The field of biomechanics encompasses the study of motionand devices in the body. Research in biomaterials, whichincludes living tissue and synthetic materials, examines thestructural nature, function, and biocompatibility of materialsplaced in the body. But where do biological systems fit withinengineering, a field that has historically studied and applied

the laws that govern inanimate objects and systems?According to Glen L. Niebur, assistant professor of

aerospace and mechanical engineering, what the “bio”group is doing as it collaborates with researchers from other disciplines is extending the boundaries oftraditional engineering to answer questions and solveproblems that no single group — engineers, biologists,biophysicists, or physicians — can solve alone.

Prime examples of the group’s progress are theUniversity’s efforts in orthopedic research. James J.Mason and Steven R. Schmid, both associate professors in the Department of Aerospace andMechanical Engineering, have led Notre Dame’sendeavors in this area, garnering more than $4 million in funding for orthopedic implant research in the last two years. The majority of their effortsfocuses on the design of devices that promote mini-mally invasive orthopedic implant surgery (MIOIS),specifically the procedure for hip fracture repair.

With nearly 350,000 hip fractures occurring in the United States each year, hip fracture repairs are one of the most common orthopedic surgicalprocedures undertaken today. Four percent of the

people undergoing this type of surgery die duringtheir initial hospital stay. Twenty-four percent of those

over 50 years old die within one year of surgery. Close to 40

College of Engineeri n g U n i v e r sity of Notre DameVolume 28, Number 2 Summer 2002

Center for Flow PhysicsCreated

Engineering Honorsand Awards

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continued on page 3

F

New EnvironmentalSciences Program

Developed

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rom the development of the first practical artificial kidney in 1942 to the promising clinical trials of the

first implantable replacement heart — the AbioCor — in 2001 ... the world has witnessed incredible

advancements in medical devices and treatments and experienced huge jumps in quality of life for its

citizens. Today engineers in Notre Dame’s Biomechanics and Biomaterials in Orthopaedics Group —

working closely with physicians and biologists — are on the verge of similar breakthroughs that could

revolutionize orthopedic surgical procedures.

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lthough I never thought I’d be using this article to exercise some damage control, that’s precisely what I’mabout to do.

Perhaps some of you saw the Science Journal column written by Sharon Begley in the June 7 issue of theWall Street Journal. The article was entitled CEOs Worry About the Future of New Generation of Engineers, andits message dealt with the negative impact of declining engineering enrollments on U.S. industry and the

nation. It also pointed to deficiencies in the system of engineering education, particularly in the first year of studies, assignificant contributing factors to the declining enrollments. As those of you who’ve read my comments in previous issuesof this newsletter know, I would have little disagreement with these themes. But unfortunately, Ms. Begley chose to beginher article in the following manner:

“To a growing number of worried CEOs, Kristen Vogt is one who got away. A standout-engineering studentat Notre Dame University, she realized in her sophomore year that she wasn’t learning a thing about ‘what itmeans to be an engineer,’ she recalls, or how becoming an engineer ‘would let me contribute to society in ameaningful way.’ So she said goodbye to her high school dream of being a mechanical engineer and insteadgraduated with a bachelor’s degree in math.”

The article went on to quote several CEOs and their concerns for the future impact of declining engineering enrollmentsand to mention several universities that are developing innovative programs to address the problem.

It would be an understatement to say that I was chagrined by the article, and after taking a few minutes to composemyself, I sent the following e-mail message to Ms. Begley:

Dear Sharon,

In reading your article in today’s WSJ, I found myself in agreement with the essence of your message, namelythat the decline in engineering graduates is becoming a serious problem for the nation and that more should bedone to encourage retention of students, particularly women, in undergraduate engineering programs. However,in discussing Kristen Vogt’s experiences, I feel that you’ve created a misconception that reflects unfavorably onengineering at the University of Notre Dame.

Since Kristen received her undergraduate degree in 1996, the experiences she describes about her introductionto engineering would have occurred in a 1992-93 time frame. Her description is an accurate depiction ofconditions existing at that time, but in no way portrays today’s conditions, some 10 years later. In the early1990s, what Kristen describes would have characterized virtually every engineering program in the country.However, as you indicate in your article, universities are responding with innovative programs, and I am pleased to say that Notre Dame is among the leaders in this endeavor.

In the last four years we have enriched our undergraduate curriculum in many significant ways. With respect toKristen’s comments, the most significant enhancement relates to two new first-year courses that are pioneeringand we believe to be among the best of their kind. The courses are multidisciplinary and involve the activeengagement of senior faculty from each the College’s five departments. The courses involve heavy doses ofexperiential and design activities, team-based projects with a real-world context, and extensive use of informationtechnologies. In addition, many of the activities are conducted in the College’s new Learning Center, whichfacilitates highly collaborative and interactive student-to-student and student-to-faculty learning experiences.

I believe your article will generate significant and undeserved negative impressions about our program, and Iregret that you did not contact us before its publication. I will send you some material describing our educationalinitiatives, but I would like to go one step further by inviting you to spend a day at Notre Dame to witness first-hand what one University is doing to reverse the real and serious issues described in your article. I believe such a visit would provide substantive material for a follow-on article on what Universities are doing to enhance therecruitment and retention of engineering students.

Thank you for your attention,

Frank P. Incropera

Sharon was good enough to respond to my message with an expression of regret, but thus far there has been no acceptance of my invitation to come to South Bend or any indication of a follow-up article.

If my interactions with alumni, students, parents, and faculty in the weeks following the article are any indication, it did, indeed, inflict some damage on our reputation. For those unfamiliar with our initiatives, particularly parents ofprospective students, I’ve had to spend a good deal of time explaining why Karen Vogt’s experiences in no way character-ize today’s College of Engineering. To those familiar with our efforts over the past four years, I’ve indicated that we aredealing with the matter but, if they want to help, they can do so by using appropriate opportunities to communicate to others the richness of a Notre Dame undergraduate engineering education. I hope you will do likewise.

The WSJ article was particularly discouraging to me because I am well aware of the hard work that members of theCollege’s faculty are doing to concurrently advance our educational and research missions. The article was a disservice to their efforts. But, as you’ll find when you read this issue of Engineering Insights, they continue to do exciting things and to actively engage students in their work.

Best wishes to all,

Frank P. IncroperaMatthew H. McCloskey Dean of Engineering H.C. and E.A. Brosey Professor of Mechanical Engineering

A

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percent of the total number of hip fracture repair patientsrequire long-term care. And,annually the number of peoplewho fracture a hip is rising. The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeonsestimates the count growing to 650,000 by the year 2050.

The numbers are stag-gering, and the surgeryis traumatic. During atypical procedure, anorthopedic surgeonmakes a six-inch inci-sion in the side of the

patient, cutting through muscle tissue, nerves, andblood vessels and exposing approximately six inchesof the side of the femur. A screw is driven through thebone into the head of the femur, and a plate is attached to the side of the bone.

Because the incision cuts through a large amount ofmuscle and other soft tissue, the leg is substantially weak-ened, causing instability and requiring lengthy rehabilita-tion times. For example, after surgery a typical hip fracturepatient requires a walking aid during a several-week to several-month rehabilitation process. Half of the patientsneed a cane or walker permanently.

This type of structural reinforcement to strengthenfractures — and the recovery process from such a proce-dure — has remained unchanged for decades ... until now.A hip fracture implant and surgical repair procedure developed byNotre Dame researchers in conjunction with Zimmer, Inc., one ofthe largest orthopedic companies in the country, shows incrediblepromise for two main reasons. First, the new device and procedure,which requires only a one- to two-inch incision, avoids cuttingthrough muscle, nerves, and blood vessels. And, the curable, metal-lic polymer components of the device are located in the canal of the

f e m u r, providing thesame stability ands t r e n g t h after sur-gery as before thefracture. Althoughstill in the researchstages and not yet commerciallyavailable, the newimplant and proce-dure are expectedto significantlyreduce surgicalrecovery time,increase mobilityimmediately aftersurgery, decreaserehabilitation time,and offer a muchgreater chance ofresuming a normallevel of activityafter surgery.

“All of our projects — the hip fracture repairprocedure and theother minimally

invasive orthopedic implant projects — attempt to cause the least amount of pain or physical trauma possible,” says Schmid.“Essentially, we believe that joint replacement should be about aspainful as getting a wisdom tooth pulled. Even working on the projectsas we do, it’s hard to grasp the scope of minimally invasive procedures,because the pain level patients experience, the methods surgeons useto treat patients, and the outcome of many types of surgeries are aboutto change forever.”

A second MIOIS project within the group focuses on spinal fixation.For example, in the case of a ruptured disc, current treatment methodscall for the removal of the disc, which then compromises the strengthof the spine. After removing the disc, a surgeon typically attaches aseries of steel rods, retainers, and screws to the spine, to support the

... the pain level

patients experience,

the methods surgeons

use to treat patients,

and the outcome

of many types of

surgeries are about

to change forever.

Steven R. Schmid, associate professor ofaerospace and mechanical engineering,connects the data acquisition unit forrecording temperatures during a cadavertest. Temperatures were recorded at thecement/implant interface, the center of thecement, cortical wall/cement interface, andthe inside of the cortical wall in order todetermine if the tissue surrounding theimplant would be harmed in the curingprocess. Ambient and cement controltemperatures were also recorded.

This multidisciplinary team explores the interfaces between mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science, and biology. Projects focus on basic and applied research, includingvarious aspects of experimental and theoretical solid mechanics, manufacturing, materials process-ing and characterization, tribology, biomedical imaging, and design.

DEPARTMENTS AND FACULTY INVOLVED

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

James J. Mason, associate professor

Glen L. Niebur, assistant professor

Timothy C. Ovaert, professor

John E. Renaud, professor

Ryan K. Roeder, assistant professor

Steven R. Schmid, associate professor

Michael M. Stanisic, associate professor

Computer Science and Engineering

Danny Chen, professor

Patrick J. Flynn, associate professor

Chemical Engineering

Davide A. Hill, associate professor

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Marya Lieberman, assistant professor

CURRENT PROJECTS

Anisotropic Damage of Cancellous Bone

Anisotropy in Human Cortical Bone

Application of Metal Foams in Orthopedics

Bone Cement in New Orthopedic Procedures

Bone Marrow Flow in Cancellous Bone

Continuum Properties of Cellular Solids

Hydroxyapatite Whisker Reinforced Composites for Load-bearing Orthopedic Devices

Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Implant Surgery (MIOIS)

Multi-parameter Mechanical Characterization and Scratching of Polymers

Shape Optimization in Orthopedics and Biomechanics

Staining Techniques for Micro-CT Imaging of Microdamage in Bone

Synthesis of Anisometric Hydroxyapatite Particles

Variable Diameter Fibers (VDFs) as a Novel Reinforcement in Biocomposites

FACILITIES

Biomaterials Processing and Characterization Laboratory

Design Automation Laboratory

Nano-mechanical Characterization and Tribology Laboratory

Solid Mechanics Laboratory

Surface Science Laboratory

Tribology/Manufacturing Laboratory

Undergraduates Peter Mackand Rebecca Brownlee arepart of the biomechanics andbiomaterials team at NotreDame. In a recent series oftests, they monitored thetemperature distribution ofbone cement on a cadavermodel during the cementcuring process. The purposeof the tests was to determinethe thermal damage factor,which combines temperatureand duration of exposure, ofthe cement as it cured.

Glen L. Niebur

4

weakened area. The process, however, is not as uncomplicated as itsounds. The metal rods, part of the support system, are bent by thesurgeon and then manually threaded through the stationary retainersattached to the spine. When confronted with the probable side effectsof this type of surgery — paralysis, numbness, or loss of function ofthe lower extremities — many patients decide to live with the pain of a ruptured disc.

Notre Dame’s bio group, again in collaboration with Zimmer, hasdeveloped a device that replaces the steel rod. In a new procedure a bag of liquid polymer snaps into place over the screws. Then the surgeon applies either a plastic curing agent or ultraviolet light tobegin the curing process. The new method locks the spine into placewith little stress to the spinal column.

Among the many projects within the group, Notre Dame researchersare also studying the mechanical behavior of bone, particularly cancel-lous bone which supports joints and is the type of bone most affectedby osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. “Instead of studying metal or tradi-tional structural elements,” says Niebur, “we’re trying to determinehow bone responds to loads. What causes it to break? Why do bonesbreak more easily as people age? And, if bone is damaged, does thataffect its strength?”

Schmid and Niebur are working with Zimmerand the Implex Corp. to incorporate TrabecularMetal into a variety of medical implants. Asponge-like metal “foam,” Trabecular Metal can be tailored to match the mechanical aspects andload-bearing functions of real bone. It encouragesliving bone to grow into the porous structure of an implant more quickly and forms a strongerbond than that achieved by other synthetic porousmaterials. It therefore has numerous potentialapplications in sports medicine, spinal surgery,hip fracture repair, and a variety of reconstructivesurgeries.

The collaborations between Zimmer, Implex,and Notre Dame; among University faculty in different departments and colleges; and withphysicians and other professionals are provingsuccessful because they build on the strengths of each field, particularly engineering, to quantifythe research. Ultimately, that research will leadto better designs for medical devices and moreeffective treatment methods for a wide range ofsurgeries and bone disorders.

Editor’s Note: The Biomechanics and Biomaterialsin Orthopaedics Group at Notre Dame is comprisedof researchers from several departments within theCollege of Engineering, as well as from other sectorsof the University and industry. Although a majorityof the current projects of the group is the result of a partnership withZimmer, college researchers also collaborate with faculty from PurdueUniversity and Indiana University Medical School on several projects, a number of which are funded by Indiana’s 21st Century Research andTechnology Fund, the National Science Foundation, and the NationalAeronautics and Space Administration.

For more information about other bioengineering efforts in the College ofEngineering, visit http://www.nd.edu/~engineer/bioeng/bioeng.htm.

Trabecular Metal looks andacts like trabecular bone, topphoto, the type of bone thatsupports the joints of thebody. The porosity andflexibility of Trabecular Metalencourage bone to grow intoits pores, forming bondsbetween the metal foam and ligament tissue that are almost as strong as thebonds between the tissue and real bone.

According to Mark Strus, vice president of the Notre Dame chapter of Pi

Tau Sigma, the blood drive held this spring in the College of Engineering was

one of the most successful in the college’s history. Sixty-five percent of the

engineering student body participated as did 30 percent of college faculty.

“The officers of Pi Tau Sigma, the mechanical engineering honor society,

organized the drive,” says the group’s faculty adviser, Robert Howland,

associate professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, “and they

did a phenomenal job.” Nurses from the South Bend Medical Foundation

collected the blood, which was donated to the Central Blood Bank of South

Bend. Mary Dunfee of the blood bank says, “It was one of the best drives

we’ve had for awhile. We only had three people deferred. Please thank all

of the donors. The college’s blood drive came at a critical time for us.”

Engineering Blood Drive One ofMost Successful in Years

The officers of Pi Tau Sigma — Thomas Quinlin, president; MarkStrus, vice president; Robert Hagan, treasurer; and NathanielHicks, secretary — organized the March 2002 College ofEngineering blood drive that netted almost 50 pints. According to a representative of the Central Blood Bank of South Bend, the timing of the blood drive could not have been better, sincesupplies were well below the desired level.

While donated blood is free, there are significant costs associ-ated with the collection, testing, preparation, labeling, shipping,and storage of blood. There are also substantial costs stemmingfrom the recruitment and education of donors and the commitmentto keeping the blood supply free from contamination. Even if thosecosts were minimal, the blood supply level is constantly fluctuatingwhile the number of places around the world that need bloodincreases daily.

Perhaps that is why Andre F. Palmer, assistant professor ofchemical engineering, is working to create a universal blood substi-

tute that will last for years with-out refrigeration. Currently, bloodmay be used as “whole” blood or separated into several components — red blood cells,

platelets, fresh frozenplasma, cryoprecipi-tates, and granulocytes.Depending on the com-ponent, blood must beused within 24 hoursof donation or may bestored frozen for up to10 years. In any case,there is not enoughblood to handle theneed.

“In our lab,” saysPalmer, “we makepolymerized hemoglo-bin blood substitutes.The unique aspect ofthis work is that we’redeveloping new cross-linking agents to polymerize the hemo-globin.” By creatingthese new large poly-mers of hemoglobin,

Palmer will be able to control the amount of hemoglobin that travels through capillary walls and into smooth muscle cells, where it would normally sequester nitrous oxide, which causesblood vessels to constrict and leads to high blood pressure.

Palmer is also developing bubble-like drug-delivery vehicleswhich can be injected intravenously. Similar to the polymerizedhemoglobin he’s using to create the blood substitute, the “drug bubble” or vesicle will be developed so that it recognizes specificreceptors on cancer cells. Then, when the bubble comes in contactwith the cancer cell, the cell will engulf the bubble and digest itscontents, which is where a cancer-fighting drug will be stored.Palmer is working to create a bubble that will remain intact withinthe circulatory system. His research is funded by the NationalScience Foundation and the National Institute of Science andTechnology.

For more information, visit http://www.nd.edu/~chegdept/Palmer.html.

Andre F. Palmer, assistant professor of chemicalengineering, left, and Jason Gordon, a doctoralcandidate, work to create a universal bloodsubstitute that will last for years without refriger-ation. Why? Because an average of 34,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day.

Development of a UniversalBlood Substitute Under Way

s o m e f a c u l t y a n d s t u d e n t s “ c r e a t e ” b l o o d , o t h e r s d o n a t e i t

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A human being is essentially an autonomous entity, able tomove at will from one position to another ... one place to another.What Steven B. Skaar, professor of aerospace and mechanicalengineering, several University graduate students, and researchersfrom the Edward J. Hines VA Hospital in Illinois have been investi-gating is how to “move” people who cannot move themselves, such

as quadriplegics or others confinedto wheelchairs. The challenge isthat an able-bodied individual isamazingly capable of completing avariety of complex maneuvers andnegotiating many types of paths.And, wheelchairs are not, particu-

larly if the only operator is disabled. “We’re working to develop a device,” says Skaar, “that will help people with disabilities sosevere that they have not been able to steer even a power chairusing their own capabilities.”

Skaar, current graduate student Guillermo DelCastillo, and former graduate students Eric Baumgartner (’88, ’92), John-DavidYoder (’97), and Brian Reichenberger (’00) have been focusing ondeveloping a very reliable teaching-and-tracking system for theindoor navigation of an autonomous device. According to Skaar,

a disabled individual could use eyemovement, breath, or a variety ofdifferent responses to answer thechair’s navigational queries, thusinstructing it. What makes thisresearch different from similar projects in universities and hospi-tals across the country is that thechair, which functions as a non-holonomic robot, uses estimation —based on visual cues and otherobservations from the environment— together with the teach-and-repeat tracking information of the individual’s surroundings programmed in its memory. Keyaspects are similar to the guidancesystems used to control missiles.

Although still in the researchstages, results of testing at the VAHospital with actual disabled people

have been very exciting. “We feel that the fundamental basis forcomputer-vision, teach-and-repeat-based navigation is in place,”says Skaar, “and hope to have a very credible obstacle avoidancesystem verified in the next year or two. That seems like a longtime, but we are proceeding very gradually and very deliberately toensure that the algorithms and navigation capabilities are complet-ed correctly for successful commercialization of a truly autonomouswheelchair that can change lives but is also affordable.”

Notre Dame ResearchersCreating AutomaticallyGuided Wheelchairs

Steven B. Skaar, professor of aero-space and mechanical engineering, and several graduate students havebeen working with the Department of Veterans Affairs and researchers from Edward J. Hines VA Hospital,located near Chicago, to develop anautomatically guided wheelchair systemfor individuals whose disability or mix of disabilities has previously preventedthem from steering a chair on their own.

In George Orwell’s 1984 Big Brother knew all, saw all, andmaintained perfect order. Kevin W. Bowyer, Schubmehl-PreinChair of Computer Science and Engineering, and Patrick J. Flynn,associate professor of computer science and engineering, are notpromoting a “Big Brother” surveillance system, but they — like

many researchers and corporationsacross the country — are workingto develop new image-based identi-fication technologies. Since Sep-tember 11, concerns about thesafety of people in public placeshave increased the focus on devel-

oping human recognition systems. Bowyer and Flynn, supported bygrants from the Defense Department’s Defense Advanced ResearchProjects Agency, have been assembling a database of faces in theComputer Vision Research Laboratory. “There is a pressing need for a database of faces, head shapes, and infrared images of peopleto serve in the assessment of security and identification systems,as well as a characterization of their performance,” says Flynn.

He and Bowyer have beenrecording infrared and invisiblelight pictures of approximately 70students each week for the lasttwo semesters and will continuetaking photos for another year.According to Bowyer, the idea is to capture and define an indi-vidual’s face mathematically,creating a string of numbers. Thenumbers could then be comparedto the other “strings” in theinventory, helping researchersdevelop more reliable face-recog-nition systems.

“One major drawback in face-recognition technology,” saysFlynn, “is that a person’s face canchange dramatically from one dayto the next. In fact the differencebetween the same individual ontwo different days may be greaterthan the differences between twoseparate individuals.”

Is there an answer ... one tech-nique that will positively identifythreatening people before theycan cause damage? “We may never be able to identify a specific individual,” says Flynn. “Butthere is every reason to believe that, using several types of imagestogether, including infrared systems, we will eventually be able to identify whether a person is nervous, wearing a disguise, or otherwise suspicious.”

Vision Recognition andIdentification: What DoesSafety Look Like?

Biometrics is the use ofphysical or biologicalcharacteristics to identifypeople, with or without theirknowledge. Fingerprinting isone of the oldest and mostreliable forms of biometrics.The technologies beingdeveloped are numerous andoffer a variety of functions ...from radar imaging of bodycavities to recognizing anindividual’s iris from 50 yards away.

Arthur J. Schmitt Professor of Chemical EngineeringArvind Varma, director of the Center for Molecularly EngineeredMaterials, has announced the creation of a new interdisciplinaryresearch group (IRG) within the center. Led jointly by Glen L.Niebur, assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineer-ing, and Agnes E. Ostafin, assistant professor of chemical engi -

neering, the IRG will focus on thedevelopment, analysis, and exami-nation of novel materials that areinspired by biological applicationsor that employ biological moleculesas elements in the materials’ design.Applications for these materials —

biocolloids and nanoparticles; biopolymers, biofilms, and biominer-als; porous coatings; medical and environmental diagnostic devices

— include sensor development, target-ed drug delivery systems, cancer thera-pies, tissue engineering, and bio-remediation techniques. Members of the IRG include Ostafin; Niebur;Patricia Clark, assistant professor ofchemistry and biochemistry; PatriciaA. Maurice, associate professor of civilengineering and geological sciences;Timothy C. Ovaert, professor of aero-space and mechanical engineering;Andre F. Palmer, assistant professorof chemical engineering; Ryan K.Roeder, assistant professor of aero-space and mechanical engineering;

Bradley Smith, professor of chemistry and biochemistry; andWilliam C. Strieder, professor of chemical engineering.

Center Adds Group toDevelop Biology-inspiredMaterials

In early 2000 the United Engineering Foundation, a 98-year-old,not-for-profit organization committed to encouraging advancementsin engineering and technology, called for proposals on the develop-ment of anti-terrorist technology. A total of 920 proposals weresubmitted as a result of the foundation’s request. Professor Alan C. Seabaugh’s proposal was one of only four selected to receive a $25,000 grant. Seabaugh’s idea focuses on the development of a

handheld analyzer that could beused at potentially contaminatedsites, such as the aftermath of aterrorist attack or an industrialaccident. Police and other publicsafety officers would collect samples of a variety of substan-ces at the site and inject them

into the analyzer. Although analysis times would vary depending on the molecular complexity of the substances, the nature of thesubstance could be identified within minutes. The device could also calculate the strength of the toxin and map the boundaries ofthe substance for safety workers. Seabaugh and graduate studentsQing Liu and James Potashnik in the Department of ElectricalEngineering have designed the semiconductor chip that will usemicrowaves to analyze the fluids and access and process the biolog-ical data. They expect to produce a fully functional prototype of theanalyzer by the end of the year.

College Team Responds to Call from UnitedEngineering Foundation forAnti-terrorist Technology

Alan C. Seabaugh, professor ofelectrical engineering, is leading an effort to design and developa semiconductor chip for aportable biotoxin analyzer.

Patrick J. Flynn

Agnes E. Ostafin

6

Associate Professor Steven R. Schmidhas been named a faculty fellow for the2002-03 academic year by the University’sKaneb Center for Teaching and Learning.

The faculty fellow program is designed to acknowledge andutilize the expertise of University faculty in their discipline-specific areas. Throughout the year faculty fellows share theirteaching abilities and experiences via workshops, discussiongroups, research, and individual consultation.

A member of the Department ofAerospace and Mechanical Engineeringsince 1993, Schmid specializes in tribolo-gy; manufacturing process simulation and optimization; surface generation,measurement and modeling; tribo-charac-teristics and wear of tool materials andmachinery elements. He is the co-authorof three books and various journal andconference papers.

Schmid NamedKaneb Fellow

Following a discussion oncryptography, part of the Collegeof Engineering’s Edison LectureSeries, James L. Massey, profes-

sor emeritus at ETH Zurichin Switzerland and adjunctprofessor at LundUniversity in Sweden, presented the Departmentof Electrical Engineeringwith the Marconi Award he received in 1999. TheMarconi Prize has beenpresented annually since 1974. It is given to engineers and scientistsin the field of communica-tions who, like Marconi,“continue to push forward the frontiers of knowledge.”

James L. Massey, a 1956 graduate and formerNotre Dame professor, left, donated the MarconiAward he received in 1999 to the Universityearlier this year. Accepting the award on behalf of the college is Yih-Fang Huang, professor andchair of the electrical engineering department.

Massey DonatesMarconi Prize toElectrical Engineering

According to AhsanKareem, Robert M. MoranProfessor and Chair of the Department of CivilEngineering and Geological

Sciences, a new environmental geosciences curriculum forundergraduates — one that draws on engineering, biology,chemistry, mathematics, and physics — will begin this fall. Theupdated curriculum will provide students with a quantitativefoundation for professional careers, as well as continued highereducation. The Notre Dame program is unique in that it meldsthe two disciplines — environmental studies and geosciences— into a broad field which includes aspects of geology, environ-mental engineering, chemistry, physics, biology, and mathemat-ics. The program combines fundamental and applied researchto help undergraduates understand how the environmentimpacts humanity, as well as how humanity impacts the environment.

“Good ideas, or rather good solutions to environmentalissues,” says Clive R. Neal, associate professor of civil engi-neering and geological sciences, “seldom occur in a vacuum.Over the years we have developed a vibrant environmental

“One of the tangible advantages of being at a top researchuniversity as an undergraduate,” says Jeremy B. Fein, associateprofessor of civil engineering and geological sciences, “is thatundergraduates can participate in research in much the samemanner as do graduate students.” A total of 21 undergraduatescurrently work in the department’s research labs. Jonathan Roller,above, who graduated in 2002 will be pursuing a graduate degreethis fall as a result of his undergraduate research experiences.

New EnvironmentalGeosciences CurriculumIntroduced

Steven B. Skaar, pro-fessor of aerospace andmechanical engineering,has been working withMechVisual Inc., inPark City, Utah, to

develop autonomous, visually guided robot systems. Skaar and MechVisual have created a control system that connects adesktop PC, a basic industrial robot, and twoceiling-mounted digital cameras. The systemenables the robot to locate the object, posi-tion the arm to engage or disengage, andadjust in real time to accommodate to itssurroundings. Smurfit Stone Container Corp.began testing the prototype at a Florida fac-tory in April. For the past several months,the robot, which was made by FanucRobotics, has repeatedly and preciselystacked massive tubes of paper on a pallet.Skaar has developed unique approaches toachieve the control of holonomic and non-holonomic systems using vision as a primarysensor. His numerous publications includeworks in the International Journal of RoboticsResearch, the IEEE Transactions on Roboticsand Automation, the IEEE Transactions onAutomatic Control and the book Teleoperation and Robotics in Space.

Skaar andMechVisualDevelop Robotswith 3D “Hand-Eye Coordination”

Steven B. Skaar,professor ofaerospace andmechanicalengineering, and MechVisual have created acontrol system that allows robotsto “self” adjust.

geosciences program; the new curriculum is evidence of that. Our faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates allparticipate in quantitative research. ... When this kind of inter-disciplinary team work is applied, the probability of continuingto engineer practical and earth-friendly solutions to environ-mental issues is tremendous.”

Although students participating in the environmental geo-sciences program may choose different career paths, it is thehope of the college that each undergraduate will help define the balance between society’s need for natural resources andthe need to sustain healthy ecosystems.

For more information on the new curriculum, including a summary of requirements for graduation, visithttp://www.nd.edu/~envgeo.

A 1956 graduate of the University, Massey was a founder ofCodex Corporation — later a division of Motorola — and ofCylink Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif. His honors include the1988 Shannon Award from the Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) Information Theory Society, the1992 IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal, and the l987 IEEEW.R.G. Baker Award for the “most outstanding paper reportingoriginal work in the Transactions, Journals, and Magazines ofIEEE Societies or in the Proceedings of the IEEE.”

He is a fellow of the IEEE, a member of the Swiss Academyof Engineering Sciences, a member emeritus of the U. S.National Academy of Engineering, an honorary member of theHungarian Academy of Science, and a foreign member of theRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In addition to graduatingfrom Notre Dame, Massey served as the Frank M. FreimannProfessor of Electrical Engineering from 1962 to 1977.

Steven R. Schmid

7

Stephen E. Silliman, professor of civil engi-neering and geological sciences, has beennamed associate dean for educational pro-

grams, a position previously held by Stephen M. Batill, whowill begin his term as chair of the Department of Aerospaceand Mechanical Engineering in the 2002-03 academic year.Although Silliman will continue to teach and conduct researchwithin his department, in this new position he will develop andcoordinate cross-disciplinary curricula within the college. Hewill also solicit federal and industrial funding to support inno-vative educational opportunities for engineering students.

Silliman, who has published numerous articles in the field of hydrology and has successfullycombined his professional expertisewith a commitment to service, wasrecently honored for his efforts inThird World countries. He receivedthe Grenville Clark Award duringthe annual president’s dinner forfaculty. Presented every three years by the Grenville Clark Fund at Dartmouth College, the award isgiven to a faculty member, adminis-trator, or student “whose voluntaryactivities serve to advance the causes of peace and human rightsto which Grenville Clark devotedhis life.”

For many years, Silliman has led a joint student venture betweenthe Department of Civil Engineering

and Geological Sciences and the Center for Social Concerns. Heand teams of students annually spend a week in Haiti repairinghand pumps, which are the primary water supply in the ruralregions the country. (See page 9 for details of the most recenttrip.) A similar effort has been launched in the Republic ofBenin in western Africa.

Stephen M. Batill, professor ofaerospace and mechanical engi-neering, has been named chairof that department. He replacesRobert C. Nelson, professor of

aerospace and mechanical engineering, who has served asdepartment chair since 1996.

Batill has long been recog -nized by fellow faculty and students for his innovativeapproach to engineering educa-tion, particularly as it relatesto system design and optimiza-tion, and has received numer-ous teaching awards from thedepartment and the college. He has recently completed athree-year term as associatedean for educational programsduring which he was activelyinvolved in the development ofEG111/112, the first-year engi-neering course sequence, andcreation of the EngineeringLearning Center, a prototypefacility that promotes multidis-ciplinary hands-on activities.

A faculty member since1978, Batill is a “triple domer,”receiving his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering fromNotre Dame in 1969, followed by a master’s in 1970 and a doctorate in 1972.

Batill NamedDepartmentChair

University efforts in Benin involve basicresearch with the Universite Nationale duBenin, development of educational materialsfor the country’s public primary andsecondary schools, and the drilling of new groundwater wells.

Erhard Winkler, profes-sor emeritus of civilengineering and geologi-

cal sciences, has been named the first recipient of the DanielW. Kessler Award from ASTM International for contributions to the organization’s committee on building and monu-mental stone.

Founded in 1898, ASTM International — formerlyknown as the American Society for Testing andMaterials — is a not-for-profit organization that pro-vides a global forum for the development and publica-tion of voluntary consensus standards for materials,products, systems, and services used in research anddevelopment, product testing, and quality.

Winkler has been a member of the organization,which is comprised of more than 30,000 individualsfrom 100 nations, since 1973. The author of two books andmany scholarly articles, he is an internationally respectedauthority on the weathering properties of building and monu-mental stone such as marble, limestone, sandstone, and gran-ite. In addition to stone decay, Winkler’s research has includeddam sight geology, micropaleontology, and stone preservation.He has been a member of the Notre Dame faculty since 1948.

Stephen M. Batill, professor of aerospace andmechanical engineering, center, has been involvedthroughout the planning and development of theEngineering Learning Center and EG111/112. He still teaches course sections in the first-yearcourse sequence.

A three-day short course in“Verification and Validation inComputational Science andEngineering” was co-sponsored by the College of Engineering, the Center

for Applied Mathematics, the Department of Civil Engineeringand Geological Sciences, and the Department of Aerospace andMechanical Engineering earlier this year. Taught by Patrick J.Roache, an internationally renowned leader in the area of com-

putational modelingand author of a num-ber of definitive textson computational fluiddynamics and model-ing, the purpose of thecourse was to presentmodern terminologyand techniques for verification and valida-tion. With modelingcredibility and high-quality, dependablesolutions with rationalerror bounds moreimportant than ever,the course provedextremely valuable tothe 51 University par-ticipants, representing

disciplines such as solid mechanics, structural mechanics, fluidmechanics, chemistry, and finance. Issues also covered duringthe course were model confirmation, certification, benchmarks,and quality assurance. Organizing chairs for the short coursewere Samuel Paolucci, professor of aerospace and mechanicalengineering; Joseph M. Powers, associate professor of aero-space and mechanical engineering; and Joannes J. Westerink,associate professor of civil engineering and geological sciences.

Patrick J. Roache presented a three-day course in“Verification and Validation in Computational Science andEngineering” at Notre Dame in March 2002. Roache’sprimary area of expertise is in the numerical solution ofpartial differential equations, particularly those of fluiddynamics, heat transfer, and electrodynamics.

Short Course inVerification andValidation Offered

Silliman NamedAssociate Dean

Erhard Winkler

Winkler ReceivesKessler Award

Mark J. McCready, professor of chemical engineering, received a Presidential Award from the University during this year’s annualpresident’s dinner for faculty. A fac-ulty member since 1984, McCreadyhas served as departmentchair with distinction for

the last six years. He has established new teachingand research directions in bioengineering, helpeddevelop the Center for Molecularly EngineeredMaterials, recruited outstanding faculty of diversity,participated in numerous University-level committees,and served his professional society in various leader-ship roles — all the while maintaining innovative top-level teaching and research activities.

McCready’s research interests include the fluidmechanics of multifluid flows, reaction and transport behaviorof gas-liquid flows in packed beds, interphase mass and heattransfer, interfacial waves, atomization, flow regimes in multi-fluid flows, and process fluid dynamics with environmentalimpact.

McCreadyReceives 2002PresidentialAward

Mark J. McCready

8

For the second consecu-tive year, faculty membersPanos J. Antsaklis, H.C.and E.A. Brosey Professor of Electrical Engineering,and Danny Chen, professor

of computer science and engineering, have received a grantfrom Lockheed Martin Systems Integration for research inautonomous networked systems. Working in conjunction withAntsaklis and Chen, Robert J. Szczerba and John O. Moody,both of Lockheed Martin, will continue to develop algorithms

and architectures relatingto the automation of dis -tributed processes andnomadic communications.Existing approaches have been unable to pro-vide for the necessaryautonomy, resource, andinformation managementrequired for advancednetwork centric opera-tions. The researchersare planning algorithmsthat incorporate advancedconcepts from computa-tional geometry, graphtheory, and data cluster-ing. They will also study

distributed supervisory control and management techniques inresource-intensive processes, as well as in networked systems.

In March 2001 and againthis year Milwaukee, Wis.-based Rockwell AutomationPower Systems, in conjunc-tion with the Rockwell

International Corporation Trust, presented the University withan honorarium for two engineering students in recognition ofoutstanding senior design projects. The prize is intended toencourage young engineers, as well as honor them for theirachievements, in the Department of Aerospace and MechanicalEngineering’s capstone course. This year’s recipients wereWilliam Pilcher and Joseph Winkels.

The senior design course, which is offered during both falland spring semesters, focuses on the product realizationprocess and emphasizes team design activities. In past yearsstudents have produced autonomous vehicles, automatic load-ing systems, and manufacturing process controls. Seniors whowere in the fall course were asked to develop an interactivechild’s toy. Pilcher and his team developed what they called a “futuristic fire truck.” The truck, that the team suggestedcould be marketed as an outdoor water toy, was instrumentedwith a series of water sensors so children could squirt water at each other and on the toy itself, emitting sounds when hit.

A unique aspect of this year’s design project was that theengineering seniors collaborated with seniors in Notre Dame’smarketing and industrial design programs. Mechanical engi-neering students directed concept development and wereresponsible for defining the product, while students from the other disciplines assisted in aesthetic considerations and

Rockwell AutomationPower Systems DesignAward Presented

Accepting a $50,000 check for research inautonomous networked systems from John O. Moody of Lockheed Martin Systems, areProfessor Danny Chen, far left; Dean Frank P.Incropera, left; and Professor Panos Antsaklis,far right.

As it enters its 53rd yearTechnical Review once againreceived top honors from the

Engineering College Magazines Association. According toJustin Burt, the magazine’s editor, the publication received afirst-place award for “Best Editorial/All Issues” and second-place honors for “Best Editorial/Single Issue.” Technical Review wasalso recognized for its web site,receiving second place overall.

The magazine is designed, written,and edited solely by students. Theiradviser is John W. Lucey, associateprofessor of aerospace and mechani -cal engineering. For more informationon Technical Review or to check out the latest issue, visithttp://www.nd.edu/~techrev.

Tech Review Honored

The University of Notre Damehas established the Center for FlowPhysics and Control. Comprised of

faculty from several departments throughout the University,the center builds on a tradition of excellence in aerodynam-ics that dates back to 1882. The mission of the center is tofoster the efforts of individual researchers, as well as multi-disciplinary teams, in the fields of flow diagnostics, predic-tion, and control. Research within the center will addressfive main areas: aero-optics, aero-acoustics, fluid-structureinteractions, multiphase flows, and flow control.

The center is located in the Hessert Center for AerospaceResearch, a 40,000-sq.-ft. building that houses numerousspecialized laboratories and equipment, including high-quality subsonic, transonic, and supersonic wind tunnels; a high-speed heated anechoic jet facility and anechoic open-jet wind tunnel; and an atmospheric boundary layerwind tunnel. Thomas C. Corke, Clark Equipment Professorof Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, serves as thedirector.

Additional information on the center, faculty, availablefellowships, and research projects may be found athttp://www.nd.edu/~flowpac.

Center for FlowPhysics and Control

Lockheed Martin GrantSupports Research in AutonomousNetworked Systems

market analysis. Thus, all of the students were able to partici-pate in a real-world simulation of the design, development, andreview process. Representatives from Fischer-Price and IDEO,Inc., as well as the course instructor, reviewed each group’sconcept. Stephen M. Batill, professor of aerospace andmechanical engineering and associate dean for educational programs, served as the instructor for the fall design project.

In the spring semester Michael M. Stanisic, associate pro-fessor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, asked Winkelsand the 23 other seniors in the course to develop an automatedfloor-cleaning system designed to handle the special needs —small-size debris such as French fries,pieces of bread, and other food scraps— of after-hours cleaning for a fast-food restaurant. They were limited toa budget of $580 for the entire devel-opment effort. To test their finisheddesigns the student teams wererequired to remove packing peanutsfrom an area approximately 300 sq. ft.in size at the average sweeping rate of 0.15 sq. ft. per second. The teamsused programmable microprocessorsand a variety of sensors in their units,such as micro-switches, sonar emit-ter/detectors, optical emitter/detec-tors, and electronic compasses.Winkels and his teammates success-fully applied their skills in fluidmechanics and machine design,approaching the project from a co-operative point of view rather than a competitive one. A panel of threeengineers, including two representa-tives from McDonald’s CorporateHeadquarters, evaluated the students’work.

Although Pilcher and Winkels wereboth part of a team, the design awardswere based upon their individual con-tributions to the team, as well as theoverall achievements of the team.

During his visit to the University thisspring, Paul T. Gorski, vice president of engineering at Rockwell AutomationSystems, center, was able to join one of the mechanical engineering senior designteams as they prepared their floor-cleaningsystem for presentation.

Thomas C. Corke

9

The College of Engineering is pleased toannounce the promotion of the following facultyto well-deserved positions:

To Associate Professional SpecialistJ. Curtis Freeland

computer science and engineering

Jinesh C. Jaincivil engineering and geological sciences

To Professional SpecialistSalma R. Saddawi

chemical engineering

To ProfessorDanny Chen

computer science and engineering

John E. Renaudaerospace and mechanical engineering

Robert L. Stevensonelectrical engineering

To EmeritusEugene W. Henry

computer science and engineering

Jerry J. Marleycivil engineering and geological sciences

James A. Rigert, C.S.C.civil engineering and geological sciences

Albin A. Szewczykaerospace and mechanical engineering

n March 1999 in conjunction with the Center for Social Concerns,Stephen E. Silliman, professor of civil engineering and geologicalsciences, led his first team of students to Haiti as part of a one-credit service project. The seven undergraduates, several of whomwere engineering students, participated in the seminar in order toteach Haitian villagers how to repair and replace hand-pumpwells. They were in Haiti to serve. However, most of them believethat what they received was greater than what they gave.

Silliman took a sixth group of students to Haiti in May 2002. Why?According to Silliman, “Engineersmust be able to place engineering into a social context. Trips likethis help students understandwhere people are as they learnhow to work within the boundariesof the local environment and econ-omy. This is an important conceptfor service teams, and it’s vital forengineers.”

When Silliman and the studentstraveled to the Haitian village ofBayeau, they found that the vil-lagers the previous student teamhad trained in October 2001 hadrepaired wells in approximately 10other area villages. The next stepsstudents and villagers must takeinvolve forming a water committeethat will oversee future training,planning and repairs, as well astraining repair teams to develop a parts list and teaching them tomanufacture inexpensive partsequivalents.

“It truly is a win-win situation,”says Silliman. “Students are able to learn more about the field ofengineering, they are able to use their skills in service to others,and they have an opportunity tolive their faith.”

Although the Haiti program was one of the first credit for service programs in the college, today it is only one of many. Engineering undergraduates, Silliman, and colleagues in the Department of CivilEngineering and Geological Sciences — Associate Professor Lloyd H. Ketchum Jr. and Assistant Professor Yahya C. Kurama — will participate in a Research Experiences for Undergraduates forum later this year that will cover the many different service projects in the College of Engineering, from Benin, West Africa, to Elkhart, Ind.

For more information, visit http://www.nd.edu/~silliman/Development/haiti.

In May 2002 eight Notre Damestudents traveled to Bayeau, Haiti, as part of a one-credit service seminar.The students and their advisers,Stephen E. Silliman, professor of civilengineering and geological sciences,and Rev. Michael Floreth, C.S.C.,worked with local villagers, providingadditional training in the repair andmaintenance of hand-pump wells. The University’s sixth trip to Haiti, thiswas the second visit to Bayeau, whoseresidents have successfully repairedwells in approximately 10 other villages in the area since the last student group visited a year ago.

Shown from left to right are: Stephen E. Silliman, professor of civil engineeringand geological sciences, Maria Perez, and Jane Sloss, front row; Julie Kremer,Rev. Michael Floreth, C.S.C., Adam Dell, Sally Wasmuth, Luis Bollmann, PeterYoches, and Laura Meathe, back row.

In May 2000 Joel Spira, LutronElectronics’ founder, chairman, anddirector of research, along with hiswife, Ruth, established the Ruth and

Joel Spira Award for Excellence in Teaching. The annual awardrecognizes outstanding faculty in the Departments of ElectricalEngineering and Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering fortheir contributions to undergraduate education, classroom

activities, and curriculum development. Honoreesare selected by a student committee with repre-sentatives coming from the senior, junior, andsophomore classes. The recipients for 2002 are Robert C. Nelson, professor and chair ofaerospace and mechanical engineering, andWilliam B. Berry, professor of electrical engineering.

A faculty member since 1975, Nelson has beenthe department chair for six years. His researchinterests encompass aerodynamics, fluid mechan-ics, and aircraft stability and control.

Berry joined the University in 1963. His pri-mary interests in research and teaching includesolid-state energy conversion, thermoelectrics,and photo-voltaics. Berry is also the facultyadviser for the Irish Racing Team, which is comprised of engineering students who designand race the University’s electric car in order to promote zero-emission vehicles.

Long committed to promoting excellence in engineering education, the Spiras have established similar awards at Purdue University,

Pennsylvania State University, Cornell University, LehighUniversity, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, CarnegieMellon University, and the University of Michigan.

Spira AwardRecipients Named

FacultyPromotions

IEngineering Service Abroad

Robert C. Nelson

William B. Berry

10

he Steiner Awards were established in 1948 by students of Rev. Thomas A.Steiner, C.S.C., a former dean of theCollege of Engineering. The awards are presented annually to seniors whohave demonstrated all-around excellence— a dedication to the application of engi-neering principles, a zeal for learning,outstanding leadership qualities, and a commitment to the values and tenets of the University — during their time in the college. Students are nominated

by their departments and selected as Steiner honoreeson the basis of their cumulative grade-point averages,campus activities, and community service while at theUniversity.

This year’s Steiner Award recipients are exciting, creative, and well-balanced individuals who strive toachieve at personal and professional levels. They are:Nathan Andrulonis, aerospace and mechanical engineer-ing; Hugh Roberts, civil engineering and geological sci-ences; Jeffrey Steedle, electrical engineering; and MarkStyczynski, chemical engineering.

Ranked first in his class in the Department ofAerospace and Mechanical Engineering and first in theCollege of Engineering, Pittsburgh, Pa., native NathanAndrulonis is in the joint engineering and M.B.A. program. In addition to lettering in track and field,Andrulonis volunteers at a local day care center and the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, and PiTau Sigma, the mechanical engineering honor society.He was also a candidate for valedictorian of the Class of 2002.

According to faculty in the Department of CivilEngineering and Geological Sciences, Hugh Roberts is a student who exemplifies Notre Dame standards forexcellence in academics and service. Roberts has beenan active member of the American Society of CivilEngineers, an undergraduate research assistant, a sub-stitute teacher in his home school district, the weekendservice director at the Center for the Homeless in SouthBend, and secretary of Notre Dame’s Stanford Hall. TheSteiner Award is not the only honor presented to theHelena, Mont., senior. He was also named the recipientof the Kenneth R. Lauer Award, a departmental awardgiven to a senior civil engineering student in recognitionof his or her leadership, integrity, and service to fellowstudents and community.

Jeffrey Steedle, the highest ranking student in theDepartment of Electrical Engineering, has already published

Rev. ThomasA. Steiner

Awards

Patrick A. Toole received an honorarydoctor of engineeringdegree from the Uni-versity on May 19, 2002, at the157th Commencement Exercises.Toole was prominent in the develop-ment and manufacturing of semicon-ductors, storage devices, andelectronic packaging at IBM for more than 40 years.Although he retired in1997 as senior vice presi-dent, he continues to workwith the company as aconsultant. A member of Notre Dame’s College of Engineering advisorycouncil, he also served in similar capacities atCornell and Syracuse uni-versities and is a trusteeat the Rochester Instituteof Technology. Toole also helpedfound the Thomas J. Watson Schoolof Engineering and Applied Scienceat the State University of New York.

one paper, which was presented at an Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers conference in 2001. Among his many activities,Steedle has served as a residentassistant at Keough Hall and aretreat leader for Notre DameEncounter. He has also participatedin service-learning seminars andvarious community projects. Thecorresponding secretary of EtaKappa Nu, the electrical engineer-ing honor society, Steedle is also a member of Tau Beta Pi. Forachievement in electrical engineer-ing — specifically communicationtheory, the Altamonte Springs, Fla., native was also presented with the department’s James L.Massey Award.

When describing MarkStyczynski, one chemical engineering faculty member said,“he has exceptional academic andresearch abilities, but he has alsodemonstrated unusually strong aptitudes for leadership and management.” A member of Tau Beta Pi, Styczynski was one of two students to share theChemical Engineering FacultyAward, presented to the senior having the highest scholastic average after seven semesters. He is a member of the AmericanInstitute of Chemical Engineers andrecently won the Othmer NationalScholarship Award from that organ-ization, one of only two winnersnationwide. The Freehold, N.J.,native, who was also a candidatefor valedictorian of the Class of

2002, received a graduate fellowship from the National ScienceFoundation and will pursue doctoral studies in chemical engi-neering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Toole ReceivesHonorary DegreeAwardsGraduate Student

Kenneth Farrow, who received a M.S. in civil engineering and geological sciences,was awarded the Precast/Pre-stressedConcrete Institute Daniel P. JennyFellowship.

Sara Nicholl, civil engineering and geo-logical sciences, received the DondanvilleFamily Award, presented to the graduate stu-dent who has been most effective in workingwith undergraduate students in a teachingsituation.

Laurent Thiers, a doctoral candidate inchemical engineering, received the 2002 EliJ. and Helen Shaheen Graduate School awardfor engineering. Named in honor of a NotreDame alumnus and his wife, the award recog-nizes the top graduating doctoral degreerecipients in a specific field.

Gaurav Arya, a graduate student in chem-ical engineering, was the winner of the 2002SGI Award for Computational Science andVisualization in engineering. Arya’s researchinvolves the use of molecular dynamics simu-lations to understand transport properties offluids in confined materials such as zeolitesand nanometer-sized channels.

The Kaneb Center for Teaching andLearning at the University of NotreDame honored the following graduatestudents with its third annualOutstanding Graduate StudentTeaching Awards:

Aerospace and Mechanical EngineeringBasman El HadidiWeiyu LiuM. Brett McMickellArturo J. Pacheco-VegaDhanesh PadmanabhanMartiqua L. PostAmanda V. Stanford

Chemical EngineeringJennifer L. AnthonySunil K. ThamidaBenjamin Wilhite

Civil Engineering and Geological SciencesWilliam S. Kinman

Computer Science and EngineeringScott S. HamptonPaul W. Schermerhorn

Electrical EngineeringAnthony E. EkpenyongLuis A. Montestruque

Mark Styczynski

Jeffrey Steedle

Hugh Roberts

Nathan Andrulonis

11

Nathan AndrulonisSean BednarzBrandon BlackwellEnrique BlairJustin BurtDavid CamarilloTrevor CickovskiAdam ConradChristina DeFilippoDaniel DuffinJames Ghiglieri IIIRobert HaganNathaniel HicksDaniel HoodyMatthew HorneyKelly KeeganJames Kennedy Jr.Nadir KiyanclarTraci KorytkowskiPeter Mack

Dana McDiffettMichael MercedesRobert QuigleyThomas QuinlinSteven RatayMatthew RingPatrick ScogginsMatthew SiegelKylene Jo SmithJeffrey SteedleJeffrey StineScott StolpaFrank StrakaMark StrusMark StyczynskiSean SullivanPatrick VirtueJoseph WinkelsJeffrey WittichStephen Wolf

AEROSPACE AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERINGJerome L. Novotny Design Award in Thermal ScienceThomas QuinlinPatrick Scoggins

Patrick J. Deviny Scholarship AwardMatthew Ring

Rockwell Automation Power SystemsDesign AwardWilliam PilcherJoseph Winkels

Sigma Gamma Tau Honor AwardPatrick Scoggins

Vincent P. Goddard Award for Aerospace DesignDaniel Duffin

Zahm Prize for Aeronautical EngineeringDaniel Duffin

CHEMICAL ENGINEERINGAmerican Institute of Chemists AwardJustin Burt

Alumni AwardBrandon Blackwell

Faculty AwardMatthew SiegelMark Styczynski

Research AwardJoshua HenshawJonathan MarshallSuthee Wiri

When the Xerox Scholarship Program began in 1997, its

purpose was to encourage outstanding female students to

complete their degrees in engineering. Only two scholarships

were awarded that first year. Over the years the program has

continued to grow and now provides scholarships to six engineer-

ing students.

James S. Hutchinson, the program strategy manager at

Xerox Corporation and a 1968 mechanical engineering graduate,

presented the scholarships at a banquet on March 6, 2002.

Recipients for the 2002-03 academic year are:

On May 19, 2002, 240 engineering students

became engineering alumni. In separate

departmental ceremonies students were

recognized by their family, their instructors, and

their peers for their achievements in the past

four years. Several students were honored for

membership in academic honor societies —

Sigma Gamma Tau, aerospace engineering;

Eta Kappa Nu, electrical engineering; and Pi

Tau Sigma, mechanical engineering. A number

of students were also awarded membership in

Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor

society. They are:

CIVIL ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGICAL SCIENCESAmerican Society of Civil EngineersActivity AwardRachel MahoneyErin O’Keefe

James A. McCarthy ScholarshipMeghan Myers

Kenneth R. Lauer AwardHugh Roberts

Leroy D. Graves Academic ImprovementAwardBenjamin Smith

Raymond C. Gutschick AwardJonathan Roller

Sydney Kelsey Outstanding Scholar AwardMatthew Horney

Walter L. Shilts Award for UndergraduateAchievementKathryn VanVreedeStephen Wolf

COMPUTER SCIENCE ANDENGINEERINGOutstanding Computer Engineering Senior AwardJeffrey Stine

Outstanding Computer Science Senior AwardKelly KeeganSteven Ratay

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERINGArthur J. Quigley AwardPatrick Shea

Basil R. Myers AwardFrank Straka

International Engineering Consortium William L. Everitt AwardHans KaesgenJeffrey Wittich

James L. Massey AwardJeffrey Steedle

Lawrence F. Stauder AwardDavid Camarillo

HonorsEngineering

AwardsSenior Honors and Annual Departmental

XEROX SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR WOMEN IN ENGINEERING

Tracy Blichfeldtchemical engineering

Lauren Krietemeyercomputer science and engineering

Erin Lairdelectrical engineering

Kelly Landerselectrical engineering

Anne Mierendorfchemical engineering

Sara Sreniawskichemical engineering

E d i t o r ’s Note:Comments, suggestions, and news about student or alumniachievements, honors, etc., are always welcome. To submitmaterials send hard copy or an e-mail to:

E d i t o rEngineering Graphics & Publications357-B Fitzpatrick HallNotre Dame, IN 46556-5637

N i n a . R . We l d i n g . 2 @ n d . e d u

12

Since joining the Department of Electrical Engineering in 1998,Thomas Fuja has made significant contributions to the educational pro-grams of the College of Engineering and the electrical engineering depart-ment. He played a pivotal role in the development of EG111/112, the

two-course sequence for first-year engineering students,and has taught several of thecourse sections over the lasttwo years. A member of theUniversity’s Coding ResearchGroup, he focuses on codingfor wireless applications andon the interface betweensource and channel coding.

A member of the Depart-ment of Aerospace andMechanical Engineering since1989, Eric Jumper is held inhigh regard by students andcolleagues alike as a capable,knowledgeable, and extremelyeffective instructor. He con-ducts research focusing onaerodynamics, fluid dynamics,laser physics, and aero-opticalphenomena. Yet, the educa-tion of his students remainshis top priority. By exampleand enthusiasm, he hasinspired an unusually largenumber of seniors to attendgraduate school.

David Kirkner, associateprofessor of civil engineeringand geological sciences, isknown for his dedication tohis students. They appreciatehis teaching style, especiallyin introductory classes likeEG111/112. His organizationof difficult subjects helps himpresent material to his stu-dents in a clear and concisemanner. Kirkner has been afaculty member since 1979.

Jerry Marley’s studentsecho the energy and excite -ment he brings into the class-room. An associate professor of civil engineering and geo -logical sciences, Marley isoften praised for his knowl-edge and effectiveness in theclassroom. He also spends agreat deal of time with stu-dents outside of classes. Hiscourses are meaningful and

challenging, and his counsel — whether relating to curriculum design orcareer opportunities — has proven valuable to generations of students inthe department.

The balance between teaching and research is a challenge for all faculty. Charged with educating the next generation of engineers, they are also committed to their own research, much of which will lead to new devices or processes that will change the quality of life. Each year,however, there are facultyfrom the College who makethe simultaneous wearing ofmany hats — teacher, mentor,engineer, and innovator —look much easier than it is. In recognition of their efforts,the College of Engineering ispleased to present the KanebTeaching Awards to the fol-lowing faculty members.

A faculty member since1989, Joan Brennecke, pro-fessor of chemical engineer-ing, is recognized by studentsas an instructor who presentsmaterial clearly, effectively,and with great enthusiasm.Students often commentabout her availability outsideof the classroom, as well asher genuine concern aboutthem. In addition to a fullclass load, Brennecke isactively involved in cutting-edge research and studentmentoring within the depart-ment. She has also served onnumerous University commit-tees addressing curriculumdevelopment issues. Herdesire to include pertinentand timely concerns in hercourses makes her, according to many of her students andfellow faculty, one of the most effective teachers in the chemical engineeringdepartment.

Ramzi Bualuan, associateprofessional specialist in theDepartment of ComputerScience and Engineering, isknown for his strong teachingrecord and his commitment tothe development and revisionof the department’s under-graduate curriculum. He has high expectations of his students, and his concernfor their education is readilyevidenced by his interactionand communication withthem, inside and outside of the classroom.

Joan Brenneckeprofessor of

chemical engineering

Ramzi Bualuanassociate professional specialist ofcomputer science and engineering

Thomas Fujaprofessor of

electrical engineering

Jerry Marleyassociate professor of civil engineering

and geological sciences

David Kirknerassociate professor of civil engineering

and geological sciences

Eric Jumperprofessor of aerospace and

mechanical engineering

College Teaching Awards

The Kaneb Awards were created in 1999 through a gift from University Trustee John A. Kaneb. They are bestowed by individual colleges and departments on faculty

who have been active in full-time undergraduate instruction for a minimum of fiveyears. Nominated by their departments, honorees are chosen by a group of fellow

faculty, current students, and recent graduates.

13

The College selects one instructor each year whose efforts merit special

recognition. This year’s Teacher of the Year award was presented to Matthias J.

S c h e u t z , assistant professor of computer science and engineering, during the

annual Honors Program on April 16, 2002.

A creative and motivating instructor, Scheutz stresses the importance of work-

ing in teams, including strong and frequent communication between groups and

the responsibility of meeting commitments to other team members and collabo-

rating groups. He encourages a thirst for learning and constantly pushes his

students to expand the range of their experiences and the breadth of their

knowledge. He also exhibits a love for discovery that is extremely contagious to

his students. Students recognize his courses as demanding, but they explain that

what makes his classes exciting is the challenge of following along, participating

in problems, and being rewarded with understanding at the end of a lecture or

completion of a class project.

As a researcher, Scheutz focuses on artificial intelligence and cognitive

science. In one project, in order to develop an understanding of the possible

evolutionary trajectories of low-level affective control systems in nature, Scheutz

models control systems of artificial agents in artificial environments. He and his

students hope to answer biological questions regarding the evolution of agent

control systems, in particular “affective control” — behavior initiated, modulat-

ed, or interrupted by primitive emotional states such as fear or anger. Scheutz

hopes to be able to track the circumstances in which higher-reasoning creatures

evolved. The work will also assist in the development of artificial agents for

robots.

Every yearwhen seniorsleave theUniversity asgraduates, indi-vidual depart-

mental ceremonies remind them that, as alumni, the College of Engineeringexpects great things from them. So when the College is able to honoroutstanding alumni for their dedication ... for their pursuit of excellence ... for their achievements, it is a privilege. The alumni honorees for 2002 repre-sent the many faces of engineering. Their efforts and examples, personallyand professionally, serve as an inspiration to all.

A 1969 cum laude graduate of the Department of Electrical Engineering,William C. Hurd, M.D., is a private practice ophthalmologist in Memphis,Tenn. Specializing in cataract surgery, radial keratomy, and cornealtransplants, he holds U.S. and foreign patents on two medical devices. An NCAA All-American in track, Hurd was the first non-football honoree to be named the Notre Dame Athlete of the Year. He was honored at the SilverAnniversary of the NCAA, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Calvin Hill, LeeEvans, and Jim Ryun. He is also a talented musician. The two-time winner of the Saxophone Award at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival, Hurd continues to perform as a jazz saxophonist and has produced three professional CDs.

In September 2000 Hurd delivered the eighth annual Emil T. HoffmanLecture, “A Bird’s Eye View of Ophthalmology: From Memphis toMadagascar.” His trip to Madagascar, however, was just one of the manyannual missions in which he has participated over the last 20 years. Hurd and his associates offer free medical services every year to the needy inunderdeveloped countries. During the Madagascar trip alone, they treated1,100 patients and performed 38 eye surgeries.

Anthony R. Ingraffea graduated from the University in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. Today he is the Dwight C. BaumProfessor of Engineering at Cornell University and teaches structural mechan-ics, finite element methods, and fracture mechanics. He was a member of thefirst group of Presidential Young Investigators named by the National ScienceFoundation in 1984 and has received numerous honors and awards through-out his career.

A fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Ingraffea was the firstdirector of the National Engineering Education Coalition, “Synthesis,” a teamof eight engineering colleges committed to developing, implementing, andassessing innovative programs and technologies to improve the quality ofundergraduate education. He is a major contributor to the nationally knownIthaca Sciencenter, an interactive science and engineering museum. He hasalso co-developed a traveling exhibit called “TechCity,” which will appear inscience and engineering museums across the country beginning in 2003.

Richard D. Woods, a professor of civil and environmental engineering atthe University of Michigan, is a “double domer.” He received his bachelor’sdegree in civil engineering from Notre Dame in 1957 and his master’s degreein 1960. His research interests include foundation dynamics, vibration meas-urements, blasting and other vibration damage, soil properties, geotechnicalearthquake engineering, and applications of geophysics in geotechnical engi-neering. He has co-authored a textbook, Vibrations of Soils and Foundations,and has published more than 100 technical articles and reports. The TerzaghiLecturer for the Geo-Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers(ASCE), Woods has been voted the outstanding civil engineer of both the Ann Arbor and Michigan sections of the ASCE. He is currently the MelchorDistinguished Visiting Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Notre Dame.

Woods has served in a variety of leadership capacities for many profession-al organizations over the years ... from the United States Universities Councilon Geotechnical Engineering Research to the International Society of SoilMechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. He has also served as an invitedlecturer to the NATO sponsored International Symposium on DynamicMethods in Soil and Rock Mechanics and a United Nations evaluator at the Central Materials Testing Station in Lahore, Pakistan.

2001 Alumni Honor AwardsTeacher

of the Year

Richard D. Woods, William C. Hurd, Anthony R. Ingraffea,and Dean Frank P. Incropera

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During the annualjoint commissioningceremony for membersof the Army, MarineCorps, Navy, and AirForce ROTC Units atNotre Dame, Air ForceGen. John W. Handy,commander in chief ofthe U.S. TransportationCommand at Scott AirForce Base in Illinois,spoke of September 11,of how Americans havecome together since thattime, and of how criticalhighly trained people are to defending and preserving freedom.

He stressed that new career opportunities in science and technology were opening daily and encouraged the 68 Notre Dame commissionees — 12 of whom were engineeringgraduates — to remember that as trained professionals theyare “key elements” in the war against terrorism.

Handy’s examples included efforts against Taliban and al-Qaida forces and how his unit was called on to not only air-lift supplies to Afghanistan but also to transport the cementneeded to repair the runways so the planes could land.

The University and the College of Engineering have longunderstood the important role that the ROTC plays in thenational defense and at Notre Dame. In fact, engineering cadets often distinguish themselves before they ever graduateor become officers. Here are two recent examples:

Andrew DeBerry, a junior in the Department of Aerospaceand Mechanical Engineering and cadet in the Air Force ROTCprogram, recently received the National ROTC Guy PulliamLeadership Award. He also received a student leadership awardfrom the University’s Office of Student Activities. Among thecriteria for both awards is leadership ability, positive attitude,initiative, high productivity, and high personal and ethical stan-dards. DeBerry is the only engineer in the Hesburgh Program

Editor’s Note: Through an annual nationwide competition, theSkidmore Owings and Merrill Foundation awards a traveling fellowship to a student who has recently completed a graduate program in structural engineering. For 2001-02 the recipient wasTracy Kijewski-Correa, a doctoral candidate in the Department of

Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences. The goal of the fellowship is to foster an appreciation of the aesthetic potential inherent in thestructural design of buildings, bridges, and other major works of engineering and architecture, encouraging an awareness of the visual impactof structures and strengthening the connection between aesthetics and efficiency, economy, and innovation in structural design and engineer-ing. Kijewski-Correa spent two weeks this spring touring Asia. Here are some of her observations:

Graduate Student Explores Asia as Part ofTraveling Fellowship in Structural Engineering

ROTCENGINEERS

MAKE ANIMPRESSION

✯ ✯ ✯ ✯of Public Service and the only engineering student in theInternational Summer Service Project (ISSP) program. As partof the ISSP program, DeBerry is spending the summer in Jinja,Uganda, as one of 30 University students working at medicalclinics, sports camps, and orphanages in 12 countries aroundthe world.

In addition to his other activities, via student government,the AFROTC, and in Pax Christi — a student organization dedicated to prayer and politicalaction for the peace of Christ,DeBerry recently served as teamleader for a group of Notre Damestudents at the College OpportunityOutreach League, a national service-learning conference in higher educa -tion, which was held at MorehouseUniversity. This fall he will work asa research assistant studying Britishdefense spending for parliament’sPatrick Mercer.

Allan C. Huebner, a 2002 gradu-ate of Notre Dame’s joint engineer-ing and M.B.A. program, has beenselected to participate in the U.S.Navy’s Junior Line Officer AdvancedEducational Program, also known asthe Burke Program. One of only 15officers from Navy ROTC programsacross the country selected for theprogram, Huebner received his com-mission as an ensign in the Navy inMay 2002. The Burke Program wasestablished in 1959. Its purpose isto identify officers with leadershippotential who are also well qualifiedfor advanced education in engineering and science.

Huebner entered Notre Dame in 1997. While a member ofthe Naval ROTC program on campus, he received the Society of Military Engineers Medal, several awards for academicexcellence, and various honors for community service and physical fitness.

2002 ROTC Engineering Graduates

Air Force ROTC

Todd Adams, mechanical engineering

Matthew Altman, civil engineering

Keith Anderson, mechanical engineering

Jason Braun, mechanical engineering

David DePiazza, electrical engineering

Matthew Murphy, mechanical engineering

Eric Schearer, mechanical engineering

Karen Utsching, mechanical engineering

Army ROTC

Nathaniel Hicks, mechanical engineering

Navy ROTC

Ryan O’Connor, mechanical engineering

Paul Rose, chemical engineering

Timothy Stuhidreher, mechanical engineering

As far back as the ancient pyramids of Giza, manhas built towering monuments inching closer andcloser towards the heavens. These efforts becameincreasingly practical in the late 19th century,as American cities began to thrive, necessitatingefficient use of prime real estate through the sky-scraper. Since then, advancements in constructiontechniques and materials have allowed theAmerican skyscraper to reach even more astoundingheights, making it an international symbol of a society’s wealth and prominence. Many emergingeconomic powers, particularly in Asia, now adoptthese icons to proclaim their prosperity. So it shouldnot be surprising that my quest to see the world’stallest buildings would next take me to the Far Easton a whirlwind trip made possible by the SkidmoreOwings and Merrill Foundation Traveling Fellowshipin Structural Engineering. On May 18, 2002, I setout to spend two weeks visiting Asia’s tallest buildings.

My travels began in Kuala Lumpur, moving on toHong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Along the way, Iexperienced detailed tours of 10 unique structures— many regarded as the tallest in the world — and paid informal visits to countless others. Though it is easy to be impressed by thestaggering heights of these “monuments,” I found it far more impor-tant to note the way in which the modern icon of the skyscraper wasintegrated with local cultural and religious symbols to form a uniquehybrid of East and West. For example, Malaysia’s Petronas Towers

(1,483' high) achieved this by melding Islamic geometricprinciples into the floor plan and various interiors, whichare also graced by Malay woodcarvings and motifsinspired by songket, a traditional woven fabric.

In Hong Kong, Central Plaza (1,227' high) reflected a“cultural conscience,” respectful of Feng Shui or Chinesegeomancy. Architects and engineers modified the cornersof the Plaza’s triangular plan so as not to offend itsneighbors by sharply “pointing.” Bank of China (1,209'high) designers made similar considerations to avoid theperceived negativity of local Chinese, when they changedthe proposed x-bracing in favor of its now famous dia-mond shapes. Similarly, Shanghai’s Jin Mao Tower(1,380' high), the world’s tallest hotel, is an excellentexample of the fusion of ancient Chinese principles withmodern architecture. The tower’s exterior is adornedwith bamboo-like bindings and crowned with an ornatepagoda-like spire. In addition, its design repeats multi-ples of the number “8,” known for good fortune.Interestingly, the tower touches the sky at the 88th floor — doubly lucky!

While many Western cities have towers of greatheight, most do not have the cultural relevance or signifi-

cance I found in these exotic Asian skyscrapers. For their respectivepeoples these skyscrapers successfully incorporate ancient traditionsinto modern engineering marvels, ever conscious of the words ofHijjas Kasturi, the famous architect of Kuala Lumpur who said,“Without some spiritual interaction between the structure and its … people, it can only be regarded as a failure.”

Tracy Kijewski-Correa,winner of the SkidmoreOwings and MerrillFoundation TravelingFellowship in StructuralEngineering, visitedShanghai’s Jin Mao Tower,the world’s tallest hotel. The tower successfullyincorporates Chinese culturewith modern architecture.

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JOSEPH J. BELLINA III (’85, CE) has joined Ken Herceg & Associates, Inc., Engineers,Architects & Land Surveyors in South Bend, Ind. Bellina is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Water Works Association.

RUBEN C. BERUMEN (’79, EE) has been named president and CEO of Power Controls B.V.at General Electric Industrial Systems. His previous position was president and CEO of GEMedical Systems OEC and general manager, Global Vascular and X-ray.

MICHAEL CARNEY (’79, ME) has been appointed vice president and general manager of theBlower Division of Gardner Denver, Inc., a leading manufacturer of compressors and blowers for industrial applications and pumps for petroleum and industrial markets.

KEVIN J. CARROLL (’90, ME) has joined the Intellectual Property Group at Devine, Millimet & Branch, P.A., in Manchester, N.H. Carroll specializes in patent law and works in various areasof technology, including medical devices, fiber optics, telecommunications, and software. Hewas previously a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is cur rently anadjunct faculty member at Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, N.H.

JOHN DAEGELE (’83, EE) has been named vice president of science and technology at TRW, Inc. Daegele began his career at TRW 18 years ago as a communication system engineer. Most recently, he was director of indium phosphide programs at TRW Ventures.

CHARLES B. FLEDDERMANN (’77, EE) was appointed associate dean for academic affairs at University of New Mexico’s School of Engineering. Fleddermann is a professor of electricaland computer engineering at the university.

W. DOUGLAS FORD (’66, CHEG) was appointed by UAL Corporation, whose primarysubsidiary is United Airlines, to its corporate board of directors. He will act as the boardrepresentative for salaried and management employees.

MICHAEL HEINZ (’66, AERO) has been named vice president and general manager ofUnmanned Systems of the Boeing Company. He has worked at Boeing for 34 years, mostrecently as vice president and deputy program manager of the Joint Strike Fighter program.

JOSEPH HIRL (’59, EE) has been named senior vice president of trading and marketing forProgress Ventures, the subsidiary of Progress Energy that manages fuel extraction, manufactur-ing, and delivery; merchant generation; and energy marketing and trading.

CAROL HANK HOFFMANN (’78, CHEG) has been elected to the University of Notre Dame’sBoard of Trustees. Hoffmann, from Minnetonka, Minn., has served on the College ofEngineering’s advisory council since 1993. She previously worked in research and developmentfor four years with the DuPont Company in Troy, Mich., and for six years with the PillsburyCompany in Minneapolis.

THOMAS G. HUDSON (’68, EE) was appointed to the board of directors of Ciprico, Inc. Cipricodesigns, manufactures, and markets storage, streaming, and system solutions for digital mediaapplications within the military and government, broadcast and entertainment, and enterprise markets.

JAMES P. KINTZ (’54, EE), founder of Atlantis Realty, Inc., and Laceco, Inc., has been namedchairman of the Quantum Foundation, a grant-making organization in West Palm Beach, Fla.

TERRENCE G. LINNERT (’68, EE) was named executive vice president of human resources and administration and general counsel for the Goodrich Corporation. He joined the company in 1997 as senior vice president and general counsel.

J. PETER MARTIN (’62, ME) was named a Class II director of the board of directors atChesapeake Utilities Corporation, a diversified utility company engaged in natural gas distribu-tion and transmission, propane distribution and marketing, and advanced information services.

DONALD MASSARO (’65, AERO) has been named president and chief executive officer of Array Networks, formerly ClickArray Networks. For the past 30 years Massaro, known for hispioneering leadership in Silicon Valley, has held a variety of senior-level management positionsat some of the nation’s leading technology companies.

NIEL RANSOM (’73, EE — Ph.D.) has been promoted from chief information officer forAlcatel’s North American operations to chief technology officer responsible for all technologydevelopment for the $22-billion global telecommunications equipment company.

DONALD B. RICE (’61, CHEG) has been named to the additional post of chairman of the board of directors of Agensys, Inc. He continues to serve as the company’s president and chief executive officer.

THOMAS M. ROHRS (’73, ME) has been named to the board of directors of Ion Systems, Inc.,the world’s largest supplier of electrostatics management products and services. He currentlyserves as senior vice president of Applied Materials, where he advises executives on the com-pany’s strategic direction.

HARRY S. (Buzz) WALKER JR., (’78, CHEG) recently joined Arkivio, Inc., as vice president ofmarketing and business development. He was previously the director of new business venturesfor Network Storage Solutions Organization, a division of Hewlett-Packard.

MAJ. GEN. MICHAEL WIEDEMER (’72, AERO) has been named the director of the DefenseCommissary Agency (DeCA) in Fort Lee, Va. The appointment was announced by the AmericanForces Press Service and Air Force Material Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. In hisnew position Wiedemer will be responsible for directing and centrally managing the military’sworldwide commissary system, nearly 300 commissaries with more than 17,000 employees.

ERIC T. BAUMGARTNER (’88, AERO — B.S.; ’92, ME — PH.D.), supervisor ofthe Mechanical & RoboticsTechnology Group and seniormember of the engineeringstaff at the Jet PropulsionLaboratory, is contributing toNASA’s Mars Exploration Roverflight project. The rovers, which

are scheduled to launch in the summer of 2003, are expected toland on Mars in early 2004. The lead test and operations engi-neer for the robotic arm and suite of in-situ instruments carried byeach of the rovers, Baumgartner is responsible for the testing andvalidation of these devices, as well as the operation of the roboticarm when the rover is on the surface of the planet.

For more information on the rover flight project or to find out how school children can experience the project, visit

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/future/2003.html.

PAUL BEVILAQUA (’67, AERO), an aeronautical engineer atLockheed Martin Corporation, has developed a new type of jetengine for vertical take-off and landing aircraft. In the summer of2001, the experimental prototypebuilt by the company — the JointStrike Fighter — became the firstairplane in history to fly at super-sonic speeds, hover, and land verti-cally. Bevilaqua and his colleaguesare currently working on ways toadapt the propulsion system forcivilian planes. In addition to thesuccessful testing of the prototypein 2002, Bevilaqua’s engine con-cept has been chosen as the win-ner of the Collier Trophy, “awardedfor the greatest achievement inaeronautics or astronautics in theUnited States during the prior year.”Bevilaqua was recently part of anexternal review committee that evaluated senior design projectsfor this year’s graduating class of aerospace engineers. The group— Bevilaqua and James Kellogg and Richard Foch of the TacticalElectronic Warfare Division of the Naval Research Laboratory —assisted Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineeringfaculty in their assessment of each student’s final design presen-

tation. The committeejudged the level ofquality of the designs,student knowledge,and course relevance.While at Notre Dame,Bevilaqua also spokeabout the Joint StrikeFighter, which repre-sents the next genera-tion of military fighterjet for all of the armedforces.

Paul Bevilaqua

CHRIS MEAGHER (’79, ME) , the assistant chief engineer ofsmall block V-8 truck engines at General Motors in Pontiac, Mich.,is part of a series of GMC ads promoting “Professional GradeTrucks by Professional Grade People.” The series highlights GM engineers involved indesigning and developingvarious truck products.Although Meagher often has contact with the press in his position, providinginformation and answeringquestions on the GM prod-ucts with which he has themost direct involvement, likethe Yukon XL Denali show-cased in the ad here, thisseries is the first time hehas been featured as partof an advertising campaign.

Alumni Updates

For the most current alumni news, visithttp://www.nd.edu/~engineer/alumni/alumni.htm.U

Aerospace engineering studentspresent their senior designprojects, part of the capstonecourse, to fellow students,faculty, and a panel of industr yrepresentatives.

b a c k p a g e

As part of a one-credit courseemphasizing regional field geology,students in the Department of CivilEngineering and Geological Sciences

toured numerous sites in the western United States. The course was scheduled overspring break, and students spent most of the time exploring Death Valley.

They studied breccias, folding, and faulting in Mosaic Canyon and explored volcanicrocks, conglomerates, limestone, and mudstone in Titus Canyon. They visited UbehebeCrater, which was formed by volcanic activity. They also examined Precambrian gneiss— 1.7 billion years old — around Badwater, Calif., the lowest point in North America.“The purpose of the trip” says Peter C. Burns, Massman Associate Professor, “was to put the geology we teach in the classrooms and laboratories on campus into a three-dimensional field perspective. Each of the sites we studied helped the students better understand hownatural cycles impact and are impacted by mankind.”

Burns and the students also visited the Mitchell Limestone Caverns in southern California, Meteor Crater in Arizona, the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Red Rock Canyon in Nevada, famous for the Keystone Thrust and dune-scale

cross-bedding. However, the highlight of the trip may have been the group’s tour of Yucca Mountain.Their visit came at a critical time in the life of the facility, as President George W. Bush had recently notified Congress that he considered Yucca Mountain qualified for a construction permit application and

recommended that Congress initiate a review process to approve Yucca Mountain as the national site forthe disposal of 70,000 metric tons of high-level nuclear waste.

Although most experts around the world agree that the safest method for disposing of radioactivewaste is to store it deep underground, there has been much criticism of the President’s recommendation.For example, both the Sierra Club and Citizen’s Alert, a 25-year-old grassroots environmental group

based in Nevada, oppose the use of Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository, citing a highearthquake probability and the potential for groundwater contamination as the top two reasons it “is

a bad place for nuclear waste.”“Visiting Yucca Mountain,” says Burns, “provided a unique opportunity for the students to see the inside of the

proposed repository before it begins receiving radioactive waste. Of course, the visitalso stimulated much animated discussion concerning the intersection of geology,politics, and public safety.”

Exploring Natural Cycles:A 3-D Experience In 1983 Yucca Mountain was selected as one of nine

locations being considered as the site for the world’s first geologic repository for high-level nuclear waste. As aresult of additional feasibility studies, it has been the onlysite under review since 1987. On February 15, 2002,President George W. Bush notified Congress thatproceeding with the Yucca Mountain project was“necessary to protect public safety, health, and thenation’s security ...”

Nine students participated in the one-credit regional field geologyseminar. Shown from left to right are: Kathryn Deely, Susan Papreck,Joseph McHugh, Karrie-Ann Hughes, Andrew Locock, Richard Knox,Charles Anthony, Ted Flynn, Molly Moran, Virginia Knapke, and AngelaReist. Peter C. Burns, Massman Associate Professor of CivilEngineering and Geological Sciences, led the course.