STEP Events Archive Fall 2008 - Spring 2009
Engineer's Week
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
CEAS-STEP students joined area's practicing engineers on February 17, 2009 to celebrate Engineer's Week.
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Airway Bowling
The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Residence Life co-hosted an outing to Airway Bowling for students in Engineering House and CEAS faculty.
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Engineering House students bowled against their faculty mentors. |
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CEAS Dean, Dr. Dan Litynski, in action |
Geek Games
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
The STEP project hosted Geek Games in April 2009 at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The event allowed engineering and applied sciences students to use their academic talents to compete in events ranging from trebuchet to spaghetti bridge design to computer games. Geek Game also attracted the participation of WMU President Dr. John Dunn and families of CEAS faculty.
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Dr. John Dunn, WMU President, talked with WMU faculty and student at Geek Game. |
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CEAS students launched water balloon using a trebuchet. |
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CEAS students laid down track for competition. |
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CEAS students showing off their winning spaghetti bridge. |
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Students prepared to launch projectiles |
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Students competed in a game of Scrabble |
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CEAS students competed against children of CEAS faculty members. |
2008 STEP Project for first-time first-year students
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, in collaboration with Residence Life
The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, in collaboration with Residence Life, kicked off the 2008 STEP project with a cook-out for first-time first-year students, and faculty and their families.
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Professors Fred Sitkins (left) and Paul Engelmann (in chef's head gear) cook bratwurst for students and faculty. |
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CEAS students at the STEP Kick-Off cook out. |
Academic Etiquette: Communication Strategies for Success
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences hosted Academic Etiquette: Communication Strategies for Success during 2008 Fall Welcome for first-time first-year students. Following "Pizza with Profs," students learned verbal and non-verbal communication strategies.
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STEP Principal Investigator and CEAS Associate Dean, Dr. Edmund Tsang, welcome students during Academic Etiquette. |
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First-time first-year CEAS students ate pizza with faculty. |
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After "Pizza with Profs," students participated in e-mail composition competition. |
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After "Pizza with Profs," students participated in e-mail composition competition. |
WMU Recognized by NSF with "STEP Nugget"
For innovative project
WMU was recognized during the 2009 STEP Grantees Meeting for the nugget it submitted to NSF about its project
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(from left) Paul Engelmann, Laura Darrah, Cynthia Halderson and Edmund Tsang pose with STEP wine awarded to WMU |
Mr. Swartz's Learning Community recent events:
Campus Classic 5k Race
From left to right: Ryan Rader, Carlee McClintic, Lee Edgerton,
Corwin Stout, Albert Balewski, and Tom Swartz
Tom writes:
"I am a Master Faculty Specialist in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. I also serve as a mentor to a group of first year engineering students through the STEM Talent Expansion Program (STEP) funded by the National Science Foundation. My group of students are all enrolled in my IME 1020 Technical Communication course and are members of the Lee Honors College. One of the goals of STEP is to increase student retention and academic success. To meet that goal, I try to get first year students involved in campus activities, and one of the things I've done is to challenge my students to beat me in the Campus Classic race. This is the second year that I've entered the race with a team of students. And so far, they've all managed to finish ahead of me (but there's always next year). This year's student team (named Flash) consisted of Lee Edgerton, Corwin Stout, Ryan Rader, Albert Balewski, and team captain Carlee McClintic. Flash finished 17th in the student team competition.
In the classroom my age and experience put me in front of the class, but in a 5K race the students' youth and enthusiasm move them to the front. It's fun to do something together where the tables are turned."
“Introduction to Intellectual Property”
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences 2008-09 Lecture Series
Mindy Fleisher
Supervisory Patent Examiner
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Monday, September 22, 2008
4:30 p.m., D-109 CEAS
Abstract: The presentation provides an overview of the four types of intellectual property - patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets - and details what each type is used for, how they differ and how they work together in marketing strategies. The presentation will also show budding inventors how to begin protecting their intellectual property from the moment they conceive of an invention. Additionally, how the role of intellectual property in supporting the US economy will be discussed. The presentation will include time for a question and answer period.
Designing for Sustainability through Lifecycle Thinking
Steelcase Corporation Endowed Fund for Excellence Leadership Lecture
Western Michigan University - College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
David Rinard
Director, Global Environmental Performance, Steelcase, Inc.
Monday, October 6, 4:30 p.m.
D-109 CEAS
Abstract: Everyone is talking about designing for sustainability, but what does it mean?
Questions to ponder:
What does sustainability mean?
How are human activities having a measurable and increasing impact on our planet?
In this presentation, the speaker will explores the five stages of life-cycle thinking – and how the buildings in the industry can have an impact on each phase. You will learn about the global environmental issues that help us measure and understand our impact, and learn about new tools to help you assess the environmental health of the products you specify.
Responsible Citizenship in a Technological Democracy
Phi Beta Kappa And College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Custer Leadership Foundation Lecture
William Wulf, Ph.D.
AT&T Professor of Computer Science, University of Virginia
Former President of the National Academy of Engineering
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
4:30 p.m., D-109 CEAS
Abstract: The U.S. is the most technologically sophisticated society that has ever existed, and hence is also the most technologically dependent. As a consequence many of our important public policy issues have a critical technological dimension. Unfortunately, most citizens of the U.S. do not know enough science and engineering concepts to be meaningful participants in informed discussions of things like energy policy, climate change, electronic voting, etc. This talk explores the kinds of concepts everyone should know in order to be a responsible citizen.
Project Management: Things University Students Should Know
Western Michigan University CEAS Seminar Series
Mr. Leonard Todd, PMP
Sr. Project Manager, Palisades Nuclear Power Plant and Past President,
Western Michigan Chapter of the Project Management Institute
Thursday, October 9, 6:00 p.m.
D109 Parkview
Abstract: This seminar will inform engineering and technology students about the importance of Project Management skills and their applications in industry. Discussion will include information about Project Management techniques and methods; who would typically use Project Management; when and why an engineer or scientist would need to use Project Management; and how and where Project Management is typically used in industry. Practical examples based on a real world project will be presented to illustrate points of discussion.
Presentation sponsored by a grant from the Alcoa Foundation
“Engineering Design Projects for the Community”
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences 2008 Lecture Series
Dr. Andrew Kline
Director, Engineering Design Center for Service Learning
Western Michigan University
Thursday, October 16, 2008
7:00 p.m., African Lounge, Bigelow Hall
Abstract: The Engineering Design Center for Service-Learning (EDCSL) is a joint effort of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the College of Education at Western Michigan University, and is funded by grants from the National Science Foundation and Learn and Serve America. The mission of the EDCSL is to work with local K-12 school districts and other community groups to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. This seminar will report on past and current STEM projects, as well as show opportunities for WMU students or organizations to become involved in community service projects with groups who have requested assistance in the greater Kalamazoo area.
Reception Follows Immediately After Presentation