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C A P S T O N E EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION

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GOAL=GOALGOAL==TOP-50 Research University Ranking TOP-50 Research University Ranking

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COVER STORY:GOAL=Top-50 Research University RankingAn Interview with Dr. Keith McDowell . . . . . . . . . 2

UA Engineering: Research Center-ed . . . . . . . . . . 6

Engineering Taking Research Projectsto New Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Engineering and Medicine: UA Chemical Engineers Tour Nashville Hospital . . . . . . . . . . .12

News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Surveying the College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Alumni Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

In Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Engineering Quick Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

C A P S T O N EEngineering Society

1-800-333-8156

Rodney W. Summerford, PEMobile, Ala.

National Chair, Board of Directors

Angelia KnightDirector,

Capstone Engineering Society

Keith McDowellInterim Dean,

College of Engineering

Karen Meshad BaldwinDirector of External Affairs & Development

Mary WymerEditor

Issue No. 31Capstone Engineer is published in the

spring and fall by the Capstone Engineering Society.

Address correspondence to the editor: The University of Alabama,

Capstone Engineering Society, College of Engineering, Box 870200,

Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0200.

Roderick GuillenDesigner

Christine DietschProofreader

Laura Shill, Alice Wilson, Mary Wymer, Rickey Yanaura

Photographers

Visit the College of Engineering website at www.eng.ua.edu

The University of Alabama is an equal-opportunity educational institution/employer.

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C A P S T O N E

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CorrectionIn the Fall 2004 edition of the Capstone Engineer, we incor-rectly identified Suzanne Moore’s degree as B.S.C.E. in theAlumni Notes section. Her correct degree designation isB.S.Pet.E. We sincerely apologize for this error.

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D E A N ’ S M e s s a g e

The College of Engineering has long been associated with excellence in research. As thisissue of the Capstone Engineer illustrates, research at the University and the College

continues to bring the Capstone to the next level of excellence.

President Witt’s goal is for The University of Alabama to become a student-centered, tier Iresearch university. Success in all of our research endeavors is a critical step in achieving that goal.

In this issue, I explain the University’s research processes and overarching research vision. I have often stated that before you have goals, you have to have a vision. My vision for UA issimple—a culture of excellence in scholarly activity. It is a vision that is not limited to scienceand engineering, but includes all facets of the Capstone.

This issue also focuses on the Research Centers of Excellence that are headquartered inEngineering. The University has more than 50 research centers of excellence with more than 10 centers directed by the College. Many engineering faculty are involved in numerousinterdisciplinary research endeavors through the Capstone’s various research centers.

Finally, this issue highlights two new engineering research projects. Dr. Derek Williamson incivil engineering is conducting national environmental research with the University’s new SkyArrow 650 Environmental Research Aircraft, and Dr. Gregory Thompson in metallurgical andmaterials engineering is embarking on leading-edge materials research with the University’snew transmission electron microscope.

Quickly, I want to update you on the search for the new dean. We are on schedule with ourplan, and we have received an excellent response for this position. The search committee hasdeveloped and implemented a multi-faceted recruitment plan, and the objective is for the newdean to join the College on or before August 2005. The search committee has established theselection criteria, and the initial review of the 39 applicants that we have received to date iscomplete. We plan to schedule interviews the first week of March.

I encourage you to share your thoughts with me about the College by e-mailing me atdean@coe.eng.ua.edu.

Keith McDowell, Ph.D.Interim Dean

How will UA reach that goal? It seems like a daunting proposition, but if you spend any time with Dr. Keith McDowell, vice pres-ident for research, you realize that UA will reach and surpass this goal.

McDowell joined the University in November 2003 as vice president for research, and in July 2004 he also assumed the duties ofinterim dean of the College of Engineering. His experience includes 13 years at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he heldacademic posts that included vice president for research and information technology. He was affiliated with Los Alamos NationalLaboratory from 1979 to 1991 as a researcher and administrator. Prior to 1979, McDowell served on the chemistry faculty atClemson University, was a research associate at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and twice received the HarvardTeaching Fellow Award for excellence in teaching.

Recently, the Capstone Engineer spent some time with McDowell, and he shared with us his vision and goals for UA researchand how important the College of Engineering is to UA’s research effort.

Top-50 Research University Ranking

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An Interview with Dr. Keith McDowell

GOAL=GOAL=

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Graduate student Atul Kumar with Drs. John Wiest, Alan Lane andRamana Reddy are just a few of the many UA researchers working on fuelcells. Wiest is an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering;Lane is a professor of chemical and biological engineering; and Reddy is theACIPCO Professor of metallurgical and materials engineering.

The vice president for research position is new at theUniversity. How has the addition changed theresearch structure at The University of Alabama?The principal structural change is that research has been elevatedto the vice presidential level with direct reporting and responsibili-ty to the president of the University. President Witt has stated thatone of his major goals is the transformation of The University ofAlabama to a “student-centered, tier I research university,” and thisstructural change is an essential step in achieving that goal.

The addition of the new position also provides a focal point forthe research infrastructure at UA and has led to several organiza-tional changes. I can best describe these changes in the context ofthe functions of the Office of Research that the vice president forresearch directs. These four functions are administration and oper-ations, policy and training, technology transfer, and development.

The administration and operations function is directed by Dr.Marianne Woods and includes the Office of Sponsored Programs(OSP) and research compliance, as well as the administrative sideof technology transfer. A major organization change we’ve made isto combine Contract and Grant Accounting with the old OSP (pre-and post-award) to form a new OSP under the direction of CindyJones. The joining of these two operations provides a “one-stopshop” for faculty, as well as an economy of scale and the ability totrain and cross-train staff on a common “best practice” standard ofresearch administration. OSP is currently reviewing Web-enabledgrant and contract management software that will provide a Webinterface for our faculty and permit user-friendly access to allaspects of grant or contract management.

We also have created a new research compliance officer position,which handles the very large volume of compliance workloadincluding Institutional Review Board, Institutional Animal Careand Use Committee, misconduct in science, conflict of interest,and compliance training certification. We are in the process ofmoving the Animal Care Facility under this person in order toseparate management of animal care from academic units conduct-ing research, which will provide a more responsible complianceenvironment.

The Office of Research is also responsible for the operation of theCentral Analytical Facility (CAF) under the direction of Dr. MikeBersch. As UA increases our research capacity through investmentin new, large-scale equipment, it is essential that we invest wiselyand manage the CAF in a manner that encourages maximum useas a shared-research user facility. Dr. Bersch and I are workingwith our research faculty to restructure the CAF to accomplishthat goal.

The second function of the Office of Research is research policyand training. This function is directed and carried out principallyby Dr. Woods. As an example of activities in this area, UA recent-ly brought Julie Norris, director emeritus of sponsored programsat MIT, to the Capstone to conduct training in export control, andthe response to her was outstanding. We believe that it is impor-tant for UA to experience and work with the tier I universities inthe country. Only by doing so and following the best practices ofsuch universities will UA become a tier I university.

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Technology transfer is another essential function of my office. Itincludes the entire spectrum of activities from disclosure of intellec-tual property (IP) to the management and commercialization of theIP. We have taken several major steps in this area. First, we formedan IP Disclosure Committee and process for faculty. Second, wefounded the Bama Technology Incubator, an organization dedicatedto incubation of UA IP. Finally, we have restructured the AlabamaInstitute for Manufacturing Excellence (AIME) program to serve asa center of excellence in finding innovative ways to commercializeUA IP and to build partnering relationships with Alabama andSoutheastern industries. AIME is directed by Dr. Robert Wells. As aresult of this restructuring, AIME has been instrumental in formingthe Southern Alliance for Utilization of Biomass Resources(SAUBR), an alliance with nearly 100 Southern agencies dedicatedto alternative energy and commerce through the use of biomass.

The final function of my office is the development of researchcapacity at UA. In many ways, this is the principal activity that Icarry out personally. It involves interaction with both industrial andgovernment agencies, as well as partnering with other universities.

There are several dominant themes coming out of Washington thatUA must pay attention to, including technology-led economic devel-opment, workforce development, and crosscutting, interdisciplinaryresearch agendas. One senior-level NSF administrator recently said at a meeting in Washington that the day of the independent singleprincipal-investigator grant is rapidly disappearing. While this is afact that many of us find very disturbing, it is nevertheless a realityand one that we must factor into our plans for growing research at UA.

What are your goals for research at the Capstone?I have often stated that before you have goals, you have to have avision. My vision for UA is simple—a culture of excellence in schol-arly activity. It is a vision that is not limited to science and engi-neering, but includes all facets of the Capstone.

We will not become a tier I institution by merely focusing onresearch capacity in science and engineering. All scholarly activityincluding the fine arts must be recognized. Not only is it importantthat we recognize all scholarly activity, but that we also grow a culture of excellence. I believe that if we achieve this vision, thenthe goals of increased research expenditures and so forth will follow naturally.

For the short term, my goals focus on building a “best practice”research infrastructure. It will not do us much good to increase thenumber of grants and contracts and research expenditures if ourinfrastructure cannot handle the burden in a manner that complieswith federal rules and regulations. Our timetable for achieving thisshort-term goal is the summer of 2005.

Our long-term goal, with a timeline of about five years, is to reach$100 million in research expenditures. I’m often asked how I planto achieve that goal. My answer is that I follow three very basicprinciples. First, decisions are always made from the perspective ofa tier I university. Second, we get things right from the beginning

with the necessary investment of time and effort up front. It takesless time in the long run. Third, we get there by taking care of busi-ness one step at a time.

How will you gauge success in research at UA?There are many factors and metrics that are used by the universitycommunity to gauge success in research. The most common onesare yearly research expenditures, number of patents, number ofgrants and contracts, number of peer-reviewed research publica-tions, number of faculty in the various national academies, numberof faculty receiving national awards, and so forth. I believe UA hasthe potential to be among the top-50 research universities and Ibelieve reaching that goal will be our measure of success.

Explain some of the new research initiatives.I’ve mentioned some of our broad initiatives with respect toresearch infrastructure; however, we also have some specific and targeted initiatives. These initiatives follow from a strategy of choosing and promoting a relatively small number of centers ofexcellence targeted for enhancement. Our goal is to have centers of excellence bringing in more than $3 million per year in extramu-ral funding.

Our newest such center is the Aging Infrastructure Systems Centerof Excellence (AISCE), with Dr. David Hale serving as the interimdirector. AISCE has just received congressional funding of $1 mil-lion for the 2005 fiscal year. The purpose of AISCE is to addressthe problems of our aging physical infrastructure in the UnitedStates, as well as the loss of the workforce that developed this infra-structure from a systems perspective. This aging infrastructure

Dr. Rebecca Allen (left), UA associate professor of psychology, is directingthe Legacy Project, which helps families with life-limiting illnesses developkeepsakes such as a scrapbook, journal or photo album. She is shown hereworking on a project with her mother, Juanita Allen of Lexington, Ky., andMichelle Hilgeman, a first-year graduate student in psychology at UA.

Dr. Eric Roden, a UA biology professor, demonstrates a research techniquewhile biology student Ryan St. John observes.

5C A P S T O N E E n g i n e e r

includes bridges, roads, aircraft, weapons systems, health systems,information systems, management systems and so forth. Webelieve that AISCE is a unique crosscutting and interdisciplinarycenter that will play a major role in U.S. policy for the future.

In a similar vein, we are reviewing and considering initiatives inalternative energy sources, such as the hydrogen economy, fuelcells and hybrid vehicles; green chemistry and manufacturing;nanotechnology for information systems and other uses; trans-portation; rural Alabama (health, economic development, socialdevelopment, family life, transportation, education, agriculture,etc.); the Alabama environment (AERO project and airplane, ecology of waterways and the Center for Freshwater Studies, ourEnvironmental Institute, possible research field station, etc.); men-tal health and geriatrics; and several more areas where UA excels.

The next year or so at UA will be exciting as we focus and targetour resources to build upon our current expertise and to fosternew centers of excellence.

How does Engineering fit in the University researchstructure?The College of Engineering is absolutely essential to any plans we make to transform UA to a tier I research university. As inter-im dean of engineering, I have challenged my colleagues in engi-neering to begin the process of forming a plan that will lead theCollege to become a top-50 college of engineering. I expect topresent the draft plan to candidates for our dean of engineeringposition and to work with the chosen candidate to have that planoperational by the time the new dean arrives on campus. It isimportant that the plan be realistic and cognizant of the realitiesof funding resources in the 21st century. As one of the oldest engi-neering programs in the country, the College should be a leader inengineering research. President Witt and the central administra-tion are committed to this goal.

What factors do you use to determine allocation ofresources from your office?Allocation of resources is possibly the most important componentof transforming UA to a tier I research university. I have seven“investment metrics” that I use. First, it is important for everyone to understand that UA is not a funding agency. If all I do is usemy funding streams to pay for research, then I will not be invest-ing, but just spending. I include in this metric the support of grad-uate students, and I believe there are other and better ways to payfor graduate students. Second, I invest to expand research capaci-ty. It is important, of course, that we use a rather expansive defini-tion of what research capacity means since it can be specific and different for different disciplines. Third, I look for sustainability ofthe research enterprise produced and enhanced by the investment. This sustainability should ultimately come from external resourcestreams. Fourth, I look for a return on investment through publications, new grants and contracts, and so forth. Fifth, I look at the potential for extramural funding. Sixth, I expect to see leveraging of other resources and funding streams as part of thepackage. Finally, I make sure that the investment will follow “best practice” in all dimensions.

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CARE Research & Development Laboratory—CRDLBy using leading-edge technologies, CRDL offers products and specializedsoftware development services in a variety of areas, particularly traffic safetyand law enforcement. A few of the current projects include the LawEnforcement Tactical System, E-Citation, and the annual Crash Facts bookfor the state of Alabama.

Traffic safety is of particular interest to CRDL, which has designed electroniccitation forms, a program known as E-Citation, for use by law enforcementofficers in the state. With funding from the Federal Motor Carrier SafetyAdministration and cooperation from the Alabama Department of PublicSafety and the Administrative Office of the Courts, CRDL is implementinga paperless electronic citation system for commercial truck enforcementthroughout the state of Alabama.

CRDL has also developed a law enforcement search engine called the LawEnforcement Tactical System. LETS is a secure, Web-based search engine thatallows law enforcement and criminal justice agencies to search numerousdatabases simultaneously, returning information in real time while it facili-tates in-depth searches. The system was developed in 2002 and has grownrapidly.

In 2004, CRDL received runner-up recognition in the best practice categoryfor its CARE data analysis software from the Association of TransportationSafety Information Professionals. Each year the association recognizes exem-plary state and federal projects that are good examples of implementation of new technology or demonstrate the use of traffic safety data in problemidentification, project management or project evaluation.

UA engineering research centers impact our society by improving

our environment as well as transportation and vehicle safety.

Through the CARE Research & Development Laboratory,

innovative technologies for traffic safety and law enforcement

benefit the state and nation. Additionally, the Center for Advanced

Vehicle Technologies meets environmental and economic challenges

by developing energy-efficient vehicles and propulsion systems. The

University Transportation Center for Alabama also strives to

advance technology and expertise in the multiple disciplines that

comprise transportation. The Southeast Regional Center of the

National Institute for Global Environmental Change, headquar-

tered at the Capstone, conducts research on how environmental

change affects different geographical and geological systems. These

centers, along with the many others headquartered at the Capstone,

have a broad impact on the College of Engineering and our society.

Dr. Clark Midkiff, associate professor of mechanical engineering and director of the CAVT, works with a mechanical engineering graduate student.

An Alabama trooper uses the LETS program developed by UA’s CRDL.

UA Engineering:UA Engineering:

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Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies—CAVTIn response to global energy, economic and environmental challenges, CAVT performs research related to developing energy-efficient vehicles andpropulsion systems. Established in 1998 through the Transportation EquityAct for the 21st Century, the U.S. Department of Transportation has provid-ed funding to UA.

CAVT research primarily focuses on propulsion technologies, vehicle structure and vehicle manufacturing. One of the current projects is fundedthrough the U.S. Department of Transportation and focuses on fuel cells andhybrid electric vehicles. From fuel cell design and integration to safety factorsand monitoring hydrogen storage, this research is vital to the future of theautomotive industry.

Dr. Clark Midkiff, associate professor of mechanical engineering and CAVT director, explained that hybrid electric vehicles will lead to moredevelopments for fuel cell vehicles. Hybrid electric vehicles are consideredthe technology path from today’s car to the fuel cell vehicle.

Other CAVT projects include developing an affordable polymer matrix com-posite for lightweight vehicle structures, investigating efficient control of aninduction machine for an electric vehicle, and nanocrystalline grain refine-ment and purification in semiconductor gas sensors for improved combustionefficiency.

Southeast Regional Center of the National Institute forGlobal Environmental Change—NIGEC–SERCThe Capstone serves as the headquarters of the Southeast Regional Centerof the National Institute for Global Environmental Change directed by Dr. Duane Johnson, associate professor of chemical and biological engineer-ing. The strategic vision of the Southeast Regional Center of NIGEC is toconduct high-quality research programs focused on understanding the consequences of global warming on terrestrial ecosystems and resources inthe Southeast.

The center supports research that explores, quantifies, predicts and providesfundamental understanding of the underlying principles regarding majorresearch questions important to the region. Numerous investigators at sevenmajor universities across the Southeast are working on projects from predict-ing ecosystem response to environmental change.

NIGEC is divided into six regions within the United States to study environ-mental change on different geographical and geological systems. Each region-al center develops its own research programs by soliciting proposals fromscholars around the nation. NIGEC–SERC includes Alabama, Florida,Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia,West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Research CENTER-edUniversity Transportation Center for Alabama—UTCAFaculty members and students from the Capstone, The University ofAlabama at Birmingham and The University of Alabama in Huntsville conduct transportation education, research and technology transfer activities through UTCA. The center’s theme involves the managementand safety of transportation systems to address current challenges andfuture opportunities.

In the past few years, UTCA has conducted world-class research concerning safety with seat belts, bridge replacement issues, runwaytopography designs and traffic management in response to catastrophicevents. In addition to research, UTCA, in a partnership with the Alabama Department of Transportation, promotes engineering educationthrough an annual Advanced Transportation Institute, which encouragestraditionally underrepresented minority groups to pursue careers in transportation engineering.

The College of Engineering leads the followingmajor centers of research excellence at theUniversity:

n CARE Research & Development Laboratory

n Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

n Center for Green Manufacturing

n Electromechanical Systems Laboratory

n Energy Systems and Power Quality Center

n Internet 2

n Machine, Process, and Product Design Center

n Manufacturing Information Technology Center

n Materials Research Science and Engineering Center

n Operations Research and Analysis Center

n Product and Materials Processing Center

n Southeast Regional Center of the National Institutefor Global Environmental Change

n University Transportation Center for Alabama

Research CENTER-ed

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Engineers have school spirit!Engineers have school spirit!Show your pride in the College of Engineering with top-quality apparel and gifts.

Choose from polo shirts, coffee mugs, baseball caps and more.

Profit generated from the sale of these items contributes to the Capstone Engineering Society, which provides scholarship funds to UA’s College of Engineering.

Call 1-800-333-8156.

Come by 174 H. M. Comer.

Click www.eng.ua.edu.

College of EngineeringBox 870200

Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-02001-800-333-8156(205) 348-2452www.eng.ua.edu

9C A P S T O N E E n g i n e e r

UA’s Engineering College Unveils New ResearchAirplaneUA engineering researchers can now be seen high in the sky. Aftermany years of analyzing air quality on the ground, the Capstone is thesecond university in the country operating a Sky Arrow airplane toinvestigate global climate change causes and impacts.

In October 2004, the University unveiled the new Sky Arrow 650Environmental Research Aircraft and introduced the Atmospheric andEnvironmental Research Operations Laboratory, known as AERO.

“The research possibilities with this plane are endless. From air qualityand ozone issues to remote sensing and wind structure, the Sky Arrowpresents many opportunities for The University of Alabama,” said Dr.Keith McDowell, vice president for research.

UA’s new AERO Laboratory will focus on air quality and environmentalresearch, including global climate change, greenhouse effects and energyexchange between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere.

“Some of the exciting air-quality research we will be able to performusing the Sky Arrow includes measuring the gas and energy exchangebetween the Earth’s surface and the adjacent atmosphere and workingwith remote sensing instruments that measure ground and ocean sur-face properties,” explained Dr. Derek Williamson, assistant professor ofcivil and environmental engineering and director of the AERO program.

Many engineering research activities are projects directed by leading faculty throughout the College and vary from environmental work using an airplane to examining the properties of materials at the atomic level. These projects are funded through national research grants and awards, and they are a vital research component of the University.

Recently, the College of Engineering expanded its research effort with new equipment that keeps us on the cutting edge of technology and will help us in becoming a top-50 engineering college.

EngineeringTaking Research Projects to New Levels

Dr. Charlie Haynes, professor of civil and environmental engineeringand a licensed pilot, flies the new Sky Arrow.

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“The information we will be gathering will address current gaps in the understanding of gas exchange and the variability of this surface-atmosphere transfer on climate change,” said Williamson.

Williamson will be working closely with research scientists from theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Air ResearchLaboratory. Initial research will be conducted through the NorthAmerican Carbon Program to measure carbon dioxide exchange overagricultural and forested lands. This data is a critical component toglobal climate change models that need carbon balance input data totrack greenhouse gas concentrations and impact. The North AmericanCarbon Program consists of nine government agencies studying the car-bon cycle.

Currently, most carbon dioxide exchange measurements between theEarth and the atmosphere are made using stationary towers. Towersprovide very accurate data over time but cover a relatively small geo-graphic area. As needs continue to grow for continental-scale modelsdescribing the carbon cycle and climate change, satellites offer the capa-bility to collect data over much larger geographic areas. However, theissue of scaling ground-based tower data to data obtained from orbitingsatellites is one of the major challenges to the scientific community.Small Environmental Research Aircraft, such as the Sky Arrow, will bean integral part of the effort to relate data gathered through traditionaltowers to that from higher-altitude aircraft and satellites.

The University’s Sky Arrow is perfectly suited for such studies due to itsunique airframe, design and operational characteristics, as well as itsspecific configuration of instruments. The Sky Arrow is ideal for envi-ronmental research because it has a rear-mounted engine that allows forthe collection of uncontaminated samples through the nose probe. The

aircraft’s “pusher” design consists of a rear-mounted engine and pro-peller. This configuration also minimizes the impact of wind wash overthe airframe on particular instruments.

The instruments have been designed by the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration, and the instrument configuration isknown as the Mobile Flux Platform. These specially designed instru-ments are able to measure carbon dioxide, water, and energy exchangebetween the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere with a high degree ofprecision.

In addition to the current research, the AERO team will be workingwith NOAA on developing the next generation of instruments and sen-sors to enhance the capabilities of the Sky Arrow and other researchplatforms. These types of innovations are critical to furthering scientificdiscovery and collecting the necessary data to address environmentalchallenges.

The Sky Arrow is capable of flying at speeds of up to 100 knots or 115miles per hour. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 100-horsepowerengine, equipped with a fixed-pitch propeller, a rectangular wing sup-ported by two struts and a fixed landing gear.

New Analytical Electron Microscopes Advance Engineering MaterialsThe College of Engineering has experienced tremendous growth in itsanalytical materials research capability during the last two years. Thishas been a response to meeting the challenges of nanotechnology. TheUniversity is installing two state-of-the-art electron microscopes capableof nanometer compositional and structural analysis. These microscopeswill be used to characterize such materials as magnetic thin films andnanoparticles, thermal barrier coating on aircraft blades, and catalyticfuel-cell materials. Grants won from the National Science Foundation’sMajor Research Instrumentation (MRI) award provided the funds forthe purchase of these instruments.

These microscopes will allow UA scientists and engineers to study avariety of different materials at the nanometer scale to understand theirproperties better. A nanometer is one-billionth the length of a meter.Similar to optical microscopes, which use light to resolve images ofobjects, these microscopes use electron waves to image materials.Because an electron has a wavelength much shorter than light, it is possible to see features near or at the atomic level. These researchmicroscopes will be used for interdisciplinary research in the colleges of engineering and arts and sciences and will advance the University’sgoal in becoming a top research and scientific teaching institution.

In 2003, Dr. Mark Weaver, associate professor of metallurgical andmaterials engineering, received a $622,000 MRI award to purchase aJEOL 7000F field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM). ThisSEM can magnify features greater than 500,000 times with an ultimateresolution of less than five nanometers. This microscope is equippedwith various detectors including secondary and backscatter detectorsthat collectively enhance its imaging capability for material surfaces.The JEOL SEM is capable of the chemical identification of differentatoms in materials by collecting characteristic X rays, termed energydispersive spectroscopy (EDS), from the surfaces of materials.

UA and NOAA representatives gather for a photo prior to a flight. Bottomrow from left are Alex Maestre and Scott Kirby, doctoral students; JasonLange, undergraduate student; second row, Stan Allen, senior pilot, DixieAir; Dr. Derek Williamson, director of the AERO program; Ed Dumas,NOAA; Donald Jarman, undergraduate student, and, at top, Steven Brooks,NOAA and UA adjunct professor.

Photo by David Senn

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Additionally, the SEM is equipped to perform orientation imagingmicroscopy (OIM), which allows researchers to quantitatively determinethe crystallographic orientation of individual grains and the identity ofspecific grain boundaries. The OIM images from the grains can be cou-pled with the chemical identification of the EDS to give a completestructural and compositional analysis.

Finally, the SEM is equipped to do electron beam lithography.Lithography is the rendering of an image on a surface. Because of theshort wavelength of an electron beam, e-beam lithographic patterns canbe as small as a few tens of nanometers.

In 2004, Dr. Gregory Thompson, assistant professor of metallurgicaland materials engineering, received a $1.3 million MRI award to pur-chase a 200keV field emission FEI Tecnai F20 super-twin transmissionelectron microscope (TEM). This microscope can image materials at amagnification of one million times. At this ultra-high magnification, scientists can “see” individual atoms. By imaging at the atomic level,researchers understand how to engineer materials to improve such properties as electrical conduction and mechanical strength.

This TEM is equipped with a unique imaging detector, called a highannular angle dark field (HAADF) detector, which allows atomic-levelcontrast imaging between different atomic-numbered materials. Thishelps users distinguish the image contrast between materials as a func-tion of the type of atom. This HAADF detector also allows the TEM todo tomography imaging. Tomography is a three-dimensional imagingtechnique that generates multiple viewing perspectives. By characteriz-

ing the overall shapeof materials at thenanometer scale,researchers gain betterinsight into the struc-ture of materials.

Similar to the SEM, this TEM is equipped with EDS for chemical identification mapping of materials at a resolution of approximately onenanometer. Finally, the Tecnai TEM’s computer interface saves all indi-vidual settings, making it a versatile, user-friendly microscope.

The College of Engineering has invested in new research capacity bypurchasing a FEI Quanta 3D dual-beam focus ion beam (FIB) instru-ment. The FIB uses an electron beam to image or view materials whilesimultaneously using a gallium ion beam to cut and shape materials atthe nanometer level. The ion beam is able to machine intricate shapes,which enables the FIB to make site-specific specimens that can be stud-ied in the new electron microscopes.

The electron microscopes will be housed and maintained in the Central Analytical Facility (CAF). The addition of these instrumentsmakes The University of Alabama a premier characterization facility inthe Southeast and in the nation. These tools provide the College ofEngineering faculty with the resources to competitively renew existingprograms and win new grants and contracts by having the capability toperform atomic-level structural and chemical analysis.

Above: Dr. Mark Weaver (center), associate professor of metallurgical and materials engineering, and Dr.Gregory Thompson (right), assistant professor of metallurgical and materials engineering, work with a stu-dent on the new SEM. Right Inset: The new FEI Quanta 3D dual-beam focus ion beam milled UA’s logo onto the head of a pin.

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Engineering & Medicine:UA Chemical Engineers Tour Nashville Hospital

Engineering & Medicine:

Engineering is everywhere, including the vast field of medicine. Fromdesigning new operating instruments to advanced pharmaceuticals, manychemical engineers have pursued careers in medicine-related fields.

One of the Capstone’s chemical engineering graduates can testify to success in medicine. Mark Cooper, M.D., chief of staff at CentennialMedical Center in Nashville, Tenn., hosted a group of chemical and biological engineering students in November. Cooper received his bache-lor’s degree in chemical engineering from UA and his doctor of medicinefrom The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Lawrence H. Kloess III,Centennial’s president and CEO and a UA alumnus, led the tour, whichincluded visits to the surgical suites, the robotic pharmacy and the equip-ment preparation and sterilization areas.

Dr. Chris Brazel, Reichhold-Shumaker assistant professor of chemical andbiological engineering, coordinated the trip to expose engineering studentsto problem solving in the medical profession. The hospital conductedmany demonstrations for the students including the use of a “bear hugger”(the wrap that keeps patients warm during surgeries); anesthesiology ven-tilators, which control lung tidal volumes and delivery of anesthetics; anda hands-on experience with laparoscopic surgery techniques.

The highlight of the day was the “Da Vinci” machine, which is a robotical-

ly controlled surgical suite with three-dimensional imaging. The surgeonsits at a monitor with hand grips, and controls the position of the surgicalclamps and other tools. The students each got some hands-on experienceby attempting to tie stitches using the robot.

During the fall semester, members of the Chemical Engineering 319 andthe Chemical Engineering Honors Forum classes worked on a design proj-ect to maintain the saline solution used in the operating room. The solu-tion needs to be near 98°F despite the quite cold 60°F of operating rooms.Maintaining the saline solution temperature during surgery is vital, as thedoctor cannot use saline that is far from the patient’s body temperature. Insurgeries, if the saline is too cool to use, a new bottle must be retrieved,resulting in increased surgery time and higher costs to the patient.

The class project was to develop new heater designs and test them in thelabs on campus. Their results, a written report and a videotaped presenta-tion were all sent to Cooper.

“The class trip and project exposed us to real-world medical problems, andI can easily understand how chemical engineers work and develop life-sav-ing techniques in the medical profession,” said Aundrea Lollar, a junior inchemical and biological engineering.

Centennial Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.

why join ces?

n Increase the prestige and value of your engineering orcomputer science degree.

n Help us achieve higher rankings through increased alumni participation.

n Provide much-needed financial support for our students and the College.

n Stay in touch with friends.

n Receive updates and information about the College.

n Receive the Capstone Engineer.

Call Angelia Knight at 1-800-333-8156, e-mail aknight@coe.eng.ua.edu, or visit the website at www.eng.ua.edu.

Help keep us the

south’s best engineering school—join the capstone engineering society today.

N E W S

ALABAMA POWER FOUNDATION ENDOWS PROFESSORSHIPThe Alabama Power Foundation recently completed its $1 millionendowment of the Alabama Power Foundation EngineeringProfessorship in Electrical and Computer Engineering. This professor-ship will focus on state-of-the-art methods and systems in sensors andsmart sensors technology. UA President Robert E. Witt (left) accepts the final payment from Terry Waters (right), Alabama Power’s westerndivision vice president.

ADTRAN INC. INCREASES SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTADTRAN Inc., a Huntsville manufacturer of high-speed digital commu-nications equipment, presented the University of Alabama College ofEngineering with a fourth check of $55,000 for the ADTRAN EndowedScholarship Fund. Accepting at the check presentation are Mark C.Smith, ADTRAN’s chairman and CEO; UA President Robert E. Witt;Dr. Keith McDowell, College of Engineering interim dean; and Howard Thrailkill, ADTRAN’s president, director and chief operating officer.

BIG THANKS . . .. . . to our recent partners in UA’s College of Engineering family. Weappreciate their support of our students and programs.

ADTRAN Inc. for continuing support of the ADTRAN EndowedScholarship Fund

The Alabama Power Foundation for endowing an engineering professorship in electrical and computer engineering

American Cast Iron Pipe Co. for continuing support of the ACIPCOCorporate Scholars Program in mechanical engineering and the ACIPCOEngineering Scholars Program

American Society of Civil Engineers Alabama Section for support of theASCE Regional Conference and Competition Fund

ChevronTexaco Corp. for continuing support of scholarships in chemicaland biological engineering and mechanical engineering

DCES Educational Services for continuing support of the MulticulturalEngineering Program

Eastman Chemical Co. for support of the Multicultural EngineeringProgram

Great South Machine Tools Co. Inc. for donation of equipment for theStudent Engineering Projects Building

Drs. Kenneth and Sharon Harwell for continuing support of theirendowed aerospace engineering and mechanics scholarship

Kimberly Clark Corp. for continuing support of chemical and electricalengineering scholarships

E. Sorrell and Nell Lanier for continuing support of the Sorrell and NellLanier Civil Engineering Scholarship

LBYD Inc. for establishing the LBYD Inc. Civil and StructuralEngineering Endowed Scholarship

James C. Lewis for continuing support of the James C. Lewis LaboratoryEquipment Fund

Hua-An Liu for continuing support of chemical engineering scholarships

McAbee Foundation for continuing support of the McAbee FoundationScholarship

Southern Nuclear Operating Co. Inc. for continuing support of theMulticultural Engineering Program

The Honorable John Caius Tyson III for continuing support of the MaeMartin Bryant Tyson Endowed Engineering Scholarship

Volkert & Associates Inc. for continuing support of the Volkert &Associates Inc. Endowed Engineering Scholarship

14

15C A P S T O N E E n g i n e e r

N E W S

The College sends sincere congratulations to our friends and alumni at American Cast Iron Pipe Co.

as they celebrate 100 years!

ACIPCO has also been consistently recognized by Fortune as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America.

COLLEGE RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP FUNDSFROM CHEVRONTEXACODr. Keith McDowell (center), interim dean of the College, accepts a$6,000 check from Scott Harper (left), process engineer at Chevron-Texaco, and Brian Campbell (right), work process coordinator.Chemical and biological engineering and mechanical engineering will receive $3,000 each for scholarships. Harper received his bachelor’sdegree in chemical engineering, and Campbell received his bachelor’sdegree in mechanical engineering.

NOMINATE YOUR ENGINEERING COLLEAGUES NOW!You know who is worthy and deserving of the honor— nominate themnow for the distinction!

Nominations are being accepted for membership in the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame and for the College’s DistinguishedEngineering Fellows.

Nominations for the 2006 Hall of Fame are being accepted for outstand-ing individuals, projects and corporations. Nomination forms are availableat http://aehof.eng.ua.edu and are due July 1, 2005.

The deadline to nominate individuals for the College’s DistinguishedEngineering Fellows is Sept. 1, 2005, and the forms are available atwww.eng.ua.edu.

CONGRATULATIONSTo ACIPCO!

CONGRATULATIONSTo ACIPCO!

16

S U R V E Y I N G T H E C O L L E G E

DUNN RECEIVES MCKINLEY AWARDLinda Dunn, executive secretary in theDean’s Office, received the McKinleyAward in October 2004. Her nominatordeclared that “Linda does all of her workwith a level of accuracy, dependability,friendliness, and timeliness that is totallyperfect. . . . She is one of those specialpeople who makes a major difference inthe College of Engineering as well asThe University of Alabama.”

The McKinley Award was established byHelen H. and John K. McKinley of Darien, Conn., and Tuscaloosa inhonor of John McKinley’s father, Vergil Parks McKinley. The award rec-ognizes enterprising employees who, by action or idea, contributed tothe University’s mission of teaching, research and service.

FORREST TO COORDINATECOE STUDENT RECRUITMENTBethany Forrest recently joined theCollege of Engineering as coordinator ofstudent recruitment. Forrest’s activitiesinclude contacting high school students,providing information about the College,identifying students having strong mathand science backgrounds, and recruitinghigh school and transfer students to theCollege.

Dr. Kevin Whitaker, associate dean foracademic programs, said that Forrest brings enthusiasm needed in student recruitment. “We’re excited to have Bethany as a member ofour team,” said Whitaker. “Bethany will help recruit qualified students,continuing the College’s trend of advancing engineering education andresearch.”

Forrest received her bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabamaand previously worked as an admissions counselor for the Capstone.

Linda Dunn Bethany Forrest

Above: Image taken at 100,000 feet byBAMASAT-1.

Left: Mechanical engi-neering students testlaunch BAMASAT-1.

ME SENIORS LAUNCH BAMASAT-1UA’s senior mechanical engineering design class recently designed andlaunched BAMASAT-1, a balloon system that traveled to the edge ofspace and transmitted images to Earth.

The balloon system’s technical name is balloonsat, but UA’s teamnamed it BAMASAT-1. The balloonsat traveled to the edge of space at an altitude of approximately 100,000 feet. As the payload traveledthrough space, the BAMASAT-1 took video images of the Earth’s surface as it ascended and descended.

The balloonsat equipment transmitted the BAMASAT-1 coordinatesusing a GPS tracking system on the ground. As the balloon descended,the mechanical engineering students tracked and retrieved it.

To reach 100,000 feet, a disposable weather balloon was filled with helium and launched from the ground. After the balloonsat reached acertain altitude, it ruptured due to the low pressure of the stratosphere.To prevent the balloonsat from crashing back to Earth, a parachutedeployed to reduce its rate of descent.

“The students worked really hard to meet the many design demands of this project, including weight limitations and FAA regulations,” saidDr. John Baker, associate professor of mechanical engineering and theBAMASAT-1 team faculty advisor.

The BAMASAT-1 project was funded by the Alabama Space GrantConsortium and the Student Government Association at The Universityof Alabama.

17C A P S T O N E E n g i n e e r

S U R V E Y I N G T H E C O L L E G E

ME PROFESSOR RECEIVESTWO NATIONAL AWARDSDr. Beth Todd, associate professor ofmechanical engineering, recently receivedtwo national awards: one from the Societyof Women Engineers and the other fromthe American Society of MechanicalEngineers. SWE recently honored Toddwith a 2004 Fellow membership at itsnational conference. She was recognized for her outstanding leadership, commit-ment to students, continued support of the achievement of women in engineering,and passion for the engineering profession.

ASME recognized Todd as the National Advisor of the Year for her out-standing leadership of UA’s student chapter.

ME STUDENTS DESIGN NASA MOONBUGGYVEHICLES FOR HIGH SCHOOLSUA mechanical engineering students participated in a local competition of NASA Moonbuggy vehicles on Nov. 10 on UA’s campus. Five teamsfrom the mechanical engineering Design 1 class partnered with highschools and church youth groups to design the vehicles. The high schoolsand youth groups can choose to compete in NASA’s Great MoonbuggyRace in Huntsville in April.

The human-powered vehicles are designed to compete over a moon-liketerrain. Each team was responsible for designing a vehicle that occupies a space no more than four-feet wide by four-feet long by four-feet highbefore its assembly, which matches the space available for transport in a rocket.

Prior to the race, the vehicle must be carried 20 feet by the two driversand then assembled for use. Two team members power and drive theirvehicle over the half-mile obstacle course of simulated lunar terrain.

UA FORMS CHAPTER OF ASSOCIATED BUILDERSAND CONTRACTORSStudent and employer interest in construction is greater than ever. Lastyear, the civil and environmental engineering department, with industrysupport, introduced the Construction Management Certificate. This year,again with the support and encouragement of the construction industry, a student chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors has beenestablished.

The creation of this new student group was made possible, in large part,by the efforts of many Birmingham- and Tuscaloosa-area constructioncompanies, including BE&K Inc.; Block USA; Brasfield & Gorrie; C. S.Beatty Construction; Doster Construction; Energy Systems Southeast;Gresham, Smith and Partners; Wayne J. Griffin Electric Inc.; Robins &Morton Group; Saiia Construction LLC; Southeastern ArchitecturalWoodworks Co.; and Tusco Fence Inc.

The kick-off meeting for the new ABC student chapter was held inNovember, and Robert Gambrell, senior vice president of Robins &Morton, spoke to a standing-room-only student audience on constructionas a professional career.

For more information about the ABC student chapter, contact Dr. KenFridley, head of civil and environmental engineering and ABC facultyadvisor.

UA GRADUATE STUDENT FIRST TO RECEIVEASTM INTERNATIONAL AWARDCherqueta R. Claiborn, a graduate student in metallurgical and materialsengineering, received the 2004 Mary R. Norton Memorial Scholarship forWomen Award from ASTM International. Claiborn is the first UA studentand the first woman in the state of Alabama to receive this internationalhonor. Claiborn is researching how welding parameters affect the micro-structure and properties of resistance spot-welded galvannealed steel. Herthesis is under the supervision of Dr. Viola L. Acoff, professor of metallur-gical and materials engineering.

Dr. Beth Todd

Mechanical engineering students race their moonbuggy on UA'scampus.

Civil engineering students discuss job opportunities at a meetinghosted by ABC.

S U R V E Y I N G T H E C O L L E G E

KNIGHT RECEIVES PROFESSIONAL STAFFSERVICE AWARD The College awarded its fourth annual Outstanding Staff ServiceAwards, and Angelia Knight, director of the Capstone EngineeringSociety, received the professional staff award. Dr. Keith McDowell(right), interim dean of the College, presents the award to Knight(left).

COLLEGE ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY CARDWINNERSThe College held its first design contest for all students to submitideas for the 2004 holiday card. Many creative entries were receivedand the College chose a design by David Holt and SamanthaLoper, both juniors in the Department of Chemical and BiologicalEngineering. The pair received a $150 award for their entry.

UA GETS NSF GRANT OF NEARLY $1 MILLIONFOR NEW SUMMER ENGINEERING PROGRAMThe University of Alabama has been awarded a grant of nearly $1 millionfrom the National Science Foundation to establish a new program thatwill enhance the education of students entering engineering. The focus ofthe Engineering Math Advancement Program, known as E-MAP, will be afive-week summer residence program that addresses math and engineer-ing prerequisites for incoming engineering students. The goals of E-MAPare to increase engineering student retention and graduation rates by 20percent and to increase the number of engineering graduates employed inthe state of Alabama.

Few students possess the necessary skills to enter engineering disciplines.Data collected by UA’s College of Engineering revealed a two-fold problemimpacting student performance related to math skills and motivation.Roughly half of the entering freshman engineering students required atleast one semester of pre-calculus to be considered engineering curriculumready. This has serious repercussions on the students’ progress because itcould delay the start of core engineering classes as much as a full year.

UA PROFESSOR NAMEDDIRECTOR FOR CLIMATECHANGE RESEARCH CENTERDr. Duane T. Johnson, associate professorof chemical and biological engineering, wasnamed director of the Southeast RegionalCenter for the National Institute for GlobalEnvironmental Change, headquartered atUA. As director, Johnson will manage themultimillion-dollar institutional climatechange research program for the U.S.Department of Energy. Numerous investi-gators at seven major universities across

the Southeast are working on projects, from predicting ecosystem responseto environmental change, in connection with the center.

UA SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS RECEIVESSECOND PLACE IN NATIONAL COMPETITIONThe University of Alabama’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineersreceived second place among medium-sized sections in the OutstandingStudent Section competition at the National Conference in Milwaukee,Wis. UA’s SWE chapter has a tradition of placing in this category at thenational conference, winning third place in 2003 and first place in 2002.

UA’S CARE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT LABRECEIVES BEST PRACTICE AWARDThe University of Alabama CARE Research & Development Laboratoryrecently received runner-up recognition in the best practice category fortheir CARE data analysis software from the Association ofTransportation Safety Information Professionals. CARE was recognizedduring the 2004 Traffic Records Forum. Each year the association recog-nizes exemplary state and federal projects that are good examples ofimplementation of new technology or demonstrate the use of traffic safetydata in problem identification, project management or project evaluation.

David Holt (left) and Samantha Loper (right) display theCollege's holiday card.

Dr. Duane T. Johnson

18

E V E N T S

ACES HOST ALUMNI NETWORKING DINNEROn Nov. 5, 2004, the Ambassadors of the College of Engineering hostedan alumni networking night. Held in Smith Hall at the Alabama Museumof Natural History, the event gave students the opportunity to ask alumniquestions about the world of work, résumé development and careeroptions in a variety of fields. The Capstone Engineering Society andHonda co-sponsored the event with representatives from the followingcompanies participating: Accenture, ADTRAN, BellSouth, Boeing,Brasfield & Gorrie, Chemical Lime, Doster Construction, NorthropGrumman Ship Systems, Radici Spandex, Southern Company and TVA.About 60 people attended the event, and the evaluation comments indicat-ed a desire to have this type of event again in the future.

BIRMINGHAM CHAPTER GATHERS AT THOMPSON TRACTORSeveral alumni gathered at Thompson Tractor in Tarrant, Ala., on Nov. 10for a tour of the new facility. Mike Reuter, facilities development manager,and the Thompson Tractor staff rolled out the red carpet, showed thealumni what the original facility looked like and then led them on a tourof the new portions of the plant. Alumni were given an explanation ofhow the company breaks down engines, restores them and reassemblesthem. Reuter also described their important work for the military by keeping the military vehicles in running order. The new facility was quiteimpressive, as were Thompson Tractor’s diagnostic capabilities andresearch laboratories.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE GOLF TOURNAMENT!Mark your calendars now for the 2005 CES Golf Tournament. The tour-nament is scheduled for May 3 at the beautiful Bent Brook Golf Course. If you have any questions about the tournament or sponsorship, pleasecall 1-800-333-8156 or e-mail aknight@coe.eng.ua.edu to contact CESDirector Angelia Knight for more information.

THE COLLEGE HOSTS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSDURING E-DAY 2004The College of Engineering held Engineering Day (E-Day), an open housefor high school and community college students, on Oct. 7. About 600 stu-dents from schools throughout the state toured labs and viewed exhibitsin each of the College’s eight departments. Thanks to the McAbeePigfitters for sponsoring the lunch!

19C A P S T O N E E n g i n e e r

ACES and student leaders enjoy an alumni networking night. Students tour the Student Engineering Projects Building and learn aboutthe Formula SAE team.

Students watch an experiment in one of the chemical and biologicalengineering labs.

20

A L U M N I N O T E S

1949Dick Acker, B.S.I.E. ’49, was inducted into the Mississippi Business Hallof Fame in 2003 for his outstanding work in business for more than 55years. He volunteers with the Service Corps of Retired Executives.

1966Joel S. Mize, B.S.Ch.E. ’66, recently published a book, Unionist of theWarrior Mountains of Alabama.

1970Stephen E. Yates, B.S.I.E. ’70, M.S.I.E. ’78, has been elected executive vicepresident and chief information officer of KeyCorp in Cleveland, Ohio.

1978John O. Lassiter, B.S.A.E. ’78, was elected to the Associate Fellows by theAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is employed atNASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

1979Rebecca Blair-Crane, B.S.C.E. ’79, was elected president of the AmericanCouncil of Engineering Companies of Alabama (ACEC/Alabama). She isthe vice president and secretary in charge of human resources at Jones,Blair, Waldrup & Tucker Inc. Crane serves as the District 3 representativeon the Capstone Engineering Society Board of Directors.

Charles Daley Speer, B.S.Ch.E. ’79, M.S.E. ’95, completed the UnitedStates Army Communications-Electronics Command’s radioactive commodity identification and transportation course held in Chicago, Ill.Speer is a safety engineer at the Anniston Army Depot.

1980Alan D. McElroy, B.S.C.E. ’80, was promoted to vice president of powerdelivery services at Duke Power in Charlotte, N.C.

1983Robin Henderson, B.S.I.E. ’83, was named associate director for manage-ment in the office of the director at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Centerin Huntsville, Ala.

Craig D. Jones, B.S.C.E. ’83, was named a vice president and signal director of Gannett Fleming Transit and Rail Systems.

1986Craig Seabrook, B.S.Mt.E. ’86, was named business development director at NASA’s MarshallSpace Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Craig Seabrook

1989Brian Garvin, B.S.M.E. ’89, was appointed thedirector of new business development for the contract manufacturing division of PassageMakerSourcing Solutions in Shenzhen, China.

1990Stacye Patterson Chen, Ph.D., B.S.I.E. ’90,

M.S.I.E. ’96, is teaching business statistics at Mercer County CommunityCollege in West Windsor, N.J.

1991Brian Chen, B.S.I.E. ’91, M.S.I.E. ’94, was promoted to supply chain director for the Johnson & Johnson wound care franchise in Skillman, N.J.

David Williams, B.S.A.E. ’91, has been named operations general manag-er for the Chore-Time Egg Production Systems’ manufacturing facility inDecatur, Ala. He is responsible for supervising day-to-day manufacturingoperations, plant support and customer service.

1995Rodney Chester, B.S.C.E. ’95, M.S.C.E. ’97, was named director ofGresham, Smith and Partners’ new branch office in Memphis, Tenn. Hehas worked for the company for six years and played an integral role inexpanding the firm’s ITS and traffic engineering services.

1999Travis D. Stinson, B.S.M.E. ’99, received a promotion to Engineer I withthe Alabama Power Company, located in Pelham, Ala.

JOBS/PROMOTIONS/AWARDS

Brian Garvin

A Dream Comes True for an aerospace engineering graduate. Susan BartholomewWilliams, B.S.A.E. ’92, won a bronze medalin the triathlon competition at the 2004Olympic Games in Athens. Williams was a University of Alabama swim team member from 1988 to 1990 and team captain in 1992.

Williams was in the process of realizinganother dream—becoming an astronaut—while an aerospace engineer for LockheedMartin in Littleton, Colo., but left the jobto concentrate on her dream of competingin the Olympics.

Williams resides in Littleton, Colo., with her husband, Tim, and their 3-year-old daughter, Sydney.

Susan Bartholomew Williams

YOU

MIG

HT B

E A

UA E

NGI

NEE

R IF

. . .

n you know Coach Bryant’s stats just likeyou know pi to the 100th decimal.

n you average the gymnastics scoresbefore the computer finishes.

n you set your watch by Denny Chimes.

n you measure land in relation to thesize of the Quad.

n you know where MIB is.

n you calculate the height, arc and lengthof time the ball was in the air after every free throw in Coleman Coliseum.

n you know how to cast an iron elephant.

n your closest food source for four years was the Ferg.

But you know you are a UA engineer when . . .

n you help shape the future of UA Engineering by supporting your College financially.

There are many ways to help—become a member of the CapstoneEngineering Society, or donate gifts of cash, appreciated property or equipment for labs.

Take pride in the knowledge that your contributions make UA’s College of Engineering stand out in the eyes of the nation. For more information, call us at 1-800-333-8156.

The University of Alabama • College of EngineeringBox 870200• Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0200

1-800-333-8156 • (205) 348-6400www.eng.ua.edu

22

RAYMOND F. ANDREWRaymond F. Andrew died in July 2004. Andrew received a bache-lor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1959. After 25 years ofservice, he retired from Brunswick Pulp and Paper Co. as themanager of engineering. Andrew was a member of the NationalAlumni Association and Sigma Chi fraternity.

EDWARD THOMPSON CARREdward Thompson Carr died Sept. 14, 2004. He received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1950. Carr retiredfrom civil service and from Teledyne Brown in Huntsville after along and dedicated career. Carr was a contributor to theCapstone Engineering Society.

WILHELMINA QUARLES ECHOLSWilhelmina Quarles Echols died Nov. 6, 2004. Echols was alongtime supporter of education, and in 1987, she established the George H. and Wilhelmina Q. Echols Endowed CivilEngineering Scholarship in honor of her late husband, GeorgeEchols, who received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineeringfrom UA in 1934. Echols attended the Capstone in the 1930swhen the country was in the middle of the Great Depression.

Having faced financialhardships herself, sherecognized the impor-tance of an education andthat lesson served as thefundamental reason forher gift to the College.

Echols was activelyinvolved in the communi-ty. She was born andraised in Tuscaloosa, andher first job was with theTuscaloosa CountySchool System. In 1997, she made a $500,000 gift to the schoolsystem, and in 2000, a new middle school, Wilhelmina EcholsMiddle School, was named in her honor.

ERNEST A. JOSEPHErnest A. Joseph died Sept. 2, 2004. He received his bachelor’sdegree in mechanical engineering in 1943, and he was a contrib-utor to the Capstone Engineering Society.

Wilhelmina Quarles Echols

I N M E M O R Y

23C A P S T O N E E n g i n e e r

I N M E M O R Y

JOSEPH H. KUHNSJoseph H. Kuhns died Oct. 24, 2004, in Richmond, Va. Kuhnsgrew up in Tuscaloosa and graduated from the Capstone in 1970with a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering. After 30years of service, he retired from Reynolds Metals Co. as a profes-sional manufacturing engineer. In 1988, he was named aDepartment of Metallurgical and Materials EngineeringOutstanding Fellow. Kuhns was a contributor to the CapstoneEngineering Society.

MONRO BANISTER LANIER IIMonro Banister Lanier IIdied on Nov. 14, 2004, inBirmingham, Ala. Lanierreceived a bachelor’sdegree in mechanicalengineering in 1948 andbegan his career with theindustrial division ofContinental Gin. He thenjoined USX where he wasemployed for more than30 years, serving as sen-ior procurement officerand later vice presidentof USX Engineers and Consultants. In 1989, Lanier joinedDrummond USA, a unit of Drummond Inc., where he served asexecutive vice president of planning until 1993.

Lanier was inducted as one of the College’s DistinguishedEngineering Fellows in 1997 and served on the Department ofMechanical Engineering’s Advisory Board.

BESSIE SUMMERVILLE MOXLEYBessie Summerville Moxley, the widow of Stephen D. Moxley Jr.,died Nov. 29, 2004. Both were actively involved in supporting the University and the College. Stephen D. Moxley received abachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1949 and wasnamed a Distinguished Engineering Fellow in 1988. BessieMoxley attended the Capstone and was a member of Chi Omegasorority.

In 1988, Bessie Moxley, Thomas C. Moxley and Gladys MoxleyIkard established the Stephen D. Moxley Jr. Endowed Memorial

Scholarship to benefit students in the College of Engineering.Upon her death, Bessie Moxley enhanced the endowmentthrough a planned gift to the University.

MARY HELON PARKERMary Helon Parker died Sept. 24, 2004, in Jacksonville, Fla. Sheis survived by her husband, Alsey C. Parker Jr., who received abachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1950. In 1999, theParkers and his brother-in-law and sister, James E. and MarionParker Summerville, established the Alsey Clements ParkerMemorial Endowed Scholarship Fund in honor of their father,who received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at theCapstone in 1922.

DR. WALTER JACOB SCHAETZLEDr. Walter Jacob Schaetzle,professor emeritus of mechan-ical engineering, died Jan. 6,2005. Schaetzle was born inPittsburgh, Pa., and receivedhis bachelor’s and master’sdegrees in mechanical engi-neering from Carnegie MellonUniversity. He earned a doc-torate from WashingtonUniversity in St. Louis, Mo.

From 1958 to 1961, Schaetzleworked at McDonnellDouglas Aircraft Corp. in St.Louis on the design teams for the Apollo, Gemini and Mercurymissions. In 1962, he joined The University of Alabama as a professor of mechanical engineering focusing his research onheating and cooling systems, aquifers, thermodynamics, fluidsand home energy conservation. He retired from the Capstone in 1987.

Faculty, staff and alumni will remember all of his work, bothwithin and outside the College, and they have made contribu-tions to the mechanical engineering scholarship fund in hishonor. If you would like to make a donation in memory of Dr. Schaetzle, please mail it to The University of Alabama,College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineeringat Box 870276, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0276.

Monro Banister Lanier II

Dr. Walter Jacob Schaetzle

24

Alumni like to brag about their school, so we’re making it easy for you. Here are a few quickfacts about the College of Engineering.

n The average starting salary for University of Alabama engineering and computer sciencegraduates receiving their bachelor of science degrees rose from $44,162 in 2000 to $46,952 in 2003.

n Although the College of Engineering comprises about 10 percent of UA’s student population, nearly 13 percent of the University’s National Merit Finalists, NationalAchievement Finalists, and Hispanic Scholars are enrolled in the College.

n More than 18 percent of students enrolled in the College are African-American and about 23 percent are women.

n The College of Engineering’s 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio helps students learn more effectively with all the resources of a large university.

n Students can work on projects, like building a concrete canoe or a Formula SAE race car,in the new Student Engineering Projects Building.

n One-fifth of UA engineering students are awarded academic scholarships.

n All of the College of Engineering’s undergraduate engineering and computer science academic programs are fully accredited, following a continuous trend since accreditationstandards were implemented more than 70 years ago.

Department FacultyUndergraduate

EnrollmentGraduate

Enrollment

AEM 10 97 46

CE 13 268 38

CHBE 11 193 25

CS 13 166 58

ECE 14 292 44

IE 8 73 14

ME 14 353 55

MTE 9 38 34

Undesignated 60 3

TOTALS 92 1,540 317

Engineering QUICK FACTSEngineering QUICK FACTS

The Fifth Annual

The Fifth Annual Capstone Engineering Society GolfTournament is scheduled for Tuesday, May 3, 2005, at the beautiful Bent Brook Golf Course betweenBirmingham and Tuscaloosa. Join area alumni for a fun tournament sponsored by the BirminghamChapter of CES.

The format for the tournament will be a four-personscramble with a shotgun start. The registration fee of$125 includes green fee, cart, range balls, beverages,lunch, and a tournament golf shirt. Registration startsat 11:00 a.m. and the tournament begins at 1:00 p.m.

You may participate in the following ways:

• Team level ($500)—Team of four with all registrationamenities

• Individual Level ($125)—Single registration• Hole Sponsorship ($300)—Recognition on one hole

plus recognition at the tournament

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit theCapstone Engineering Society's efforts to provide engi-neering and computer science students with a superioreducational experience. Our goal is to have 120 playersin the 2005 CES Golf Tournament. Please help usachieve this goal. Sign up today!

If you have any questions about the tournament orsponsorship, please call 1-800-333-8156 or e-mailaknight@coe.eng.ua.edu to contact CES DirectorAngelia Knight for more information.

G O L F T O U R N A M E N TCAPSTONE ENGINEERING SOCIETY

Capstone Engineering SocietyCollege of EngineeringBox 870200Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0200

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage Paid

Tuscaloosa, ALPermit 16

Capstone Engineering Society

HOMECOMING Tailgate PartyEngineering alumni and friends are invited to join the CapstoneEngineering Society for the 2005 Homecoming Tailgate Party.Join us on the Quad to celebrate Homecoming and cheer forthe Crimson Tide.

The Homecoming Tailgate Party will be the only pre-game tentfor 2005 the season. Watch for more information to come thissummer!

ROLL TIDE!