22 minute read
Outreach and Community Engagement
Tech for Health: Engineering Better Solutions for Mobility and Strength by Sarah Joyner
Horseback riding as a form of physical therapy for cerebral palsy patients has been well-respected and used
for decades. Known as hippotherapy, it can improve coordination, balance and strength as the patient responds to the horse’s motions.
But horses are not accessible for everyone. They’re expensive. They require food and shelter. They need space. Some patients are scared of them.
Electronic hippotherapy simulation devices— part of a field called biomechatronics—have been created in recent years to take the place of horses. But the devices have drawbacks. They don’t feel authentic. There’s no interaction between horse and riders, no feeling the moving muscles of a horse underneath. In the end, they’re a machine, not a living animal.
“They use electrical motors or some kind of mechanical system. It’s sometimes noisy,” explained Erkan Kaplanoglu, associate professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
But Kaplanoglu is trying to change that.
An expert in biomechatronics, he uses technology—like a mechanical horse—to solve physiological issues such as making rehabilitation and exercise accessible for everyone. At the eighth International Cerebral Palsy and Development Disorder Conference, Kaplanoglu will introduce some of these technological solutions.
Although it’s housed in the Department of Engineering Management and Technology, BioAstLab is collaborative in nature, working with biomedical and medical faculty at UTC, as well as other higher education institutions.
“Our lab seeks to advance the science of smart prosthesis/orthosis and rehabilitation robotics research to address health and lifestyle issues affecting individuals with physical disabilities and develop the next generation of mechatronics engineers,” Kaplanoglu explained.
For Kaplanoglu, biomechatronics is personal. About 10 years ago, a veteran friend lost his hand, and it was replaced with a prosthetic. But the hand’s functions were limited. It could open and close, providing the ability to grip items between thumb and fingers. That was about it.“He deserved better,” Kaplanoglu said. “I told myself that I need to design more, a smarter one.”
At the time, “smart prosthetics,” as he calls them, had some serious hurdles to overcome. Most were too heavy, too noisy or their batteries did not last long enough for practical use. “You can design good, multifunctional hands, but they’re going to be heavy, and people cannot wear them,” Kaplanoglu explained. “And if your battery dies in the middle of the day, that’s not good. So, you have to make sure that your design is lightweight, noiseless and has a good battery management system.”
A patient demonstrates the MarHippo system, sitting atop the simulation device and playing its game.
Working with health sciences faculty members at Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey, Kaplanoglu has helped design a better simulation device— the MarHippo. Its pneumatic muscles don’t feel so robotic. “They feel like a real horse,” he said.
Created specifically for children, MarHippo is designed to keep its younger users’ attention. Instead of just riding on a device that mimics a horse, it’s set up like a game with a screen out front providing visuals such as meandering down a trail. It has a saddle—sort of like an electric bull—a handlebar to hold and stirrups for feet.
MarHippos also are programmable for each patient, catering to the child’s individual needs. Through Bluetooth sensors, a patient’s muscles are monitored for the movements in real time.
Biomechatronics at UTC
UTC students are getting experience with biomechatronics designs through an oncampus lab dedicated to the technology. In the Biomechatronics and Assistive Technology Lab, better known as the BioAstLab, undergraduate and graduate students led by Kaplanoglu are tackling smart prosthetics and orthotic systems—braces, alignment, support—an electromyography (EMG)-controlled balance board and other biomechatronics projects designed to assist the human body.
Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu Keynote Speaker for 8th International Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Disorders Congress
The 8th International Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Disorders Congress will feature engineering management and technology associate professor Erkan Kaplanoglu as the keynote speaker.
This scientific meeting, named after Prof. Hıfzı Özcan, is of great importance for Cerebral Palsy in Turkey. Prof. Hıfzı Özcan stressed the importance of conducting research, of discussing Cerebral Palsy in scientific environments, training young people, and encouraged everyone in this direction.
Joe Dumas
Going the Distance
by Sara Jackson
Dr. Joe Dumas, UC Foundation Professor in Computer Science and Engineering, is in his 28th year as a
faculty member at UTC. The son of a
firefighter and homemaker from Mobile, Alabama, he and his sisters constantly heard about the importance of education as a tool for upward mobility. A self-proclaimed “quintessential nerd”, Dr. Dumas enjoyed being a part of his high school’s chess team and quiz bowl team. When he began attending the University of Southern Mississippi, he was uncertain what coursework would most pique his interests. He happened to take an electrical engineering technology class, and he enjoyed it so much that he ended up majoring in it. Upon receiving a bachelor’s degree, he worked briefly in Texas before deciding to pursue a career in academia. He obtained a master’s degree at Mississippi State University, and moved to Orlando, Florida to begin working on a Ph.D. at the University of Central Florida.
Since arriving at UTC, Signal Mountain has been his home, where he lives with his wife, Chereé. Their two sons are grown and have families of their own. Dr. Dumas makes the assertion that spoiling grandkids and then sending them back to their parents is way more fun than raising children full-time.
Dr. Dumas fondly remembers his professor and mentor, Ted Boggart, as someone who truly influenced his career choice. “Professor Boggart wore a leather jacket. . .and we were all terrified to disappoint him. He looked like a biker, and he knew everything!” Reminiscing about his time at UTC, Dr. Dumas is proud of his achievements. He was instrumental in creating UTC’s Computer Engineering degree and accreditation. Besides conference and journal papers, he has published two editions of a textbook for Computer Architecture. His peers have recognized Dr. Dumas for his contributions to the college and university. As he considers his time at UTC, Dr. Dumas credits the invaluable help he has received from his departmental administrative assistants as part of his successful career. When asked about memorable students, he immediately credits the McPhersons as the quintessential family of computer science and engineering students to walk the halls of EMCS.
“The move to EMCS from Grote was a big deal,” Dr. Dumas states. “I’m not sure how many faculty remember our old offices in Grote. Dr. Kizza and I are the old-timers in the department now!” Through all of his milestones, Dr. Dumas maintains his youthful attitude through his various hobbies, such as long distance running. He ran his first marathon in November 2010, and since then, he has completed 63 races of marathon distance or longer. He typically completes 6-8 per year. His goal, is “to complete at least 100 lifetime marathons and, eventually, at least one in every U.S. state. The most amazing place I have run was the Big Sur Marathon in California. It starts in a redwood forest and then you get miles of scenic vistas along the Pacific coast, including the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge at the halfway point. They also have a guy in full tux and tails playing the piano to entertain the runners as they go by.”
Looking ahead at his retirement in the next few years, Dr. Dumas has big plans. Besides skiing, tennis, and running, he is an experienced home brewer and a certified beer judge. He used to play chess frequently and wishes to get back into the hobby. He is a U.S. Chess Federation certified Senior Tournament Director. He would also like to travel more around this amazing country, preferably with his “lovely bride.” Dr. Dumas says, “We try to take a significant vacation every summer while I am not teaching classes. The pandemic denied us that opportunity last year, so we’re really looking forward to resuming summer travels!”
Dr. Dumas has infectious energy and an enthusiasm for life and learning. Referring to his upbringing, he mentions that someone with a Ph.D. in computer science, he is not even the most educated person in his family. Between him and his two sisters, they hold eight degrees, with one sister being an actual NASA rocket scientist. The lessons his parents emphasized about the value of education have truly given his life direction. Dr. Dumas, ever grateful for his health, his family, and his friends, will no doubt continue to influence all who have contact with him well after his future retirement, as he runs full steam ahead.
Joe Dumas and running partner Tony Grossi in the 2013 Boston Maraton.
Watson Refused to Let Roadblocks Stop Her From Reaching Her Goals
by Sarah Joyner
When Erin Watson walked across the commencement stage, the steps signified more than just earning a bachelor’s degree.
Earning a degree in mechatronics at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, her process was a years’ long feat of earning multiple degrees while working 30 to 35 hours a week, volunteering and, well, having a life.
But when she talks about the work it took to get where she is today, she’s not self-promoting. She’s humble and almost shrugs it off. It’s like you’re talking to her about what she had for dinner yesterday. It’s no big deal.
While earning an associate’s degree in engineering from Chattanooga State Community College, she was the only woman in her class from beginning to end. She started the program with a class of 12 people. By the end of it there were only five. But once she graduated as a certified technician and was working full-time in the field, she started hitting some bumps, especially when she would voice concerns to higher-ups about inconveniences or less-effective processes. She was always met with the same responses:
“What are your credentials?”
“Are you an engineer?”
In the face of that frustrating process, she decided that, if no one else was going to help, she would be the solution.
“I figured if I went back to college and got an actual engineering degree from a university, maybe I could put myself in that position and I could fix problems for someone else,” Watson explained.
With her cool demeanor, she makes it sound easy. Watson admitted the process was anything but.
“I would probably just try to give myself more encouragement. I went through a period where I was depressed and discouraged and I felt like I was never going to make a difference.
“I had a lot of support from my family, but as a female in a male-dominated career path, you just want encouragement from someone who understands. Someone who can tell you it will get better. Because It has gotten better.”
Eventually, she found a way to be that voice of encouragement and education for local students through the College of Engineering and Computer Science ambassador program. Her involvement began with the encouragement of her manager, Nicci Brewer, while interning at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Brewer was heavily involved in outreach and introducing young female students to engineering concepts. Watson said Brewer’s commitment was inspiring.
“My manager was very supportive and she said, ‘If you have an opportunity to get involved on campus and volunteer, definitely do that.’” Watson applied for the ambassador program, giving her the opportunity to visit local students from kindergarten through community college, introducing them to engineering and computer science programs.
UTC Outreach Coordinator Sara Jackson said when Watson interviewed for the position, she obviously ticked all the boxes. But she was going to have some huge shoes to fill.
“It took some gumption to actually apply because we have former ambassadors at Stanford. We have ambassadors who have won National Science Foundation grants to go to any graduate school they want.
“When Erin came in, she checked boxes. She was female. She was in mechatronics. She was non-traditional. I could use all those things,” Jackson explained.
“Her personality didn’t really shine, though. So I hired her because she checked boxes, not because of who she was.”
Jackson later learned that, during the interview, Watson was so sick she had to go straight to the emergency room after they spoke.
“She powered through and didn’t tell me,” Jackson added.
The great equalizer
Later, Jackson would see just how much personality Watson had, and how she would step up and deliver even at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when student outreach seemed impossible. Watson would personally call prospective students and host telephone chats so they could dial in and hear the ambassadors talk about their college experiences.
“Erin was instrumental in leading those charges and really came through for me at a very dark time,” Jackson said.
In addition to leadership, Watson has added new depth to the college’s outreach program. “Because we have her, outreach is not just recruitment,” Jackson said.
“Outreach is also education about what engineering is and what engineering could be. Because of her, we have the ability to tell our story to the community, a story that needs to be told because education is the great equalizer.
“And that’s what she exemplifies. The equalization of education and how she can have the same credentials as a man and be considered the same level in the engineering world.
“Her word should carry equal weight. I think that’s amazing because that’s very difficult in mechatronics, which is still extremely heavy on the male side. So, I’m very proud of her.”
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Father and son Greg and Mitchell Jones
Greg and Mitchell Jones Both Earned Computer Science Degrees from UTC
by Chuck Wasserstrom
Forty years ago in May 1981, Greg Jones received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Forty years later in May 2021, Mitchell Jones—the youngest of Greg’s four children—received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from UTC. Father and son. Same degree. But in the world of computer science, that’s where the similarities end. Comparing computer science circa 1981 and computer science today is akin to comparing dinosaurs to the Geico gecko. The degree isn’t even offered within the same division anymore. When Greg went to UTC, his major lived in the College of Arts and Sciences. Today, computer science is a pillar of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “Since most people today don’t know the history of computing, they would probably be surprised that the technology has gone full circle in about 40 years, unlike a lot of other fields,” said Greg, chief information officer with the Chattanooga-based Airnet Group. “As a result, all the computer science classes have changed due to the technology enhancements made over that time.”
Mitchell participated in commencement ceremonies on April 25 in McKenzie Arena. The son—like his father—calls himself a UTC alumnus with a degree in computer science.
“Graduating with the same degree as my dad has a lot of meaning to me, honestly,” Mitchell said. “We talk all the time about how much computer science has changed over the past 40 years.”
“I’m excited to see what this field will be like 40 years from now. If either my son or daughter jumps into tech, I’ll be fascinated to share their stories of how different it has become.”
Greg and Mitchell have compared notes many times while Mitchell was pursuing his degree. While a few of their UTC courses were the same, they were general education or business. Not surprisingly due to the length of time between their college days, they have had no shared professors.
“We always talk about the codes he had to deal with and hoping you got your results back in a few hours. I’m glad we don’t have to do that anymore,” Mitchell said. “It’s pretty amazing just how different it has become. With programming, there is always a constant state of learning; you’re always learning newer technologies and trying to stay ahead of the game.
“It’s neat to talk to him about it and see the advancements in technology comparatively to back then. Even though I probably know a few different languages than he does, he can keep up and we can talk about it.”
Greg admitted it was a “cool thing” whenever Mitchell showed an interest in computer science.
“Mitchell has loved computers from early on. If I ever did anything, he’d always ask me about it,” Greg said. “Fifteen to 20 years ago, it was hard to show my kids stuff on a computer because they didn’t seem to get it, but he was always intrigued by it, which I thought was pretty cool. I could say to him, ‘If I do this right here, then this right here will work.’”
Greg began working for TVA in college and was with the public power company for 13 years. Over that period, he also received a master’s in business administration from UTC in 1983.
For his master’s thesis, Greg had to run a computer program overnight. Because of the size of the program, the job couldn’t be run during regular business hours.
“I would get one three-hour window each night to run my statistical models on the University’s mainframe, and then the next night I would try it again. It was a labor-intensive, very slow process.
“Now, it’s so advanced that the same program can be run in minutes or less,” he said.
Greg said he grew up in a blue-collar household in Hixson and was the first college-educated person in his family. Most of his family members were tradesmen, and “My dad used to try to teach me mechanics and all that kind of stuff.
Greg Jones when he graduated from UTC in 1981.
“One day he told me, ‘You need to go to talk to your mom about college because you’re not getting this mechanic stuff,’” Greg said with a laugh.
“I started as a math major, then I took a computer class and really got into it. The rest is history. As my dad says, I became an intellectual mechanic instead of a physical mechanic.”
Mitchell took a different route to UTC. He was home-schooled before enrolling in a program at
Chattanooga State Community College that offered two years of free tuition.
“But my goal was to get a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and I wanted to go to
UTC,” he said. “Knowing my dad went there and knowing it was a good school, there wasn’t anywhere else where I wanted to go.”
Mitchell is interning at Coyote Logistics while he completes his studies. He has accepted an offer from the global logistics provider to begin working for the company full-time.
“I’m proud of Mitchell for finishing his degree because technology is hard. I mean, all degrees are hard, but I would always tell my kids: Get a degree in something you can make a living at,” Greg said. “And what I found out during my career is that the computer science path was in high demand then, and 40 years later, it’s still in high demand. So that says Mitchell is going to have a lifelong career of employment opportunity and a decent lifestyle.”
When students leave the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, they do so with more than just a diploma in hand. Take Amanda Hodges, a 2016 UTC graduate who, upon her entrance into a college education, never would have guessed the direction of her career or the achievements it would reap.
She had succeeded in STEM in high school, and envisioned for herself work in a lab one day. Though craftsmanship was an influential generational given in her family, the possibility of a career in the manufacturing industry was the furthest thing from her mind. Her acceptance of an adventitious manufacturing internship marked for her the completion of an unconscious puzzle. Now, having received the honor of being chosen as one of the 2020 STEP Ahead Emerging Leaders, Hodges is certain that she chose one of the most fulfilling careers possible.
Her day-to-day involves critical thinking and problem solving that produces tangible effects. “Manufacturing,” she says, “is a place where ideas become reality. I thrive in an environment where creativity is encouraged, and the results are very tangible. Every day is different and filled with new challenges. I am honored to be part of an industry which continues to change our world.” Of her company in particular, she says that “BASF has been a really great steward for me in taking those steps to become an emerging leader.”
The result of this initiative is clear: reception of a STEP Ahead Award, which is granted annually to women in science, technology, engineering, and math fields who have exhibited leadership within their organizations.
For Hodges, the willingness to lead has been easy to muster given the stimulating career in which she takes pride. She gets a taste of a wide variety of projects and products, making her path well-suited to the “jack of all trades” worker who seeks to positively affect those around them.
Hodges’ interest in what would become her livelihood was cultivated by the craftsmanship of her father and grandfathers. They impacted her. In turn, she seeks to impact others, and her role at BASF allows her to see the results of her efforts on a daily basis. Additionally, she takes an active role in impressing the value of craft and manufacturing in turn as her models did for her. Her work with local STEM Days and as a volunteer with BASF’s Kids’ Lab during National Chemistry Week at local Orchard Knob Elementary School is beneficial to a host of young students, and particularly young girls, as they are exposed to a whole host of career paths they might have thought unexplorable. STEM paths are worth exploration in the lives of women and girls both worldwide and in Chattanooga, where Hodges proves herself an adept leader at BASF and is recognized, through the 2020 STEP Ahead Awards, for her achievements.
To women and girls interested in adding their footsteps to the manufacturing mix Hodges would say “expect it to be super rewarding” as you come to realize exactly “how you can impact your community.” Congratulations to Amanda Hodges on this accomplishment!
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Tammy Womack
Electrical Engineering - Class of 08
Marjorie Parsons
Electrical Engineering - Class of 99
UTC Engineering Grads Discuss Life in the Real World
by Shawn Ryan
Tammy Womack had planned to be a high school math teacher … until she started talking about becoming an engineer. Maybe.
“Somebody told me that I couldn’t do that,” she said. “Many people who know me know that my personality does not mix very well with being told ‘No,’ and that I don’t have the ability to do something.”
She enrolled in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1998 and a master’s degree in engineering in 2008.
Marjorie Parsons, meanwhile, graduated from UTC with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1999.
Both now work at the Tennessee Valley Authority, Womack for 10, Parsons for 33 years. Both are proof that women can be very successful engineers, despite some people’s perception that they aren’t.
Parsons shot that belief out of the water in 2019 when she was selected for the O.J. “Ike” Zeringue Award as TVA Engineer of the Year, the organization’s highest honor for an engineer. She is the first woman chosen for the award, which is named after the former TVA president, chief operating officer and chief nuclear officer.
“I’m very honored to be chosen as TVA’s Engineer of the Year. I am even more excited about being the first woman to receive this award and, with engineering becoming more diverse, I’m confident that there will be many more women to follow,” she said when she received the award.
That same year, she was selected as one of the top 10 professional engineers in federal government by the National Society of Professional Engineers. The two awards are not only personally gratifying, she said, they also show that the glass ceiling for women in engineering is cracking.
“I’m very happy about that,” said Parsons, now senior program manager in TVA’s Transmission Planning Department, which focuses on new and more efficient ways for the utility’s vast electrical power networks.
As an engineer—be it electrical, chemical, civil, industrial, whatever—you must be willing to work hard, sometimes switching companies in order to move up the chain of experience, Parsons said.
“Just remember, engineering is not easy. It’s not meant to be easy.”
Now a nuclear program manager in electrical engineering projects, Womack analyzes “anything and everything” about power coming from electric transmission networks into TVA’s nuclear power plants.
Dealing with those who look down their noses at her is a pain, but she just goes on with her job and pretty much ignores the naysayers. She admitted that it’s a good feeling to prove she’s as good an engineer as anyone.
“There’s people you run into that you sort of want to pinch their heads off and not deal with it, but you don’t remember it as much as you remember the triumph. You don’t remember it as much as you remember winning the fight. Sometimes you just like a good fight,” she said.
