of dramatic escalators that take visitors on a “kaleidoscopic” journey to the heart of the spectacular domed space. This contrasting transition from the heart of the retail centre to the Apple dome offers the customer a dramatic and exhilarating experience. It culminates with spectacular views across the bay and towards the city. During the day, the dome reflects the colours of the surrounding water and sky, while in the evening the subtle interior lighting provides a warm glow and enhances everyone’s experience of Singapore’s spectacular skyline. v

JANUARY 2021

For further information Katy Harris Head of Communications +44 20 7738 0455 press@fosterandpartners.com fosterandpartners.com Building Your Future in Engineering

of University

Georgia

College of Engineering

JANUARY 2021

University of Georgia College of Engineering • 100% - all eight of our undergraduate degree programs are accredited by ABET, the recognized global accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. •

15 – undergraduate and graduate degree programs

•

2,600 – total students

•

Students from – 120 Georgia counties, 31 U.S. states, 49 nations

•

26.5% - women

•

31% - students of color

•

97% - Career placement rate, the percentage of 2018 graduates working or in a graduate program within six months of graduation

•

$62,000 – Median starting salary for 2018 graduates, the highest at UGA

•

300% - increase in research funding in the last five years

•

2X – increase in laboratory research space in the next 2 – 3 years

•

1 – We’re the only college in Georgia that offers degrees in agricultural engineering, biochemical engineering, and biological engineering

UGA Points of Pride • 1st - Chartered by the Georgia General Assembly Jan. 27, 1785, the University of Georgia is America’s first state-chartered university and the birthplace of the American system of public higher education. •

Building Your Future in Engineering

#15 – Top Public University, U.S. News & World Report, 2020

At the University of Georgia College of Engineering, you’ll build the technical and scientific expertise necessary to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges. Here on the campus of one of the nation’s best public liberal arts universities, you’ll also gain the academic perspective and professional depth vital in a quickly changing world. The UGA College of Engineering offers small classes, meaningful student-professor interactions and a supportive culture. Beyond the classroom, you’ll find amazing opportunities for undergraduate research, hands-on experience, co-ops and internships, and study abroad. And it all happens in Athens, one of America’s great college towns. The UGA College of EngiDR. DONALD LEO neering is one of the nation’s fastest growing public colleges of engineering—a community of visionary researchers, educators, and learners.

Here, students find a vibrant environment for learning, discovery and innovation with an intense focus on teamwork, leadership and effective communications. That’s what sets Bulldog Engineers apart from all others. Research that changes lives

World-class faculty in the UGA College of Engineering are seeking solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing the planet—and you can be a part of these discoveries as early as your first semester on campus. Our faculty are developing new tools to fight diseases, exploring new ways to improve cyber security, developing innovations to make our infrastructure more resilient, and even transforming the way we teach engineering. Working with colleagues across campus and around the globe, the UGA College of Engineering is committed to research that results in healthier people, a more secure fu-

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Students Total enrollment: 2,200 Undergraduate: 2,070 Graduate: 130 Faculty Total faculty: 75 NSF CAREER and PECASE Award recipients: 9 Career ready $60K: average starting salary (highest of any school or college at UGA) 94%: career placement rate Companies/agencies hiring our recent graduates include NASA, Tesla, Apple, Siemens, Delta, Microsoft, Verizon, AT&T, Honda, John Deere, Caterpillar, Toyota, Georgia Power, Southern Company, GE Power, Roche, Abbott, Lockheed Martin, FDA, Northrop Grumman, and more.

Degree programs 15 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in agricultural, biochemical, biological, civil, computer systems, electrical and electronics, environmental, and mechanical engineering Double Dawgs Through UGA’s Double Dawgs program, students can earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in engineering in five years or less. Students can even combine a bachelor’s in engineering with an MBA from UGA’s Terry College of Business. Dual degree program Engineering and German Undergraduate research Students can explore research opportunities through UGA’s Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) as early as their first year on campus. JANUARY 2021

ture, and stronger communities around the world. Accelerate your career

As part of the University of Georgia, one of the top 20 public universities in the nation, the College of Engineering offers students uncommon opportunities. The Double Dawgs program allows you to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five years or less. Students may combine two engineering degrees or combine an engineering degree with an MBA from UGA’s highly-regarded Terry College of Business. The College of Engineering also offers unique interdisciplinary programs, including a dual degree in German and engineering that includes a year abroad for coursework and an internship with a German company. The College is also leading a university-wide initiative in Informatics that prepares engineers to work in fields such as data analytics and data-driven decision-making. Commit to what inspires you

The University of Georgia College of Engineering offers students eight undergraduate degree programs, including the state’s only degrees in agricultural, biochemical, and biological engineering. As part of their studies, each student participates in an intensive capstone senior design course. This year-long course offers students hands-on opportunities to work on real-world projects with businesses, industries, communities and other clients. This roll-up-your-sleeves, face-to-face approach allows students to gain maturity and confidence in the engineering skills they’ve learned in the classroom and lab. Smart growth

Just seven years after being founded, the University of Georgia College of Engineering is emerging as a leader in engineering education and research. Showing exponential growth in all areas—including enrollment, research, career placement, and corporate partnerships—the UGA College of Engineering is poised to reach even greater heights by the end of its first decade. v

Building Your Future in Engineering

GEORGIA SOUTHERN Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing

The Engineering and Research Building

Georgia Southern just completed its three-story $50M Engineering and Research Building, a “sandbox” designed just for our engineering and computing students and faculty. This is where coursework meets hands-on practice in top-of-the line teaching and research laboratories. Just behind the lobby area, extending the length of the building, are two-story-high bay laboratories (primarily for manufacturing and mechanical engineering) that are adaptable and flexible enough for whatever type of work is needed—including collaboration between multiple engineering fields. A scenic walkway overlooks the high-bay area, but the laboratories can also be secured for proprietary research. A roof-top deck on the other end of the building houses a renewable energy lab for solar power, wind power and weather labs. The building itself is designed to be sustainable—students and visitors can study the building’s energy generation versus its usage on monitors in the lobby. Other state-of-the-art teaching/research laboratories, classrooms, a conference facility and faculty offices are housed in the Engineering and Research Building. The Building’s design will allow us to present the College’s annual Student Research Symposium (this year: April 22, 2021) to its best effect yet. Contact rgerbsch@georgiasouthern.edu for more information about attending or participating in the Symposium as an industry judge. Here are just a few of some of the exciting majors that will be “playing” in our new sandbox.

Students have many opportunities to apply the concepts they have learned in the classroom to real-world applications, from lab courses, to co-op and internship experiences, to competitions with student organizations like the Foundry Society and the Society for Manufacturing Engineering, to our annual Student Research Symposium. Manufacturing Engineering students have the added bonus of having the department housed entirely in the brand new Engineering and Research Building.

Manufacturing Engineering

As a Manufacturing Engineering major, you will learn to design the systems that make just about everything we use every day—from cell phones to cars, from computer chips to robots to jumbo jets. Manufacturing engineers work closely with other engineers to ensure that these products can be efficiently manufactured or recycled.

Areas of faculty expertise include: additive (3D) manufacturing * nanomanufacturing * robotic manufacturing * soft robotics * manufacturing automation * bioinspired materials and composites * bioprinting *

JANUARY 2021

metallography and metalcasting * smart materials * fuel cells and renewable energy Computer Engineering

As a Computer Engineering major, you will construct networks, experiment with virtual reality, and learn the foundations you’ll need to create the next big thing on the web. Coached by faculty with decades of experience, you’ll assemble hardware, write software and join leading-edge research—all as an undergrad. Student organizations include IEEE, ACM (Assoc. for Computing Machinery), and the Robotics Club. Areas of faculty expertise include: digital systems * computer hardware * robotics * computer networking * embedded and wearable systems * cyber-physical systems * algorithms * wireless communications * analog and digital electronics * cybersecurity

tronic systems * biosensors, bio-signals and biosystems * control systems * embedded systems * mobile robots * signal and image processing * smart grids (micro- and nano-grids) * power generation and distribution * wireless and cellular communications * antennas and wireless propagation

Information Technology

As an Information Technology major, you’ll learn to design and manage databases and information systems. You will learn how to mine and analyze Big Data—and very importantly, especially for today’s employers, how to stop and track cyber criminals (cybersecurity and cyber forensics). You can also learn about cloud computing—how to do it, how to make it better. Student organizations you might be interested in include Women in Technology (WIT) and AITP. Areas of faculty expertise include: cybersecurity * big data * cloud computing * data analytics * software reliability * AI * data science * data mining * data forensics * web technology * e-commerce Electrical Engineering

As an Electrical Engineering major, you can choose to learn about any of several specializations—from power generation and transmission (solar power and smart grids, for example), to robotics, to radar and navigation systems, wireless and other communications systems, signal processing systems, or control systems. Electrical engineers design, assemble and test whole new devices or systems; or they can plan the circuitry and wiring of the tiniest electronic components. Our EE students run or participate in NSBE (Ntl. Soc. of Black Engineers), SWE (Soc. of Women Engineers), Robotics Club, Optical Society of America, IEEE, SAME (Soc. of Am. Military Engineers, and the Honors Society Tau Beta Pi. Areas of our faculty expertise include: power elec-

Building Your Future in Engineering

Research Success

The faculty of the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing saw immense success this year in submitting and obtaining external research funding. In FY 2013, the faculty of the College submitted 24 external grant proposals; in FY 2020, they submitted 87 and received funding for 25. This College’s faculty were first among the University in external grant submission activity; in the total amount proposed; and in the amount awarded: $2.11 million. This amount of activity meant that all of our faculty put forth a great deal of effort. Our faculty earned grants from the National Science Foundation; Advent Innovations, Ltd., Co.; B & L Naval Stores, Inc. / USDA; Georgia Department of Transportation; Brodie Meter Company, LLC; Transportation Technology Center, Inc.; Georgia Power; Delta Air Lines Foundation; GIW Industries; The Foundation Manufacturers Association; ALAE; FiberVisions Manufacturing; NASA; Ultool/Department of Defense; and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. Research success for our faculty means increased research participation for students, as well as opportunities for graduate assistantships when you want to pursue an advanced degree. Faculty from all departments submitted grants, and funding is becoming more widespread throughout the College. v

Mercer University Mercer University: Supporting the Engineering Talents Needs of Robins Air Force Base

In the early 1980s, the U.S. military was growing at a rapid pace due to increased defense spending. The ripple effect was felt throughout the entire U.S. defense complex and created a significant demand for human capital to meet the workforce needs. The largest industrial complex in Georgia, Robins Air Force Base (RAFB), felt the impact immediately. Major General Newt Nugteren served as Commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex (WRALC) in the early 1980s and was faced with increasing the engineering workforce by the thousands over the course of the decade. While RAFB had attracted many fine engineers over the years, the new hiring requirements seemed daunting. Where would he find engineering talent? Could he convince an existing engineering program to set up a satellite operation near Warner Robins to meet the need? General Nugteren’s plea for an existing engineering

program to place a satellite campus near the RAFB was unsuccessful, and the Georgia Board of Regents had no immediate plans to establish another engineering school in Georgia. Nugteren then turned to the local business community and friend, Mercer University President Dr. R. Kirby Godsey. Dr. Godsey and Mr. Melvin Kruger, Chairman of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, commissioned a study to determine the viability of/need for a university engineering program in central Georgia. The results showed a need that prompted Godsey, in December 1984, to recommend the Mercer University Board of Trustees vote to establish a School of Engineering. Since that first engineering class enrolled in the Fall of 1985, the Mercer School of Engineering has graduated thousands of alumni who have gone on to successful careers in industry, academia, and government. Many Mercer Engineering alumni remain in the central

JANUARY 2021

Georgia region and work for either RAFB or firms/organizations supporting the base’s work, such as the Mercer Engineering Research Center. Recently, the Mercer School of Engineering renewed its focus on producing engineering talent for RAFB. This effort began with the arrival of former WRALC Commander, Brigadier General (ret.) John C. Kubinec in 2016. During his four year tenure as WRALC Commander, Kubinec set forth a vision to expand community partnerships so that engineering talent could not only be recruited but retained. The Mercer School of Engineering was asked to play a lead role in executing this vision. Here are a few example outcomes of the successful partnership between Mercer University and the WRALC:  In September 2018, the University renewed its Educational Partnership Agreement with RAFB in a formal ceremony on the Mercer campus. At this ceremony, a portrait of Major General Nugteren was unveiled and now hangs in the Science and Engineering Building, a facility opened in 2007 to help increase the production of engineering and science talent for RAFB. This event also led to Mercer's involvement in helping Central Georgia being named a “Great American Defense Community” in 2019 by the Association of Defense Communities.  Since 2016, eight Mercer engineering students have been awarded the SMART Scholarship-for-Service by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), placing Mercer as one of the top private university SMART producers in the United States. SMART Scholars agree to work at a DoD installation following graduation, and many of these have chosen to fulfill their service obligation at RAFB. 

Mercer School of Engineering serves as the lead academic partner in Robins' 402nd Software Engineering Group’s Operation Blue Sky. Blue Sky is a creative and innovative software lab located in downtown Macon performing work for the U.S. Air Force and the WRALC. The Macon location allows Mercer faculty and students to collaborate with Robins software engineers on a variety of projects. Many new Mercer electrical and com-

Building Your Future in Engineering

puter engineering graduates have begun work in the 402nd Software Engineering Group in 2020 due to this new lab’s opening. 

Mercer School of Engineering had over 50 graduates accept offers of RAFB employment in the combined graduating classes of 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Mercer School of Engineering was born out of the need to produce engineers for RAFB and it will continue to provide engineering talent to meet the military’s needs today and in the future. v

M ER C ER U N I VER S I TY FAC TS Faculty: 40 Dean: Laura W. Lackey, Ph.D, P.E. (478) 301-2459 Undergraduate Engineering Students: 668 Graduate Engineering Students: 152 Distance Learning: Yes BS Engineering: Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Electri-

cal, Environmental, Industrial, Mechanical BS also in Industrial Management & Technical Communication MS Engineering: Biomedical, Computer, Electrical, Engineering Management, Environmental, Mechanical, Software. BS also in Environmental Systems, Software Systems, Technical Communication Management, & Technical Management Scholarships: Mercer offers numerous scholarships that can cover up to full tuition. Learn More: engineering.mercer.edu

Auburn University

Best of both worlds: Auburn Engineering begins first graduate online cohort program, looks to expand to other companies By Karen Hunley | Auburn Engineering Online

Auburn Engineering Online In May, the Auburn University Samuel Ginn College of Engineering wrapped up a successful pilot semester of its first cohort partnership with an external company. Auburn and Radiance Technologies in Huntsville, Ala., signed an agreement earlier this year to offer the Master of Engineering Management (MEM) Cohort Program to Radiance employees, allowing them to earn their master’s degree online while continuing on their current career path. Offered through the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) in partnership with Engineering Online and Continuing Education, the MEM program provides students with a business management approach to engineering with a technical specialization. Eight employees initially signed on for the cohort’s spring 2020 pilot course, Project Management. All eight passed the course and either continued with the program in summer 2020 or resumed in the fall. More than a dozen additional employees were expected to join the cohort in fall 2020. “Cohort education is valuable for all involved parties,” said John Evans, chair of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. “From the perspective of

JANUARY 2021

students it’s easier to start your graduate education with someone you know —you aren’t jumping off the cliff by yourself. From our perspective in the department, it expands our programs and improves the performance of our students.” Radiance also benefits from the partnership by helping ensure the longevity of employees who join the cohort, who sign on to stay at Radiance for the duration of the two-year MEM program plus at least one additional year. Cohort participants who successfully complete all course requirements are fully reimbursed for their tuition. “We feel like we are building the next generation of leaders; that’s why we are willing to make essentially a $30,000 investment in each employee,” said Lane Fabby, founding chancellor of Radiance University, the company’s employee continuing education and professional development arm. “These are the people we will be looking to in the future to run the company.” The partnership officially formed between Radiance and ISE after just three months of working diligently together to develop the cohort instructional model in time for the spring 2020 semester. Evans said his department was already interested in the cohort idea and researching opportunities when Fabby and her team approached him in fall 2019. “We already knew what a great school Auburn was, but we also realized that Auburn Engineering leadership was willing to think differently,” Fabby said. “They recognize education is changing and that it’s cool to trailblaze and create new instructional models that may be mimicked by others in the future.” Cohort members will take the same sequence of classes at the same time, finishing together in two years (the spring 2020 pilot group will skip the class they took this spring and/or summer when it comes back around). Like all MEM students, cohort members can choose between four degree specialization options: Systems, Manufacturing, Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, and Product Innovation. For Radiance president David Diaddario, the decision to join the cohort was easy, despite being late in this career and having already achieved so much success. “I was excited because (the cohort) was with Auburn and I had been thinking about going back for a

Building Your Future in Engineering

while,” continued Diaddario, who has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn. “When this presented itself I knew I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.” However, like many older students when they first begin an online program, Diaddario was a little nervous about distance learning and getting accustomed to the educational technology. He said he quickly discovered the convenience of the online format and enjoys the flexibility. The cohort also allows students to form a relationship with their fellow classmates, which is inherent of traditional on-campus programs but is often missing in online courses. “I can easily walk downstairs to one of the other guys’ offices and talk with him about a class issue,” Diaddario said. “To me, it’s the best of both worlds—the flexibility of distance learning, but I still have that connection with the classmates.” Evans said he hopes the fall cohort class (and all

classes moving forward) will also include some face-toface interaction between students and Auburn ISE faculty. This part of the program was derailed in the spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but he initially planned to have two classes per semester taught live at Radiance and streamed back to the on-campus MEM students. Evans also anticipates that this is just the beginning for the Auburn ISE department and its future with developing cohorts. In addition to beginning a new cohort at Radiance in 2022, after the first group graduates, he and his team have already proposed the instructional model to several other interested companies in Huntsville, including Jacobs, Teledyne Brown, Raytheon, and Intuitive. “It’s a win-win for Auburn and for employees who are going to see benefits to their career long-term,” Evans said. “It’s also going to help the companies retain valuable, educated employees.” v

JANUARY 2021

Radiance Technologies employees (L to R) Jerry Skievaski, Pete Weiland, Ann Lassiter, Allan Westenhofer, and Chris Wright, members of the first AU Master of Engineering Management Cohort Program, gather in Radiance's classroom dedicated to the cohort.

Building Your Future in Engineering