College of Technology : Innovation - Spring 2011

innovation COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE _ 2011 _ SPRING

Innovation Magazine

[keep _ in _ touch]

VolumE _ 6 _ Issue _ 1 Spring _ 2011

Share your news with fellow alumni. Visit www.purduealumni.org/alumnus and click on “Submit a Class Note” in the top links bar. Be sure to request your news be sent to the College of Technology (at the end of the submission process).

Published annually by the College of Technology for alumni and friends, Innovation magazine is produced by the college’s marketing and communications office in collaboration with Purdue Marketing and Media (PMM).

[Editorial _ Staff] Steven _ Lincoln _ editor Julie _ Sadler _ designer (PMM) Andrew _ Hancock _ photographer (PMM) Mark _ Simons _ photographer (PMM) Kim _ Medaris _ Delker _ marketing consultant (PMM) Jason _ Mucher _ College of Technology director of communications

[images _ & _ graphics] iStockPhoto, Shutterstock, Veer

[Your _ Feedback] The staff at Innovation wants to know what you think of the magazine and its content. Send your comments, questions, or suggestions to:  technews@purdue.edu  Innovation Magazine Purdue University College of Technology 401 N. Grant Street West Lafayette, IN 47907

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[alumni _ services] Visit www.tech.purdue.edu/Alumni-andFriends for information specific to being a College of Technology graduate.

[Giving] Visit www.tech.purdue.edu/giving for information about the ways you can support the college financially. © 2011 Purdue College of Technology. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or duplicated without written permission of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included in this publication at the time of printing, the publisher shall not be liable for damages from errors or omissions.

An equal access/equal opportunity university Produced by Purdue Marketing and Media COT.10.670

Three computer graphics technology students premiered their animated video short “The Note” on Valentine’s Day on campus. The screening was sponsored by Purdue’s chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH. “The Note” was written, produced and directed by Level 3 Studios – made up of students Chris Staehler, Thomas Haley-Hermiz and Adam Gasper – as part of their CGT senior capstone course. The movie mixes live action with computer-generated imagery.

Watch the film: www.tech.purdue.edu/ innovation

DEAN MESSAGE FROM THE

04 _ data 06 _ on 08 _ a

flow

demand

room with a view

Dennis Depew will end his nine-year tenure as dean of the college June 30.

12 _ weatherization

A statewide inspection program led by Kirk Alter ensures safer, more efficient energy use.

16 _ stem

branches out

A new grant program will help educators design and implement engaging curriculum.

20 _ on

course

2 2 _ pro 24 _ in

files

person

25 _ faculty

database

volume _ 6 _ issue _ 1

Nine years. I look at that time span, the amount of time I’ve been dean of the college, and I marvel at how fast it has gone and how much we’ve accomplished. Within that measurement of time are so many other metrics important to a university’s success: number of students enrolled and graduated, scholarships, economic impact, academic influence and reputation, and so much more.

Over the last nine years, we have set goals as part of two strategic plans to help us stay focused on our mission. All indicators have shown that the College of Technology and its people are increasingly adept at facing challenges and creating solutions. With a firm foundation of classroom instruction and practical research, the college has succeeded in educating students who have relevant knowledge and skills, who are responsive to change and challenges, and who achieve results. Our alumni and their successes are a great way to measure the value of a degree from Purdue and the College of Technology.

Looking back at just the last 12 months, so much has occurred to help us be even more responsive to the breakneck speed of innovation. We are refining curriculum, updating facilities, and exploring research initiatives that can have immediate and long-lasting effects on society. It is truly an exciting time to be part of the college.

As I prepare to leave this office and return to teaching full-time, I look forward to supporting the college’s goals in a different, yet familiar, capacity. Thank you for your continued involvement with the college.

dennis r. depew, phd dean, college of technology

“the tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. the tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.”

Benjamin Mays (1894-1984)

DATA _ FLOW a strategic merging Two College of Technology departments have been approved for merger and have begun the integration process to be finalized on July 1.

The departments of Organizational Leadership and Supervision and Industrial Technology will combine faculty, students and majors to establish the largest department within the college, the Department of Technology Leadership & Innovation. With nearly 40 faculty members, the new department will serve approximately 1,200 majors statewide, 1,500 minors and 200 graduate students.

As the change takes effect, most observers will not see many outward changes, said Gary Bertoline, associate dean for graduate studies and interim head of the department.

“It will have a different title, but the degree programs will remain the same,” he said.

A nationwide search is underway to fill the department head position. Once that person has been identified and is on campus, additional opportunities will be explored.

“The merger is a unique opportunity to capitalize and build on existing strengths in both departments, and to better realign with national trends in higher education. The opportunity lies in the applied nature of our programs,” Bertoline said. “Innovation is what drives modern economies. A modern, robust economy is dependent on technology. The idea that we can contribute to that is exciting.”

The task force that recommended the merger identified two new opportunities for additional programs of study: 1) Technology Leadership and 2) Innovation and Commercialization. With the increased focus on innovation, Bertoline believes new courses will be highly valued by a variety of degree programs. That extra interest will expand the service component of the department as well.

The department merger was approved by the Purdue University Board of Trustees Feb. 4, 2011.

Two Aviation Technology professors will lead a new center focused on solutions to a pressing grand challenge: increased demand for alternative aviation fuels.

fueling aviation research Purdue’s College of Technology is the home of a new center focused on alternative aviation fuels.

The Air Transport Institute for Environmental Sustainability (Air TIES) is housed at the Purdue Airport. It brings together 39 faculty from four Purdue colleges to integrate alternative fuel expertise and research throughout the product lifecycle.

“We will be taking a systems approach to aviation fuel sustainability,” said David Stanley, co-director of Air TIES and associate professor of aviation technology. “From fuel feed stock, to testing, to production and distribution, we will work toward developing useable and practical products for the commercial and military arena.”

To do that, the institute will draw on the expertise of faculty from the colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, Science and Technology while working with industry partners to ensure their needs are being addressed. These partnerships will keep

faculty and student researchers focused on practical results while providing valuable experience to graduate and undergraduate students.

As the institute was being designed, the co-directors identified two pressing needs that would help focus initial efforts for testing and research. First, the U.S. Air Force has set a goal to certify their fleet to fly with synthetic fuels by 2012 and to fly half of their fleet with synthetic fuels by 2016. Second, they realized the financial viability of the U.S. aviation industry could be bolstered by offering a sustainable fuel alternative.

“The success of the aerospace industry has a direct impact on the economy and employment in Indiana and the Midwest,” said Denver Lopp, co-director of Air TIES and professor of aviation technology.

“The Air TIES approach to research and development will provide value-added agriculture bio-feedstock products for farmers, fuel production facilities near major airports and expanded support for the developing green aviation industry.”

The institute will have access to several laboratories on campus to facilitate their work. At the Purdue Airport, they will use the National Test Facility for Aerospace Fuels and Propulsion (also housed within the Department of Aviation Technology) to test potential fuels in turbine engines.

Other labs that will be used include the Center for Direct Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels, the Bioenergy Research and Education Center, the High Pressure Laboratory and the Gas Turbine Combustion Facility.

As tests and research are conducted, the directors realize the outcomes must be applicable to current needs.

“The oil industry was built around oil; the infrastructure is already there. New fuel will have to fit seamlessly into what exists,” Lopp said. “Likewise, we are not designing new turbine engines. We have to design fuel to fit what is already being used.”

ON _ DEMAND competition in the sun Students are the creative force at the forefront of the biennial Solar Decathlon competition. As part of the competition, they are charged with conceiving, designing, building and transporting a house that will need only the sun for generating electricity. Purdue is one of 20 schools selected to participate in the 2011 competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

To achieve their goals, students use lessons learned in their classes and are assisted by faculty experts. But they have found that the real-world experience of corporations and contractors are just as important to creating a successful net-zero energy entry.

“The industry partners have kept the students honest. It is one thing to make design calculations and another thing to make the design a reality,” said William Hutzel, associate professor of mechanical engineering technology and advisor to the team. “Outside expertise was also invaluable in terms of understanding what is realistically achievable.”

In addition to providing much-needed capital for the project, Ingersoll Rand, parent company to Trane and Schlage, has supplied the Purdue IN _ Home with a high-efficiency heat pump and wireless lock system. The company will make sure the products fit into the home’s design.

“We see this as a showcase for Ingersoll Rand’s value around safety, comfort and efficiency as well as another way to increase our visibility at Purdue University, an important venue for recruiting new talent,” said Susan Burek, manager of research and partnerships in Ingersoll Rand’s Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability.

Other gifts of materials include: SIPS panels for the structural walls, by ThermaCore; a heat pump water heater and high-efficiency kitchen and laundry appliances, by General Electric; water fixtures

by Kohler; and a discounted photovoltaic array, which generates all of the electricity for the home.

Expertise has also been offered. Ryan Fire Suppression will assist with designs for the home’s needs, and Hill Mechanical will assist in testing the homes seals for costly leaks. Local mechanical engineer Andy Schweitzer also will need to sign off on the engineering plans.

A new laboratory will study how people best interact in virtual environments and harness their unique capabilities to help create collaborative experiences.

Utilizing virtual worlds True to its name, the Virtual Collaboration Laboratory exists in a virtual world. It boasts a computer lab on the fourth floor of Young Hall and a presence in Purdue’s Envision Center, to be sure. But most of the research and work with the lab will be conducted somewhere in between, connecting people across campus and around the world.

“Virtual collaboration involves everything from Skype to videoconferencing to virtual worlds,” said Scott Homan, director of the laboratory and associate professor of organizational leadership and supervision (OLS). “The way OLS is involved is that, as part of the College of Technology, we can bring in part of that linkage — the application of technology to improve human systems.”

Three others are working with Homan in the lab: Michael Beyerlein, professor of organizational leadership and supervision, and OLS doctoral students Amy Warneka and Breck Terheide.

Even before there was a physical computer lab with a locking door, there was work being done with virtual worlds, such as Second Life, to create training and education exercises. For example, they have created a virtual crime scene in Second Life for police cadets to train in. The scene can be populated with clues, K-9 units and criminals to make it as realistic as possible.

Additionally, they have set up a virtual classroom where students can participate in a classroom lecture and presentation. This proved especially useful last year when one OLS student was diagnosed with H1N1 influenza and was required to self-quarantine.

“He was able to participate in our class via Second Life and not miss any work,” Homan said. “It was the only class he was able to attend.”

The lab recently partnered with SpotOn3D, a new company that aims to create a new virtual world that focuses

on security and intellectual property rights. Homan and the rest of the team will provide the computer abilities and programmers to help create the new virtual world.

The ultimate goal is to create a virtual world where education, commerce and collaboration can take place without the need for physical proximity. In the process the lab researchers can study and observe how participants interact, identify barriers and work to make improvements.

“The benefit is that in a virtual world, we can reset it easier, we can create it cheaper and it is easier to control variables,” Homan said. “Proving that this technology actually works in changing behavior and increasing learning is the beginning.”

A ROOM WITH A VIEW it doesn’t take long for dean dennis depew to get emotional as he glances out his office window on the fourth floor of knoy hall. the activity of faculty and students coming and going from the building on the sidewalks below are clear reminders of why he chose to serve as dean of the college of technology. that passion for people has been a hallmark of his career and it provided a strong platform for his nine years at the helm of the college.

The accomplishments of his tenure are well-documented: oversight of a major capital campaign, two strategic plans and the building of a new facility at the airport, growth in funded research and graduate education, and a steady commitment to providing undergraduate education that is hands-on, personal and in tune with the demands of industry and the needs of our world.

But as he counts down his final days as dean, his pride rests more in the relationships he developed and in how people will remember him as a person than the things he accomplished.

“When I leave this office, I hope people will remember that I had integrity, that I was passionate about what I believed in and was willing to work hard at it… that I loved Purdue and that I loved the College of Technology,” Depew says.

“People may not have always agreed with the decisions I made, but I hope they know that I cared. Those are the things that are long lasting.”

Ironically, his current office – room 471 – has played a key role in his career progression at Purdue. Depew defended his doctoral dissertation

there when it was a conference room. It was where he interviewed for an assistant professor position in industrial technology and it was where the area committee met to approve his academic promotions.

When did you first get the idea that you wanted to be an administrator?

I had been a faculty member of the Department of Industrial Technology, a graduate student in the department.

There were three or four things that I thought were important objectives that we ought to accomplish: We didn’t have an advisory board, we were not an accredited program, moving the department more toward graduate education. There were things that I was passionate about. I wanted to be part of the conversation of making those things happen.

Since the first strategic plan is complete and the capital campaign is over, what have been the goals for the college?

The goals have been to stay on the same trajectory: learning, discovery and engagement. That hasn’t changed.

I think what has changed is the priorities for how you fund that. Continuing to find revenue sources, since the future growth of the general fund may not be sufficient to support the mission of the college.

You still have to continue to recruit outstanding faculty and staff. That has to be a major focus. And thinking about recruiting undergraduate students and graduate students in a different way.

How do you define success?

If you could pursue something in life that makes you happy, that you really enjoy doing, and at the same time you are able to provide for your family, that’s success. Wake up every morning, go to work at something you’re passionate about, that’s success.

How important has it been to have strong mentors and family support in your life and career?

I’ve always recognized the fact that few great accomplishments in life you do alone. You have a team around you that has helped you do the heavy lifting. The support for me begins at home, with Donna, my wife, who is my best friend.

I couldn’t do this job without her

support. She’s been my greatest cheerleader through the good and bad. A supportive family that keeps me balanced. It has helped me stay grounded and true to convictions.

On the professional level, I’ve had a lot of great mentors in my career.

Not all administrators; some of my most important mentors were faculty mentors who helped mentor me along the way to be a good faculty member.

That’s what I wanted to be all along, a good teacher-scholar. I lost my dad too early in life, my last year as a PhD student. My dad meant the world to me. He didn’t go to college, but he had a lot of wisdom. Over the years he has been given back to me in many ways, in different forms. I’ve been very fortunate in that regard.

How have you transitioned to serve as a mentor to others?

We all have obligations to encourage, nurture and support, to provide advice when you have the opportunity. I like to think that I’ve been a good mentor to department heads, faculty, associate deans and even others on campus. If you’ve been mentored well, it’s easier

to become a mentor. My approach to mentoring for other administrators has been to provide opportunity, empower people, give them the latitude to make decisions, give them responsibility, hold them accountable. And understand that from time to time people are going to make mistakes. It’s part of being human.

How have you been able to make the difficult decisions as a leader?

Most people would tell you I’m not a knee-jerk reaction type of person. I like to be reflective and analytical. I like to look at things and get feedback and advice and counsel. Analyze situations before you go do something. Our decisions have consequences. Listen as much as you can, gather as much information as you can before making decisions, if you have the timeframe to do that. Sometimes we don’t have that time.

What are the big challenges our graduates will face and how are they prepared to face them?

The world is ready for leaders who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. Our students are

trained for hard work. They will be leaders who are nimble and responsive.

Leaders who can easily adapt to new technologies in the global marketplace.

Each one of our graduates will be confronted with constant change and will be challenged to be innovative.

With growing global competition and technological advances, the products our graduates work with are not the same ones their grandparents were familiar with. Our graduates will be successful when they learn to see change as an opportunity and not a liability.

How has the college remained in touch with the changes of industry and how has that influenced the education we provide?

We are well-connected with advisory boards, our alumni and friends in the corporate and industrial world. They are coming to campus to provide feedback on curriculum change. You can always feel that what we are doing is relevant because we are, in a sense, responding to a customer out there. And these boards are not shy in telling you what you should be doing and what you’re not doing.

What have been some of the special moments for you as dean?

Events like homecoming, commencement and our DTA recognitions have always been important as dean. They have provided the visual evidence that we are doing the right thing here. Bringing our alumni back home, hearing their stories of success, seeing them interact with each other, with our faculty, with our students and seeing their joy as they reflect on their times as a student — all of that is very special.

What do you point to as your biggest accomplishment as dean?

It’s always around recruiting outstanding faculty and staff. We are a people business. Trying to build an environment where this is an attractive place for faculty and staff has been a big priority for me. We‘ve taken external relations, alumni, corporate relations to a whole new level. I’m also very proud of the level of scholarship support being awarded to students today. That’s special to me.

What have you missed most about being in the classroom?

I miss interacting with undergraduate students, and students in general.

They really challenge you intellectually.

I think most faculty members are students at heart anyway. You are always learning something new. The opportunity to help shape the future is a pretty exciting business to be in.

When you pack up your belongings at the end of this semester, what’s next on the agenda?

I’ll do the big punt on July 1. The plan is to take a sabbatical. I have applied for a Fulbright Scholarship as a senior specialist. If that is approved we would spend some time at the Dublin Institute of Technology in Ireland [in the fall].

It would be good for Dennis Depew to leave for a period of time. The new dean doesn’t need me here. The plan is to come back in January of 2012 to teach.

As told to Jason Mucher, director of communications for the College of Technology Photos by Andrew Hancock

WEATHERIZATION one Hoosier household at a time. that’s the way kirk alter is helping improve home energy efficiency through a two-year project funded by the u.s. department of energy with federal stimulus funds.

“When we can save grandma $20 a month on her energy bills, that’s great,” he said. “There are people who are having to decide between paying the heating bill and buying groceries.”

These are the Indiana residents the program aims to help. With the Department of Energy funds, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) provided $1.6 million to create the Home Energy Conservation Program: Technical Monitoring Services.

It is a partnership between Alter’s team at Purdue and two Indianapolis companies: Mezzetta Construction Services, led by Jeff Ream, (for construction expertise) and Scott, Hilliard, Kosene (SHK) (for logistics expertise).

Alter, an associate professor of building construction management, said the project has provided him with a new perspective on the economics of energy consumption.

Rhett Riggs of Mezzetta Construction Services and Robert Freiburger inspect an attic in Wabash, Ind., for proper insulation.

“We have an illusion of what it’s like to live in Indiana. There are a lot of people who live in much different conditions.

We have an obligation as builders to help them,” he said.

In fact, his research and academic efforts have focused on ways to make buildings more efficient and to help the populace become more educated consumers of energy. The construction industry as a whole is beginning to adapt to these new ways of thinking as well.

An industry in flux “Our role in BCM is to educate not only students, but also contractors.

Contractors are not prepared for the coming change in the industry,” Alter said.

He points to the recession as one area where contractors have been affected.

The traditional business model for a contractor during an economic downturn is to reduce its overhead and do its work more cheaply. Alter suggests there needs to be a change in focus.

“For the new contractor of the 21st century, our job is to go solve owners’ problems. We have to understand owners’ economics, understand utility and municipal value costs, figure out operational costs,” he said. “Intelligent,

Rhett Riggs and Robert Freiburger measure insulation in a basement in Wabash, Ind., as part of the inspection process.

educated contractors should ask building owners, ‘could I show you how to save 30 percent of your costs by tuning your building up and bringing it back up to speed?’. Tenants will have lower utility costs, so it will make it more affordable and attractive to them.”

Alter said the upgrades that would achieve the 30 percent goal are also those that make employees more productive: improved temperature and humidity control and better lighting.

These same ideas are playing out in residences that Alter is working with as part of the IHCDA program.

Ensuring good work Alter and his partners serve as inspectors general for the conservation program.

They are charged with inspecting 10 percent (approximately 2,400) of the homes that receive weatherization services through the program.

“We go in after all of the work is done.

We verify and ensure that all the work was done,” he said. “We also do an

economic evaluation piece to determine whether it was cost effective.”

Cost is an important piece of the program. The grant allows for no more than $6,000 to be spent on each home.

Because of the limit, the program puts safety at the top of the priority list. They check out all combustible appliances and test for carbon monoxide. Once that is done, they can move to tightening the spaces, which usually includes sealing areas where air can get in and providing proper insulation. While new doors and windows usually are not part of the upgrades, programmable thermostats are.

Alter coordinates a team of 12 auditors who inspect the completed work. Each inspection includes an extensive written report verifying the work and suggesting corrective actions.

“We’ve found a lot of things that need to be fixed. It validates why we are here,” he said.

Robert Freiburger, a December 2008 graduate of the BCM program, is

an independent contractor with the project. He signs off on every field inspection.

“It’s really cool to see this program in action,” Freiburger said. “The clients are thrilled. They love getting out their bills and showing us the differences.

They can feel a big difference in their house, especially in the winter months.”

When the auditors go through the homes, they also note when residents could benefit from extra education about the efficiency.

“If you teach people about changing filters and programmable thermostats, they save money. It’s about behavior management and modification,” Alter said. “Conservation is generation. I sit on the board of Tipmont REMC [a local utility], and we don’t want to build another power plant. No one does. So a huge part of the program is education.”

enough information to help with research papers and other academic activities.

Alter and his two graduate students have written papers and case studies based on their work and data. They have tackled topics as wide-ranging as energy policy and its effectiveness, sustainable design options for homes in rural China, a history of residential energy efficiency missteps, and energy costs in the low-income sector.

“Our whole model is flawed,” Alter said. “In BCM, we have 30-40 years of wonderful research and development opportunities to work with industry professionals and find a new way to do things.”

He advocates working with buildings as one system. Future builders, he says, will need to fully understand how the separate pieces relate to each other to create a more efficient system.

Education beyond the program

By Steven Lincoln, senior writer/editor for the College of Technology

In addition to lower utility bills for residents, this program has created

Photos by Andrew Hancock

STEM branches out not long ago, if someone uttered the phrase “stem education,� that person probably received quizzical looks.

But in today’s increasingly technological world, the well-known acronym for “science, technology, engineering and math” is used everywhere, from Purdue students to the president of the United States. STEM comprises disciplines that Purdue excels at, and they are four that are critical to solving many of our world’s grand challenges.

A model project

Faculty in the College of Technology — the “T” in STEM at Purdue — have been increasingly focused on STEM education in recent years and are approaching it from new and innovative angles. For them, it’s not just about making sure students choose these academic or career disciplines. They want to make sure that students understand how science, technology, engineering and math can be used to solve problems ranging from designing a better mitten to evaluating the effectiveness of a cancer treatment.

“On the national level, you can look at institutions like the National Science Foundation (NSF), which have increasingly been funding these initiatives,” he says. “Why are they funding them? Because STEM is important to our nation’s ability to compete on a global scale. It’s not unlike where we were with the space race in the 1960s. It was a question of whether we were going to remain a dominant leader, and it’s the same issue here.”

Todd Kelley, an assistant professor of industrial technology, was hired in 2008 as part of the Purdue P-12 STEM initiative that focuses on ways to get more students interested and proficient in STEM, from preschool through high school. Kelley says the issue of STEM education should be a concern for everyone.

Kelley hopes to make at least some inroads in boosting STEM education

with upper-elementary-school-aged children as part of a five-year, $6.7 million NSF grant to improve science learning in rural elementary schools.

He is part of a multidisciplinary team that includes four Indiana school districts and other faculty from the colleges of Education, Technology and Engineering.

Kelley says the unique aspect of this grant is that it doesn’t just focus on one aspect of STEM, but all facets of it. The project will concentrate especially on helping teachers learn how to incorporate engineering design and problem-based learning into the classroom.

“Problem-based learning has great potential, not just in improving students’ skills in STEM disciplines, but also in teaching them how to go about solving problems. Whether they eventually go into technology, engineering, science or even other careers like the medical field or law, problem solving is important.

Those are skills you can use in any discipline and skills we will need to compete on a global scale.”

The program, which kicked off this spring, will provide tools and guidance to in-service teachers, with the help of Purdue faculty and pre-service teachers. Curriculum will be created

by Purdue professors, including those in the College of Technology. Helen McNally, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering technology, will work with in-service teachers to create lessons related to nanotechnology.

Kari Clase, associate professor of industrial technology, will help design lessons related to biotechnology. Also assisting with lesson development are Bryan Hubbard, assistant professor of building construction management, and Jenny Daugherty, assistant professor of organizational leadership and supervision.

As part of the grant, there will be a summer program each of the five years where the group will come together to work on curriculum that fits best with the age of the students.

“It can be very hard for in-service teachers to adjust to new technologies and new ways of teaching,” Kelley says. “That’s why we are involving our subject-expert faculty along with preservice teachers. Together, they can integrate the subjects into lessons that will work well for the classroom.”

Getting STEM teachers into rural schools is a special challenge, Kelley says, which is why the grant has a focus on rural schools. Schools in the program are Plymouth Community School Corp. in Plymouth, Ind.; Taylor Community School Corp. near Kokomo, Ind.; Tippecanoe School Corp. and Lafayette School Corp. Although Lafayette School Corp. is not rural, Kelley says they are being included because Sunnyside Middle School has a dedicated block of time where students focus on STEM learning.

After each school year, results of the new lessons will be measured through performance on math and science on ISTEP tests.

Although raising math and science scores is certainly a goal of STEM education, it is not the primary objective. As Kelley points out, other countries may outperform us when it comes to scores, and it’s tough to compete with the salaries that countries like India or China pay their scientists and engineers. That’s why the United States needs to think outside the box.

“The question when it comes to STEM education is how can we remain competitive on a global scale,” he says.

“The answer is creativity, or teaching our students to be critical, creative thinkers.

We can’t just be lab rats or number crunchers anymore. We must now be critical and creative problem-solvers.”

New approaches Another faculty member who has a passion for STEM education is Alka Harriger, a professor of computer and information technology. Harriger has been at Purdue since 1982 and is especially concerned about how to attract females into computing careers,

which have been traditionally filled by men. Harriger is in the late stages of an NSF-funded project called SPIRIT (Surprising Possibilities Imagined and Realized Through Information Technology) that focuses on educating high school teachers, counselors and students about the many career options available in computers.

Although results on the effectiveness of SPIRIT are not yet fully known, Harriger believes that programs like this that educate teachers and counselors on the computer-related career options available to girls are key to changing perceptions about the field.

“Computing touches every aspect of people’s lives, from kids to healthcare to law enforcement. No matter what field you are interested in, computers are now a part of that,” she says.

“People think they have to be brilliant to get into these areas, but the fact is if you are willing to work hard and have a good work ethic, you can excel in most fields, including computing.”

Harriger says that STEM subjects, including computing, can definitely present challenges, but the key is for students to learn to persevere through hardship. She believes that one of the reasons U.S. students are falling behind in STEM disciplines is because people in other countries must work harder to obtain a quality education, and therefore are willing to work harder and not take it for granted.

The future

Harriger, who was born in India but moved to the United States at age 5, tells the story of her father who came from a poor family but valued education enough to work through all hardships to eventually earn a doctorate in math from Purdue and retire as a professor of math and computer science.

“Having a diverse population in STEM disciplines is critical for a global workforce,” Kelley says. “We must take a multidisciplinary approach and include multiple voices to develop sustainable solutions.”

“My dad understood the value of education to be able to rise to the level that he did,” she says. “A lot of students today take opportunities for granted.

The fact is that when you have to work hard for something, you value it more and can truly savor your successes.”

Both Kelley and Harriger agree that it will take more than the traditional approach to attract and retain more students into STEM disciplines. It will take nontraditional methods — like those they are employing — to reach more students, including those who may not have considered STEM subjects, such as underrepresented populations and women.

Harriger feels that projects like SPIRIT are useful in attracting more females into STEM (specifically computing) because they introduce the people who advise students (teachers and counselors), along with students, to the wide-ranging opportunities in the field.

“I know awareness of computing careers has definitely increased and

that we have increased the knowledge level with all three groups,” she says.

In addition to finishing up the last cohort of SPIRIT, Harriger is working on a variety of awareness-focused projects, including proposals for projects similar to SPIRIT and teaching a graduate class in the spring that focuses on human resource issues in information technology.

And she and husband Brad Harriger, a professor of mechanical engineering technology, are working with health and kinesiology experts on technology-based fitness games that she hopes could serve a dual purpose of attracting more students into STEM and computing as well as fighting the obesity epidemic.

“I’m always on a quest to get kids to see the value of STEM careers and work STEM into their future goals,” she says.

For the next few years, Kelley’s main focus will be on working with the team on the NSF grant, but he has additional STEM-related projects on the horizon as well. While the focus of the grant is students in grades 3-6, Kelley thinks

that targeting students in lower grades would be valuable as well. He has been working with preschool-aged children at the Purdue Child Development Laboratory Preschool on simple concepts, such as experiments involving moving a pingpong ball, and is encouraged by what this age group is already able to grasp.

“Studies show that girls turn off to math by the fourth grade, so it’s really never too early to begin introducing STEM concepts to children,” he says.

“I see great things with this age group, as well as K-16.”

Kim Medaris Delker is a marketing consultant with Purdue Marketing and Media Apple photo by Mark Simons

1 _ Design projects come in a variety of shapes and concepts.

2-3 _ INSPIRE teachers work with students to discuss design criteria.

4 _ Students could be designing new versions of everyday items.

5 _ An INSPIRE student shows off a final design.

6 _ Engineering design concepts incorporate a lot of hands-on activities.

Photos, except #4, by Vince Walter for the Institute for P-12 Engineering Research and Learning (INSPIRE) Summer Academy.

1 2

3 4 5 6

ON _ COURSE Developing Practical Apps Five years ago, David Nelson was thrust into the forefront of mobile phone game development.

During his junior year in the College of Technology, this computer graphics technology student and his professor, Carlos Morales, worked to create a 3-D solar system application for cell phones.

They realized they were treading on new territory.

“My professor and I went out one weekend to find books on the subject,” Nelson said. “If there had been just one book, it would have been absolutely great. But there was nothing out there to help you learn it.”

So Morales and Nelson took it upon themselves to write the book. “Mobile 3D Game Development: From Start to Market” was written in a whirlwind, three-month period in 2006. The two formed a company as well, Morvid Interactive (morvid.com), that had some initial success with creating games for national clients.

“It was kind of ahead of its time. It would have been great for a smart phone,” he said. “Technology needed to catch up with what we wanted to do.”

Technology caught up in a big way in 2007 when Apple’s iPhone was released. As other smart phones and operating systems followed, Morvid was able to be more creative with its applications.

“Our focus is creating apps for marketing agencies and brands,” he said. “The success with this has let us reinvest some of our income into our own products as well.”

The company just released an application called “HearNSpell” for the iPhone. It helps users learn how to spell and retain words at all grade levels. They also are working on an iPad application that will provide communication assistance for people who have lost the ability to speak.

Now a graduate student working on his thesis, Nelson has stepped into a consultant role at Morvid, though he plans to return to work full-time once he graduates.

“I’m very fortunate; the people we work with are big-idea people,” he said. “That pushes me to find or develop other technologies to solve our needs.”

The curriculum within computer graphics technology has prepared him well, Nelson said. From his initial class in game development and simulation to electives such as business law and entrepreneurship, he appreciated the department’s commitment to prepare him for a future after college.

Photo by Andrew Hancock

Recent graduate Rachel Kennett excelled at individual research and team participation while studying information technology at Purdue.

The Power of Data If you never recognize the work that Rachel Kennett does, that’s just fine with her. With some things she prefers to stay behind the scenes, but the effectiveness of her work still brings her pride.

Malware is distinct from traditional viruses in that it is written to hide in the background to avoid detection. Its ultimate aim is to track your computer activity, stealing your credentials and account passwords.

“I like the fact that I’m doing something that has a grand purpose,” says Kennett, a recent graduate of the computer and information technology program, about her research into malware. “It’s such a big issue, whether for a business, government or on the personal level.

It’s cool to see something you’ve started go from beginning to end and see it being used.”

The college’s research in this area is a specific focus of its broader work in cyberforensics and has allowed Kennett to work hands-on with law enforcement investigative teams, including the FBI. As she researches career options, an opportunity with the FBI is definitely an exciting proposition. “I’m drawn to government agencies,” she said. “They have so many opportunities. They are helping get criminals off the street.”

Malware is malicious software that is designed to secretly access a computer system without the owner’s consent.

For the past three years, Kennett worked extensively in the College of Technology’s Malware Lab, using her skills in database development for the analysis, documentation and reverse engineering of suspected malware programs.

Though her research in the Malware Lab is often behind the scenes, Kennett’s work in database development took center stage last spring. She joined with a team of fellow classmates to take first place out of 55 teams in the Database Design competition at the 15th annual Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP)

Collegiate Conference. The team had four hours to design a database, create a diagram, insert and manipulate data, create users, give permissions and develop queries.

“Communication was extremely important,” Kennett said. “Most projects in CIT are group focused.

It’s good to gain different views and opinions, things you may not have thought of. It’s great to be able to divide and conquer work.”

Kennett points to the hands-on, practical application of her CIT classes as playing a major role in her success. The strong faculty with industry experience was also helpful. “They’ve seen it and know what they are talking about,” says Kennett. “We work on case studies and problem statements that you might see in a real situation. Concepts sometimes don’t make sense until you see them in the real world.”

PRO _ FILES Engineering Comfort and Safety David Merrick spends his workdays improving the safety of bus and truck drivers and passengers.

He is a product development engineer for IMMI, a company based in Westfield, Ind., which specializes in advanced safety systems for commercial vehicles such as heavy trucks, buses and construction equipment.

Merrick is responsible for translating engineering ideas into practical, manufacturable and comfortable seating products. One of those products, the Premier motorcoach seat, earned his engineering team the 2009 Henry Ford II Distinguished Award for Excellence in Automotive Engineering at the SAE World Congress.

Merrick’s team was honored for designing a seat that “meshes school bus passenger safety with motorcoach comfort.” IMMI had been approached by Greyhound to create seats that were safer for passengers in the event of collision. The IMMI team adapted their company’s patented school bus seat design, which protects belted and unbelted passengers, to include comfort features, such as reclining seatbacks.

In Merrick’s 23-year career at IMMI, he has been awarded 25 patents for various inventions related to seatbelt systems, many of which are related to restraint comfort. One of his first patents was for a seatbelt buckle still used today in heavy trucks.

Merrick began his work at IMMI after graduating from Purdue with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology in 1983.

“We were told that there are 18 different ways of doing the same thing. That really helped me, because that’s a lot of what I do now. The more ways you can think of to solve a problem, eventually you’ll hit one that is optimum for your particular need,” he said.

The IMMI Premier engineering team included two other Purdue alumni, both from the School of Mechanical Engineering: project manager Chris Foye ’88 and program manager John Szalai ‘04.

Photo courtesy of IMMI

Alumnus’ job is to keep the global supply chain for Starbucks in order.

functioning flawlessly Most people probably don’t think much about the supply-chain process when they purchase a cup of coffee or a bar of soap. But one kink in the system can drastically alter the quality of the product and do irreparable damage to a brand. Shoddy service or quality can cause a loyal user of a product to go elsewhere.

Stephen Lovejoy, a 1988 alumnus of industrial technology, wholeheartedly embraces the challenge of a global supply chain. He is senior vice president for global planning and international supply chain for Starbucks Coffee Co. The company has stores in 53 countries outside of the United States, and Lovejoy is responsible for all supply-chain activities for them.

“Some activities we do the same way around the world, but some are different,” he says. “It is my responsibility to ensure that all products, from the beverages to the furniture to the planning, sourcing and delivering of products to our stores, are done with the highest levels of service and quality at the lowest

possible cost. Our baristas need to have everything necessary to allow them to delight the customer.”

Lovejoy, who is based in Seattle, spends a good portion of his time traveling to stores, regional offices, distribution centers and suppliers abroad.

“It’s an exciting challenge to experience different countries, different cultures and different languages,” he says.

“They receive their products in various ways, whether it’s by rail, air or boat.”

Lovejoy enjoys traveling internationally to different countries and speaks Spanish, but he’s not required to be proficient in the native language of every country he visits. Most of the business contacts either speak English or work through an interpreter.

Lovejoy explains the importance of the supply chain in a simple way.

“It takes the supply chain to turn what could be a good idea into a reality,” he says. “Supply chains bring ideas to life and get a product to the consumer.”

Since graduating from the College of

Technology, Lovejoy has kept busy with a variety of supply-chain-related positions. He spent his first 10 years out of college at the Clorox Co., where he held a variety of positions in plant manufacturing, product management and commercialization. He was the project leader responsible for launching a variety of commercial products and eventually became a vice president, leading the company’s efforts in the international supply chain. He also led the global supply chain for Method Products Inc. He credits his College of Technology education with giving him a firm foundation in supply-chain operations.

“My Purdue education provided me with both the engineering theory and the practical experience I needed,” he says.

Kim Medaris Delker is a marketing consultant with Purdue Marketing and Media

IN _ PERSON Extending the legacy

By Donna Beering ‘86 (AT) I’m proud to receive professional respect each time I mention that Purdue is my university. When I enrolled at Purdue, I knew that I would have an education that I would appreciate for years. And at the start of my junior year, my eyes began to open to the people who made Purdue so special.

As a member of the Purduettes of PMO, I was given opportunities to interact with staff and alumni from around the world. Some of the alumni names were the same ones I had seen on streets signs and building plaques around campus. I listened to many stories about how Purdue had contributed to their success and ability to impact their industries. Their personal stories of giving made me realize that the tuition I paid was only a partial payment for what I received. I cannot begin to imagine what the campus would be like without the generosity of alumni and friends who donated significant amounts of their wealth and time to Purdue.

As I have become one of those involved and contributing alums, I’ve enjoyed a new connection with my former teachers. I can now see fully the heart and soul faculty put into each of us and how they take personal pride in their graduates’ achievements. It has been my privilege to return to campus, lending my support to the classroom and an ear to students. Young women especially have questions about creating a complete future that includes career, marriage and family. As a woman with more than 23 years in an airline career, 20-plus years of marriage, two children and community involvement, I am most frequently asked “How did you do it all?” We have many conversations about setting priorities on a reasonable timeline. The most important lesson to impart is that there is no set blueprint. What makes life exciting is that it is dynamic.

The legacy of Purdue belongs to all of us. We need to ensure that our legacy remains one of reliability and competence through giving back to the students of today, just as we benefitted from other alumni years ago. I’m so glad that Purdue has stayed a part of my life, and that I’m a part of a family that continues to support Purdue’s future.

Background photo by Andrew Hancock

[more _ online]:  Meet the new dean of the College of Technology  Class Notes have been moved online where they will be updated quarterly along with the email newsletter.

faculty database Melissa Dark, associate dean for research and strategic planning, served as editor for “Information Assurance and Security Ethics in Complex Systems: Interdisciplinary Perspectives.” The book, released by IGI Global, an information science and technology publisher, aims to teach issues of privacy, access, safety, liability and reliability of complex systems to students and professionals in the field of information assurance and security.

William Hutzel, associate professor of mechanical engineering technology, was honored during Purdue’s annual Inventor’s Recognition Reception in November. The event recognizes those who have been awarded patents in the previous fiscal year. Hutzel has been working with Eckhard Groll, professor of mechanical engineering, to develop and test a coldclimate heat pump. They received a patent last year for an innovative control strategy for the operation of the heat pump. The project was awarded a patent previously for optimizing the performance of the heat pump cycle. The U.S. Department of Defense has agreed to fund a full-scale field demonstration of the technology at Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Ind. After the test, Groll and Hutzel intend to start the commercialization process.

Hutzel and Groll, along with researcher Stefan Bertsch, have been working on the project since 2003.

Three professors finished a textbook that has been integrated into the nationally recognized “Leadership in Organizations” text by Gary Yukl. The new text retains its title and acknowledges the contributions by Darrel Sandall, assistant professor of organizational leadership and supervision in Anderson; Abe Walton, assistant professor of industrial technology in Anderson; and Aldis Knight, limitedterm lecturer of organizational leadership and supervision.

Three professors from Purdue’s College of Technology will provide editorial leadership for “The Journal of Technology Studies” (JOTS). JOTS is the flagship, peerreviewed journal of Epsilon Pi Tau (EPT), the international honor society for technology professions. The EPT board of directors appointed Marvin Sarapin, department head and professor of computer graphics technology; Gary Bertoline, associate dean for graduate programs; and Judith Birchman, associate professor of computer graphics technology, to coordinate the publication.

Mark Shaurette, assistant professor of building construction management, has co-authored a book intended for college students and professionals in the demolition process. The book, “Demolition: Practices, Technology, and Management,” was co-authored

by Shaurette and Richard Diven, a nearly 40-year veteran in the demolition business.

Mihaela Vorvoreanu, assistant professor of computer graphics technology and organizational leadership and supervision, was one of the main contributors of a report commissioned by McAfee Inc. about the adoption of Web 2.0 in the workplace.

“Web 2.0: A Complex Balancing Act” was released in September 2010. It was called the first global study on Web 2.0 usage, risks and best practices. Vorvoreanu worked with Lorraine Kisselburgh, assistant professor of communication at Purdue, and members of Purdue’s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS) to analyze survey data and conduct expert interviews to create the final report. The report finds that there is a high adoption rate of Web 2.0 features, but many organizations worry about security risks related to its use.

Four College of Technology professors comprise the editorial team of the newly created Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering (JATE). JATE is a peerreviewed scholarly journal published

by Purdue University Press. Articles published in JATE are immediately freeto-access for readers. The editorial team includes Brent Bowen, professor of

aviation technology and head of the department, executive editor; Henry Lehrer, visiting professor of aviation technology in Indianapolis, senior editor; John Mott, clinical assistant professor of aviation technology in Indianapolis, managing editor; and Erin Bowen, visiting assistant professor of industrial technology, associate editor. In addition, Richard Fanjoy, professor of aviation technology, is one of 13 members of the editorial board.

Purdue University’s board of trustees approved faculty promotions, effective with the 2011-12 academic year: To full professor: Patrick E. Connolly, computer graphics technology; Qingyou Han, mechanical engineering technology; Rodney G. Handy, mechanical engineering technology; William J. Hutzel, mechanical engineering technology; Yi Jiang, building construction management To associate professor: Thomas J. Hacker, computer and information technology; Gregory C. Lasker, building construction management; John A. Springer, computer and information technology.

 Many of the stories in the magazine were edited for length.

The full stories are published online.  Find it all at www.tech.purdue.edu/ innovation

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INNOVATION IS ABOUT FINDING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE RELEVANT, RESPONSIVE. IT’S ABOUT RESULTS. WE FIND JOY IN THE PROCESS — GROWTH IN THE CHALLENGE. WE TAKE PRIDE IN DELIVERY. OUR IDEAS RESTORE, STREAMLINE, SECURE, TRANSFORM. WE ARE TEACHERS, LEADERS, DESIGNERS, ENTREPRENEURS, BUILDERS AND ANIMATORS. WE ARE BOILERMAKERS. AND THE TECHNOLOGIES WE MAKE MOVE THE WORLD FORWARD.

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