Features
Interdisciplinary Research Themes
Over the next several years, the college will be investing in six major interdisciplinary research themes. It’s part of our strategic vision to build on college and campus strengths, prepare for future research opportunities, and accelerate positive impacts on our state and nation.
Cross-disciplinary effort will make robots small, smart and efficient
Every day, it seems that robots are becoming more realistic-looking and capable, from Sophia, the humanoid robot that was granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia, to robots that can assist in surgeries. But for computer scientist Nikolaus Correll, robots are still missing something—they’re falling short of the complexity and elegance of...
Engineering on the cutting edge of quantum theory
Hundreds of years ago, as the use of ships increased for trade and exploration, British fleets established themselves as superior in navigation to those of almost all other countries. The main ingredient in their success, according to Scott Palo of Smead Aerospace Engineering, was accurate time-keeping devices. While ships are...
Biomaterials hold promise for better disease diagnosis and treatment
There’s no one in the world quite like you. It’s a sweet sentiment for greeting cards and love songs, but when it comes to treatment of disease or injury, your individuality may be less of a benefit and more of a burden. The complexities that make you who you are...
Timeline: Celebrating 125 Years of Engineering
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Profiles
Specdrums designer turns attention to business side
While he’s taking some time to hone his business skills, Steven Dourmashkin will remain forever an engineer. The aerospace engineering PhD student is taking a leave of absence from his studies to further develop musical rings he began working on as an undergraduate at Cornell. Called Specdrums, the rings allow...
Better Water for All: ATLAS expert wants to improve quality and equity
Each year, nearly 41,000 children in Pakistan die from diarrhea caused by contaminated water supplies. Mustafa Naseem, who grew up drinking from those same water supplies, wants to change that. Naseem is an expert-in-residence for the Information and Communication Technology for Development program at the ATLAS Institute . In September,...
NASA engineer’s down-to-earth mission
As Hurricane Harvey tore through south Texas last August, Jim Rice (MAeroEngr’99) knew that people in the heavily flooded areas were going be severely affected by impassable roads, cut off from clean water and necessary services. So Rice, who has been flying small planes for 25 years, contacted Patient AirLift...
Alum’s experience inspires nonprofit to help veterans
Thirty years ago, Rob Brazell (MCompSci’98) was diagnosed with AIDS and given a year to live. He survived the ordeal, but it took him 15 years to fully recover. Rather than return to work as an aerospace engineer, Brazell celebrated his second chance at life by vowing to help disabled...
Antarctic trip was tip of the iceberg for this alumna
Irene Peden (ElEngr'47) looked out across the frozen landscape. She had made it: Antarctica. Obstacle after obstacle had been placed in front of her, but she had become the first woman to live and conduct scientific research in the Antarctic interior as a principal investigator “The Navy really didn’t want...
Hawaii tech company innovates at the fringes
Does every problem have a solution? Alumnus Patrick Sullivan (EngrPhys’78) thinks so, and he has dedicated his career to bringing together scientists and engineers from disparate fields to create technological solutions that disrupt our global community for the better. He calls the approach Intellectual Anarchy™, and he’s spent more than...