Foresight - Fall/Winter 2022

Engineering Community Engagement

UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Carrell Family Dean Cameron Wright Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education David Mukai

Associate Dean, Graduate Education and Research David Bagley

Associate Dean for Program Integration, Daniel Dale

Director, Business Operations Mēgan Barber College Affairs Coordinator Jeanne Moede

Departments:

Atmospheric Science

Jeff French, Head 307-766-3245 | uwyo.edu/atsc

Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Patrick Johnson, Head 307-766-2500 | uwyo.edu/chemical Chemistry

Debashis Dutta, Head 307-766-4363 | uwyo.edu/chemistry

Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management

Tony Denzer, Head 307-766-2390 | uwyo.edu/civil Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Bryan Shader, Interim Head 307-766-2279| uwyo.edu/EECS

Energy and Petroleum Engineering

Vamegh Rasouli, Head 307-766-4258 | uwyo.edu/petroleum Geology and Geophysics

Mark Clementz, Head 307-766-3386 | uwyo.edu/geolgeophys

Mathematics and Statistics

Jason Williford, Head 307-766-4221 | uwyo.edu/mathstats

Mechanical and Energy Systems Engineering

Erica Belmont, Head 307-766-2122 | uwyo.edu/mechanical

Physics and Astronomy

Jinke Tang, Head 307-766-6150 | uwyo.edu/physics

School of Computing

Gabrielle Allen, Director 307-766-5299 | uwyo.edu/soc

*Thank you to all contributing writers for creating a dynamic and diverse collection of content.

Foresight is created twice per year as a collaboration between CEPS and UW Institutional Marketing. For additional copies, contact us at 307-766-3256.

The University is committed to equal opportunity for all persons in all facets of the University’s operations. All qualified applicants for employment and educational programs, benefits, and services will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law and University policy.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: ENGINEERING THE FUTURE

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

At the University of Wyoming’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, we are driven by the desire to magnify the impact of academic research by tackling society’s toughest challenges.

Throughout the history of our college, we have collaborated with communities throughout the state of Wyoming and beyond to develop solutions that establish positive change.

How much history are we talking about? Would you have guessed 125 years? Yes, the first UW engineering graduate was in 1897!

As we move forward for another 125 years and more, we are building from our strong past; working to overcome the energy and technology challenges facing today’s world in the present; and devising strategies to make our nation and world safer and more technologically sound as we move forward.

This is a wonderful time to be in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. The current challenges facing society highlight the critical importance of engineering and the physical sciences. We take problems and turn them into action, drive, community building, and progress. At the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, we bring the expertise, skills and experience to revolutionize the world. Read more about our recent college name change in this issue.

Our strong synergy of education, research and community engagement can be seen throughout the pages of this issue’s Foresight Magazine. Our faculty are exemplary teachers, scholars and collaborators who bring their expertise from a wide range of areas. Our programs thrive in a rich mix of resources within the university and the community. And our students are fearless practitioners and leaders who will transform STEM research and education.

Our college’s world-class centers and programs advance knowledge and work toward overcoming critical challenges facing society. Our college’s community-engaged emphasis pushes the envelope by working collaboratively with partners in Wyoming and beyond to develop, implement and evaluate the changes we want to see and be in the world.

I invite you to learn more about our faculty and students and the many opportunities that our college provides.

Sincerely,

Cameron H.G. Wright Carrell Family Dean College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Editors Caitlyn Spradley, Micaela Myers, Chad Baldwin

Graphic Design Michelle Eberle, Emily Edgar, Hallie Davis, Casidy Mittelstadt and Brittny Wroblewski Photography Ted Brummond unless noted

WeLcome

Name change for college brings new departments and new opportunities

name.

A name change for the College of Engineering and Applied Science to the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences was made to better reflect the academic majors, programs and departments in the college. The new name is consistent with the names of other colleges across the country offering similar programs.

“We are excited about the new name of the college,” says Cameron Wright, Carrell Family Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. “Even with the new name, we continue to celebrate our rich history which remains a part of our being. The mission of our college has not changed, it just involves more departments and degree programs now. This is simply the next chapter in our history as we continue to serve our students.”

The name change was approved by the UW Board of Trustees, as part of UW’s recent restructuring, which has involved reorganizing the College of Arts and Sciences and the former colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Engineering and Applied Science to better align the life and physical sciences and the humanities, social sciences and arts. This involves the movement of several academic departments — some that already have taken place and others that will be completed over the next year.

“It’s important that a college name reflects the departments of the college, and also imbues a sense of belonging to our people in those departments,” says Dean Wright. “I think this new name provides that.”

The College of Engineering and Physical Sciences will continue to offer its programs, with the addition of the departments of Chemistry, Geology and Geophysics, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics and Astronomy to the roster.

“Bringing these departments into the college is a great opportunity and a cause for celebration,” says Wright. “We often collaborated with them in the past, but having them all under one college makes such collaborations easier. And it opens students’ eyes to the many choices they have for courses, projects, research, and other activities.”

There will be a period of transition for the new names to be reflected on everything from signs in front of the colleges’ buildings to the UW website and printed materials. Additionally, students registering for classes shouldn’t expect to see the new names in the registration process until next year.

“Just as the overall restructuring is taking time to implement, it will be a gradual process for the new names of two of our colleges to be fully represented physically and digitally.

The CEPS today consists of the following departments:

• Atmospheric Science

• Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

• Chemistry

• Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

• Energy and Petroleum Engineering

• Geology and Geophysics

• Mathematics and Statistics

• Mechanical and Energy Systems Engineering

• Physics and Astronomy

This is a year of change for our academic enterprise in many respects, and we would ask for understanding from our constituents as we implement the transition, which could be confusing at times,” UW Provost and Executive Vice President Kevin Carman says. “What should not be confusing is that two colleges that have long been central to UW’s land-grant mission — focused on agriculture and engineering — continue to have that focus and are being strengthened through this reorganization. The new names reflect the colleges’ continued commitment while describing the complementary departments coming their way.”

For more information on the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, visit www.uwyo.edu/ceas

Friends of the University of Wyoming may have noticed a recent change to the College of Engineering and Applied Science — its

The UW Geological Museum features a variety of rocks, which are divided into three basic types depending on their formation.

ENJOYING A GOOD TIME

For a fifth year, the University of Wyoming Geological Museum and the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) welcomed more than 320 visitors, in celebration of Earth Science Week, to their “Wyoming Rocks: Critical Resources for a Sustainable Future.”

“This event highlights why Wyoming’s rocks are important to us as humans, the state, the country and

even the world,” says Laura Vietti, UW Geological Museum and collections manager. “We hope to instill a sense of pride and understanding of how important Wyoming’s rocks are and why we are so fortunate to live where we do.”

The event at the Geological Museum featured activities highlighting a sustainable future and some of Wyoming’s finite resources,

such as minerals, critical elements and the rocks we find that play a critical role today and in our future.

“We don’t realize how many items in our households are made from minerals,” says Christina George, WSGS outreach and publications manager. “From the food we eat to the material used in building our houses, minerals are involved.”

Geology is a branch of science that studies the earth, and geologists are the scientists who conduct these studies. The efforts of geologists benefit humankind in many ways by making

Laura Vietti, UW Geological Museum and collections manager.

Maija Veinbergs points at a display case in the Geological Museum.

The UW Geological Museum during the “Wyoming Rocks: Critical Resources for a Sustainable Future” community event in celebration of Earth Science Week.

human existence safer and easier.

Earth Science Week 2022 celebrated “Earth Science for a Sustainable World,” a theme that emphasizes the essential role of earth sciences in helping people make decisions that maintain and strengthen the planet’s ability to support thriving life, according to the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), which has organized the national and international event since 1998.

“Many of our students’ first interaction with UW is through the UW Geological Museum,” says Vietti. “This event is a wonderful way to generate a positive association and love for the university that we hope will encourage them to come back for their college education. We have several current and past students who’ve said the museum has played a key role in why they chose to come to UW.”

What makes this event unique is the geologic processes that have helped shape Wyoming and the clues

left behind in these rocks. Minerals are the building blocks of rocks, and rocks are divided into three basic types depending on their formation: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary.

“Wyoming has an incredible geologic record, and our Department of Geology and Geophysics and the UW Geological Museum reflect the importance and prominence of geology in the state,” says Vietti. “This event condenses much of what we do as researchers at UW into tangible and understandable concepts that we hope convey how important Wyoming’s rock resources are.”

The event featured hands-on activities, including a scavenger hunt in the museum’s “Hero’s Rock Collection”; making a rock identification kit of where critical minerals in Wyoming are extracted; and a creative art activity.

“We hope that the community takes away a sense of wonder and pride about Wyoming’s rocks and recognizes

how important and special they are in today’s world and for a sustainable future,” says Vietti.

The event included partnerships with the UW School of Energy Resources and UW Art Museum. Wyoming Homeland Security provided promotional items about earthquake preparedness, an important step for the future. Earthquakes occur regularly in Wyoming, and it is essential to be prepared.

In addition to the hands-on activities, the Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium offered two free showings of “Leftovers! Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, and Rings” during the event.

“We want to inspire future generations of geologists and interest in geology in general, and this is a great way to do so,” says Vietti.

To learn more about the UW Geological Museum and upcoming public events, visit www.uwyo.edu/ geomuseum

Visitors of the “Wyoming Rocks: Critical Resources for a Sustainable Future” community event were able to dig into a variety of featured activities highlighting a sustainable future and some of Wyoming’s finite resources, such as minerals, critical elements and the rocks we find that play a critical role today and in our future.

UW Spinout Company Receives $1.2M Grant to Fund Research and Development of Advanced Technologies

By Ron Podell

A Laramie business that originated at the University of Wyoming has received a $1.2 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant from the U.S. Department of Energy that will be used to fund the continued development and commercialization of instrumentation platforms for the nondestructive manipulation and analysis of micro- and nano-sized materials.

“Particle identification and manipulation on the micro- to nanoscale level are increasingly necessary for advanced technologies,

such as the semiconductor and electronics industries and nuclear forensics and nuclear nonproliferation,” says Kristin Di Bona, CEO and co-founder of Wyonics and an adjunct professor of chemistry at UW. “An advanced instrumental platform will be developed and prototyped to specifically manipulate and analyze these small particles. A key application of the technology will be the analysis of very small individual particles of actinide-containing materials, which is critical to ongoing nuclear nonproliferation efforts.”

Radioactive elements,

such as uranium and plutonium used in nuclear power and nuclear weapons, are considered actinides.

Caleb Hill, an associate professor of chemistry at UW and co-director of UW’s Nuclear Energy Research Center, is the other co-founder of Wyonics.

Wyonics is a scientific innovation company founded in 2017, with the mission to develop sustainable technologies for Wyoming and beyond. The company’s scientific staff, which brings together researchers from the UW Department of Chemistry and the private sector, possesses a combined expertise spanning the chemical, biological and materials science fields. Additional ongoing projects at Wyonics include the development and commercialization of low-temperature processes for the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements and other critical materials from alternative sources and the development of biodegradable filtration materials to combat future pandemics.

The SBIR Phase II grant runs for two years, beginning this month and ending in August 2024.

Hill will receive a

$200,000 subcontract from this work, which will fund the work of one full-time UW graduate student and two or three UW undergraduate students during the grant’s duration. Declan McDonald, a senior from Littleton, Colo., majoring in chemistry and chemical engineering, is a part of the research team.

This award continues and advances the work from the company’s $200,000 Phase I grant obtained last year, Di Bona says.

“Phase I thoroughly demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed technology, showing that it can serve as an ideal tool for the manipulation of small-scale particles and is compatible with any desired ex situ analytical methods,” she says. “Phase II will focus on the continued development of the manipulation platform demonstrated in Phase I, with the ultimate goal of producing a functional prototype system for commercialization.

Prototyping, software development, customer outreach and beta testing in Phase II will produce a robust commercial-ready platform, capable of meeting the needs of current and emerging high-tech applications.”

Kristin Di Bona and Caleb Hill.

A team of University of Wyoming students was the first from Wyoming to be selected and participate in NASA’s 2022 Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams (NExT) engineering design challenge.

Five undergraduate students in the UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, dubbed the Wyoming Space Wranglers, designed and built the Cowboy Claw, a lunar reusable surface anchoring device. Team members were Cameron Ball, from Colorado Springs, Colo.; Forrest Bucholz, of Alpine; Reese Romero, from Cody; James Sheets, of Powell; and Daniel Wenger, from Vale, Ore.

“We were ecstatic to hear that we had been accepted to the Micro-g NExT challenge,” says Sheets, who graduated this spring. “After several months of deliberation, NASA released the accepted teams in the form of an acceptance video. We were very happy to hear our name called. We were selected alongside other large schools in the nation, who had teams much larger than ours.”

Micro-g NExT encourages undergraduate students to design, build and test a tool or device that addresses an authentic, current space

UW Student Team

First From Wyoming to Participate in NASA Design Challenge

exploration challenge. The experience includes hands-on engineering design, test operations and public outreach. Micro-g NExT provides a unique opportunity for students to contribute to NASA’s missions, as the design challenges are identified by NASA engineers as necessary in space exploration missions.

“The challenge provided an opportunity to invent something new,” Sheets says. “It was really a great opportunity to tinker.” Wenger says his favorite part of the experience was rapid prototyping and testing.

“It’s one thing to spend a lot of time designing a project on paper and building it once, but we had the chance to try lots of different ideas and test new parts every day,” he says. “I think we were able to use a lot of creativity.”

The 2022 challenges focused on the lunar surface extravehicular activity (EVA) operations of Artemis, NASA’s lunar exploration program. The three challenges involved designing an EVA sample size location calibration marker; an EVA sample bag and dispenser; and a lunar reusable surface anchoring device.

The Wyoming Space Wranglers participated in the third challenge. The objective was to design and manufacture an anchoring mechanism that is able to provide holding force on a variety of objects with different types of surfaces.

“Our main inspirations for the design were the dexterity and versatility of the human hand,” Sheets says. “Inside the human hand, the knuckle joints are known as compliant mechanisms. They bend to accomplish a goal and then return to their original shape. We mimicked this by creating joints out of a 3D printed thermoplastic polyurethane that is available in the University of Wyoming Innovation Wyrkshop. These joints, in combination with stainless steel tendons, allowed for our device to maintain a strong grip

WATCH A VIDEO MICRO-G NEXT 2022 TESTING –UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

The Cowboy Claw undergoing NBL testing and the official University of Wyoming Space Wranglers Cowboy Claw logo.

on a variety of rocks. Our team used these two key aspects of the design to create a lightweight, reusable, durable and nonpenetrative device.”

The importance of an anchoring mechanism in space is mission critical.

“The Cowboy Claw is intended to allow astronauts to tether themselves, their gear or other EVA devices to the lunar surface,” Ball says. “A quickly established anchoring point enables astronauts to safely conduct their research. Additionally, anchoring devices, such as ours, can be applied to other manned or unmanned future space exploration efforts to Mars and beyond. Furthering mankind’s understanding of the lunar environment will help us understand our world better and help prepare us for future planets that await us.”

The Cowboy Claw was delivered to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston at the end of May. Micro-g NExT coordinators and NASA personnel examined the UW team’s device as well as the other selected teams’ devices.

“We felt a combination of excitement, stress and nervousness through the challenge process,” Sheets says. “The timeline for the development of this device was extremely fast, so we had to rapidly manufacture the device and quickly test it. This led to a lot of worries about if our idea would work or not. It ended up exceeding our expectations.”

In June, the UW team participated in a test readiness review before traveling to Houston to have its project tested by professional divers in the NASA Johnson Space Center Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), a simulated microgravity environment.

“It was a lot of fun to watch the divers test our device in the NBL, and the testing experience felt very authentic,” Sheets says. “Our device first had to pass through a safety check to ensure nobody got

hurt. Then, we were able to brief the diver with some instructions before use.”

WATCH A VIDEO

NASA’S 2022 MICRO-G NEXT CHALLENGE SELECTION. UW STARTS AT 19:30

When it came time for the Cowboy Claw to be tested, the Wyoming Space Wranglers were allowed to sit in a control room and supervise the test.

“One of our team members was allowed to communicate with the diver over radio to provide instructions, and all of this was broadcast to the rest of the schools at the NBL,” Sheets says. “Perhaps the most fun was watching how devices from other schools performed. Some schools had some designs that were fairly similar to ours, and other teams went in entirely different directions. Of course, we were excited to see the Cowboy Claw hold its own against devices from large and well-known institutions.”

Ball, who graduated in May with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, will begin his career with Lockheed Martin in Colorado, where he will work in the company’s space division. He says he would like to see other UW students be part of the Micro-g NExT experience.

“I hope that future UW senior design teams or students in some kind of a ‘NASA challenges club’ follow in our footsteps,” Ball says.

For more about the NASA Micro-g NExT challenge, visit microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov/about-micro-g-next.

The Space Wranglers in the Mission Control room.

An Out

It was a chilly, clear October night at the top of Jelm Mountain, where the Wyoming Infrared Observatory rests — perfect conditions for the nearly 150 curious minds and enthusiastic stargazers to observe the night sky during the observatory’s annual open house.

Michael Brotherton and Chip Kobulnicky, both professors of physics and astronomy at the University of Wyoming, along with 15 volunteers led the public viewing.

Brotherton and Kobulnicky operated the Wyoming Infrared Observatory’s 2.3-meter telescope to give community members a glimpse of the night sky, from binary stars to star clusters and planetary nebulas.

“The WIRO Open House is often the largest public outreach event for the Department of Physics and Astronomy with the local Wyoming community,” says Brotherton. “This event serves as an opportunity to share with the public an explanation for what we’re doing in the strange building on the top of Jelm Mountain that many see and have questions about.”

The event attracted people young and old from across Wyoming for the chance to catch a glimpse of the immense, fascinating universe through a powerful telescope.

“The WIRO telescope is a big, impressive machine and it can be empowering to use it and a very visceral experience,” says Brotheron. “This event is an experience where people can feel connected directly to the universe beyond

UW Department of Physics and Astronomy welcomes the public for annual open house.

Department of Physics and Astronomy Professor Chip Kobulnicky prepares the Wyoming Infrared Observatory 2.3-meter telescope for viewers before the annual WIRO open house.

of World

Educational Experience

our own world that is not possible in any other way.”

The observatory is a unique resource to the area. It’s the only observatory in southern Wyoming and ranks as one of the premier infrared observatories in the world.

Brotherton says the observatory should be used to share science with the community as much as possible.

“Astronomy is one of the most accessible of the sciences,” says Brotherton. “It is literally just looking out into space to see what is there and how it relates to us on Earth. We’ve learned so many fundamental things about our universe through astronomy, like how old the universe is, how space is expanding, how far away the stars are and what they’re made of. It’s hard to overstate what these discoveries mean to our civilization.”

Educational fun was certainly the goal of the annual WIRO open house, as visitors not only experienced looking through the telescope, but also heard about the history of the observatory and infrared astronomy. They also learned how the telescope is controlled, and what science and research is conducted at WIRO.

“People

are two answers,” says Kobulnicky. “First, understanding space and our sun can help protect Earth from things like impacting asteroids or solar storms. But secondly, it also shows us how vast and amazing the cosmos is, helping us to appreciate it in the way we might do with art or music or the rest of nature. Astronomy is the final frontier, as they say in ‘Star Trek.’ Understanding what is out there now might prepare us for voyages to other planets and other star systems in the far future.”

As the night went on, guests were able to look at the Cat’s Eye Nebula, as well as the globular star cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules. Being able to observe the night’s sky is one of the main ways people begin their obsessions with astronomy.

“A lot of school children are fascinated by space,” says Kobulnicky. “Astronomy serves as an engagement point for young people who we want to encourage into science and engineering careers. We want young people to see college and, hopefully, UW as part of their future.”

While the next public WIRO open

Parker (foreground) and graduate student Noah Cowper (background) perform liquid

house won’t be for another year, there are several other event opportunities the public can engage with until then. The public can visit the UW Planetarium’s website at www.uwyo.edu/physics/ planetarium to check out the weekly public shows and observatory nights, where the public can observe the night’s sky through the Department of Physics and Astronomy’s 16-inch STAR telescope on the roof of the Physical Sciences Building.

The department also takes telescopes to schools and community groups for evening viewing events. Groups can arrange a stargazing event by calling (307) 766-6150 or emailing physics@uwyo.edu.

“Wyoming is a great place for astronomy because the skies are dark and everyone can enjoy the night sky from their backyard,” says Kobulnicky.

ask why astronomy is important, and there

Left: Department of Physics and Astronomy Assistant Professor Max Moe directs a visitor in viewing the M13 globular star cluster through the eyepiece of the Wyoming Infrared Observatory 2.3-meter telescope. Above: Undergraduate student Brock

nitrogen demonstrations for the rapt audience of public attendees.

The University of Wyoming’s inaugural Saddle Up College Preparation Camp launched this fall 2022 semester. This required camp specifically for incoming first-year students introduced the style, pace and intensity of university coursework and prepared students to transition into university education. Throughout the week-long camp students were guided with plenty of opportunities to connect with faculty, staff and of course the students who will be part of their college journey over the next several years. Saddle Up was a partnership between the University of Wyoming Office of Academic Affairs and the Student Success and Graduation Hub.

Learn more about Saddle Up at www.uwyo.edu/saddle-up/.

224 Engineering students

Developed a sense of community

UW Research Scientist Aids Hurricane Response in Dominican Republic

By Ron Podell

After Hurricane Fiona rocked the Dominican Republic, Ramesh Sivanpillai received the call.

On Sept. 20, the University of Wyoming senior research scientist in the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC) was tapped by the International Charter Space and Major Disasters to be the project manager for its hurricane response efforts. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initiated the response and nominated Sivanpillai as the project manager.

Hurricane Fiona unleashed heavy rains in the Dominican Republic, which resulted in extreme flooding. More than 12,400 people were displaced; two communities were cut off due to the hurricane; and at least one death was reported due to a falling tree. Additionally, authorities closed ports, beaches and at least four international airports, according to various news reports.

“The International Charter allowed experts from various continents to come together for collecting, processing and delivering time-

sensitive satellite data and products,” says Sivanpillai, who conducted his work from the Laramie campus. “As the frequency of these disasters continues to increase, data and products provided by the International Charter will be crucial for response and recovery activities. It is very difficult for a country to set up the infrastructure and launch a sufficient number of satellites to replicate what can be accomplished through this international partnership.”

As project manager, Sivanpillai’s job was to evaluate the quality of the satellite images and oversee data collection and map production before sending the information to the end users and agencies in the Dominican Republic.

“We received satellite images from many space agencies. We acquired and analyzed satellite — pre- and postflood — images for identifying flooded areas and, in some cases, damages to infrastructure and buildings,” he says. “It was really encouraging to see the cooperation from so many countries to help out the Dominican Republic during this tough time.”

Sivanpillai says he received emails from the end user in the Dominican Republic’s National Emergency Commission saying that maps provided were “very useful for their planning and damage assessment activities.” The user also requested maps and products in Spanish so that response crews could disseminate and use the information widely.

“One of the challenges, while working in tropical regions, is the presence of clouds. This means many of the images we collect might not contain useful information,” Sivanpillai says. “However, radar images can penetrate the clouds and collect information about inundated areas. He (the user) requested more data and products from the radar satellites. Unfortunately, we have relatively fewer satellites that collect radar data in comparison to those that collect data in other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.”

The Emergency Commission wrote to Sivanpillai that the cloud-free portions of images were extremely useful for damage assessment of structures and buildings.

Charter Origins

The International Charter Space and Major Disasters, formed in 1999 by the United Nations, consists of members from 17 charter countries and has responded to disasters in 154 countries, providing free satellite data from 270 contributing satellites for the impacted regions. To date, there have been 786 activations.

The organization is a worldwide collaboration, through which satellite data are made available for the benefit of disaster management. By combining Earth observation assets from different space agencies, the charter allows resources and expertise to be coordinated for rapid response to major disaster situations, thereby helping civil protection authorities and the international humanitarian community.

This unique initiative is able to mobilize agencies around the world and benefit from their know-how and their satellites through a single access point that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and at no cost to the user.

Sivanpillai says he likely received the call to lead because he has experience working on major disasters. In 2011, he was tapped by the charter to assist with major flooding along the Mississippi River that started in Illinois, an event

that lasted roughly five months. Two years before that, Sivanpillai was selected by the USGS for project manager training in Denver. While a student at Texas A&M University in 1999, he volunteered to help with relief efforts in Nicaragua.

In 2018, Sivanpillai was again called by the charter to serve as a project manager for the Camp Fire that engulfed the town of Paradise, a community located in northern California.

“Hurricane Fiona in the Dominican Republic is my third activation, and the first one outside the U.S.,” he says of his active assignment that lasted through Oct. 9. Sivanpillai says he has two and a half weeks to submit his final report.

Since this activation in late September, the charter has been activated for providing data and products about Hurricane Fiona to Canada and the Turks and Caicos Islands; Typhoon Noru to the Philippines, Laos and Thailand; and flooding in Venezuela, Sivanpillai says.

For more about the charter activation response to Hurricane Fiona in the Dominican Republic, go to disasterscharter.org. For a list of countries involved and charter members, go to disasterscharter.org.

“It was really encouraging to see the cooperation from so many countries to help out the Dominican Republic during this tough time.”

— Ramesh Sivanpillai

UW’s Nguyen Receives Grant to Study Reliability of Clean Power Systems Through Machine Learning

By Ron Podell

Nga Nguyen, in the University of Wyoming’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has received a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant of $503,459 for her project titled “Optimal Operation of Large-Scale Energy Storage Systems to Improve Reliability of Clean Power Systems Using Machine Learning.”

Despite providing environmental benefits, the rapid integration of renewable energy resources and EVs is expected to increase operational challenges for the grid. Nguyen hopes her research will be able to meet these operational challenges.

“To mitigate these negative impacts and take advantage of high renewable energy sources and EV penetration, energy storage systems can be used due to their fast response and high storage capacity,” says Nguyen, who is the principal investigator of the project. “However, given the current cost scenario of storage technologies, deployments of energy storage systems

can be economically impracticable if not properly located and sized.”

Nguyen’s project proposes to create advanced operation and control strategies for energy storage systems with optimal siting, sizing and technology to maximize system reliability under stability constraints while facilitating higher integration of renewable energy resources and EVs.

“Due to the presence of many uncertain variables and diverse constraints, this project develops a deep neural network technique inside Monte-Carlo simulations to solve composite reliability to reduce the computational burden,” Nguyen says of the broad class of computational algorithms that rely on repeated random sampling to obtain numerical results. “The proposed research would have significant impacts on the operation of the modern power grid with the targets being multiple economic, technical, environmental and societal benefits.”

According to Nguyen, the benefits include:

• Increasing public awareness of the requirement that renewable energy resources/EV-integrated energy systems must be sufficiently stable and resilient while enhancing environmental quality.

• Fostering economic development by providing optimal operation and energy management.

• Facilitating social equity by increasing electric production with high power quality to more customers.

• Promoting a clean environment by advancing the integration of clean energy production via renewable energy resources and through the use of EVs. This would facilitate the reduction of the power grid’s dependence on fossil fuels.

The proposed framework also can potentially shape research in supporting the application of machine learning in power system reliability and can act as an initial step toward more early warning tools, operator decision support tools and better grid asset management, Nguyen says.

John Pierre, a professor, and Dongliang Duan, an associate professor — both in the UW Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science — are assisting Nguyen on the grant. The project also includes funding for three undergraduate students and two graduate students, she says.

Another notable impact of the grant will be the integration of educational and outreach activities to the state’s community colleges and K-12 students. The proposed project also will foster new collaborations between the principal investigators and researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, headquartered in Albuquerque, N.M.

Recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award

Community Engagement

By Kaitlyn Polley

Joseph Leimkuhler’s introduction to the University of Wyoming was unique, and it was something that forever changed his life. After earning his undergraduate degree in geology and forestry from the University of Montana in 1981, he moved to Wyoming to work on drilling rigs as a mud engineer. There, Leimkuhler met Jack Evers, the former head of petroleum engineering at UW. Originally, Leimkuhler had planned to attend law school following his work on drilling rigs, but Evers had a different plan. Evers encouraged Leimkuhler to complete the engineering coursework needed for a master’s in engineering. In 1985, after completing the necessary undergraduate work, Leimkuhler, his wife Stephanie, and their two children moved to Laramie as Leimkuhler began working on his master’s in petroleum engineering.

Joining the UW community has been one of the most impactful decisions Leimkuhler has made, he says, and it has continued to serve him well over his career as an engineer. When he graduated with his master’s in 1987, Leimkuhler felt he had all of the skills and knowledge he needed to successfully run drilling rigs. With this skillset, he hit the ground running and started working for Shell in the Gulf of Mexico.

“We were drilling wells at 7,000 feet of water, which was the deepest in the world at the time,” Leimkuhler says. “I was always just thrilled to be doing what I was doing at the time because it was always unique, always a challenge. I managed to progress and eventually lead that organization. Sometimes you wake up and pinch yourself — how did I get here?”

Leimkuhler worked his way up through Shell to the position of offshore well delivery manager for the Americas before he left to join LLOG Exploration Co. in 2012. At LLOG, he served as vice president of drilling and helped grow the company into the largest private oil producer in the U.S. and the fourth largest offshore producer. Then, in 2019, Leimkuhler took on a new challenge of building Beacon Offshore Energy from the ground up as the chief operating

officer. Currently, Beacon is based out of both Houston, Texas, and Covington, Louisiana, and operates six subsea fields and one drilling rig in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico.

Leimkuhler and his wife live in Mandeville, Louisiana, and while they are quite a distance from UW, they still keep the university near to their hearts. He recalls that some of his fondest memories at UW include walking with his young children to see basketball and football games and flying paper airplanes off the top deck of War Memorial Stadium when he was still a master’s student.

As a way of giving back to UW, Leimkuhler serves on the Dean’s National Advisory Council for the UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and is the chair for the Petroleum Engineering Industry Advisory Board. Additionally, he and Stephanie support UW with their philanthropy through the Joseph and Stephanie Leimkuhler Petroleum Engineering Dean’s Excellence Fund.

This fund is used to support undergraduate scholarships, graduate student stipends, undergraduate student enrichment experiences, and faculty awards to those who distinguish themselves in scholarly work, as well as other areas of UW. Leimkuhler has also been recognized for his work in petroleum engineering with the UW Eminent Engineer Award.

In addition to philanthropic giving, Leimkuhler enjoys speaking with engineering students at UW and believes strongly in supporting undergraduate education and research so students can make real-world contributions as soon as they graduate. He also recognizes the energy industry’s volatile nature but assures students that there are many opportunities for petroleum engineering. His biggest piece of advice for students is to bloom where you are planted, let your passion and curiosity carry you forward, and success will find you. Because of the impact the Leimkuhlers have had on the students and faculty of the UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the Drilling Fluids Lab was renamed the Joseph and Stephanie Leimkuhler Drilling Fluids Lab in their honor.

ENGAGING THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY

The Lesser Himalayas during the field trip. This is a picture of part of the Ramganga River valley, a tributary of the Ganges River.

PHOTO BY MIKE CHEADLE

Inset: Michael Cheadle teaches Indian graduate students about geology and granites during a field trip to the Lesser Himalayas in September. Cheadle was one of a dozen professors from around the world invited to Kumaun University to teach an 11-day workshop to primarily female Indian college graduate and postdoctoral students who came from universities across India.

PHOTO BY SANTOSH KUMAR

UW’s Cheadle teaches geology, granites to female graduate students in India.

By Ron Podell

Michael Cheadle, a professor in the University of Wyoming’s Department of Geology and Geophysics, spent two weeks in September teaching young female scientists in India about geology and granites.

Cheadle was one of a dozen professors from around the world invited to teach an 11-day workshop to 23 Indian college graduate and postdoctoral students —19 women, four men — who came from various universities across India. The lecture/lab course was taught at Kumaun University in Nainital, Uttarakhand, India, and fieldwork took place in the Lesser Himalayas.

“This was all part of an initiative to teach graduate students in developing countries, with the objective of both bringing in expertise to help train/teach Indian students and to foster links between Indian scientists and those from other countries,” Cheadle says.

A national training program of young scientists from all over India has started at the Department of Geology at Kumaun University. Young women scientists from various renowned institutions of the country participated in the event, which was organized by Professor Santosh Kumar and funded in collaboration with the government of India’s Department of Science and Technology.

The program, titled “Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing,” sponsored an advanced training workshop on “Granites and Related Rocks” Sept. 5-15. Students participated in lectures and labs for the first week before taking a fourday field trip to the Lesser Himalayas.

“I was invited because of my expertise in understanding the textures of rocks — in other words, the arrangement and shape of the crystals in the rocks — which can inform about how the rocks formed,” Cheadle explains. “The other professors were experts on other aspects of granites, including chemistry, determining the age of the granites and how granites are formed.”

“A big part of the objective was to inspire and enthuse young Indian scientists so that they can succeed in international science.”

— Michael Cheadle

Left: The students attending a lecture. Right: Michael Cheadle (second row, fifth from left) poses with students and teaching faculty during a pause in fieldwork in the Lesser Himalayas. Young women scientists from various renowned institutions of India participated in the event, which was organized and funded in collaboration with the government of India’s Department of Science and Technology.

PHOTOS BY DR. KAPIL SINGH PANWAR

Granites are the rocks that form the uppermost part of continental crust and make up a lot of the ground we walk on, Cheadle says. For example, Vedauwoo Recreation Area is made of granitic rocks, as is most of the upper part of Wyoming’s crust.

“So, if we want to explain how the Earth’s crust is made, then we need to understand how granites form. The objective of the workshop was to teach Indian students the concepts and tools to understand granites,” he says. “Additionally, if we want to comprehend explosive volcanoes and their hazards, then one avenue is to study granites, because they likely form in a magma chamber below the volcano.”

During his time at Kumaun University, Cheadle taught two 90-minute lectures, ran an afternoon lab and continued teaching during the field trip.

“The whole concept was to teach a program that covered all of the modern and cutting-edge skills involved in the study of granites,” Cheadle says. “We hoped that the students would both learn new skills and information beyond the knowledge they already had; and learn/take away computer programs that the participants had developed, which help with the study of granites and develop the confidence and belief to operate in a male-dominated field. A big part of the objective was to inspire and enthuse young Indian scientists so that they can succeed in international science.”

Cheadle says the students he taught are all working in various granite and/or metamorphic field areas all across India. Most are working on pre-Cambrian (more than 542 million years old) terranes and attempting to understand their origin and evolution. Some are working in the Dharwar Craton, a chunk of continental crust located in southern India. The Dharwar Craton formed between 3.6 billion and 2.5 billion years ago and is considered the oldest part of India.

“In many respects, these terranes are similar to the rocks that make up the core of the crust of Wyoming,” Cheadle says.

The workshop evolved as a response to a need identified during the last Hutton Symposium on granites and related rocks: to give students from developing countries a chance to be exposed to modern granite science. The Hutton Symposium, named after James Hutton, a famous Scottish geologist, first took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1987. Since then, the Hutton Symposium has become a classic meeting on granite geology. Every four years, this event brings together leading scientists in granite geology and highlights the research trends in this field. The last symposium was in China in 2019, with the next scheduled in Italy in 2023.

This marked the first visit to India for Cheadle, a well-heeled researcher. He says he gained a better understanding of the country, its culture and its people. He also did a little sightseeing, taking in the fabled Taj Mahal and the High Himalayas. He also made a stop at Gautam Buddha University, located in Uttar Pradesh, India, where he met with Professor Ravindra Kumar Sinha, the vice chancellor at that university. The vice chancellor position there is similar to the position of president at UW, Cheadle says.

Additionally, he says teaching provided an opportunity to build new relationships between faculty and students in India and UW, and he forged one key relationship for future collaboration.

“I’m looking forward to collaborating with Dr. Roberto Visalli, from the University of Catania in Sicily,” Cheadle says. “He’s a young, future-generation geoscientist who also is studying rock textures.”

UW CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

PROGRAM RECEIVES FULL NATIONAL ACCREDITATION

The University of Wyoming Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management has received full accreditation for its Construction Management Program from the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE).

The status was achieved following a favorable on-site accreditation visit in support of the program’s application for full accreditation status upon graduating its first senior class during the spring of 2022.

“ACCE accreditation represents the highest achievement for an educational institution that awards construction management degrees. The entire UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences team — including the faculty, staff and students — are to be commended for their roles in earning this accreditation,” says Francois Jacobs, a Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management associate professor. “We have a high-quality program, and this accreditation gives us the stamp of approval to show to both students, and future employers of those students, that UW’s Construction Management Program is nationally distinguished.”

ACCE is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the accrediting agency for baccalaureate and associate degree programs in construction, construction science, construction management and construction technology in North America, Canada and Australia. Its mission is to

3 1 1

be a leading global advocate of quality construction education programs and to promote, support and accredit quality construction education programs.

The Construction Management Program’s first graduating class experienced 100 percent job placement before graduation, with a mean starting income of $71,261. The graduates are employed in 10 states, with the majority of nine students employed in Wyoming.

The program offers hands-on training and opportunities for students to earn certifications along with their studies in this booming industry. Students in the program graduate with several industryrecognized certificates, including OSHA 30-hour training; Procore; LEED;

1 1 3 1 1

This map shows where members of the first UW construction management graduating class are employed.

a Homebuyer Education certification; and the American Institute of Constructors (AIC) certification, an eight-hour national exam. All are an integrated requirement across the construction management curriculum, Jacobs says.

“The first graduating class collectively scored above the national average on the AIC exam, which sets a high benchmark for our future classes as the program progresses forward,” Jacobs says.

The Construction Management Program, established in 2019, is among UW’s fastest-growing programs, with 150 students. A fourth cohort of 94 students is expected to enroll for the fall semester.

To learn more about UW’s Construction Management Program, visit www.uwyo.edu/civil/ construction-management.

UW Welcomes New Leader of Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering

The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of Vamegh Rasouli as the new LeNorman Endowed Leadership Chair of Energy and Petroleum Engineering in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

Rasouli becomes the first-ever LeNorman Chair of the department.

“The competitive pool of applicants for this position speaks very well of our petroleum engineering program,” says Cameron Wright, UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Carrell Family Dean. “Vamegh Rasouli brings an innovative, industry-driven approach to student development and a strong belief in academics. We are thrilled with the direction he will take petroleum engineering at UW.”

Rasouli got his start in the petroleum industry more than 18 years ago as a full-time academic faculty member as well as a geomechanics consulting engineer for Schlumberger, the largest oil and gas service company worldwide. This combined experience helped inspire him to bridge the gap between academia and industry by bringing the practical aspects of diverse petroleum engineering topics into the education setting. The results created the development of advanced teaching and research laboratories and education of many students with strong ties to the industry in Australia and later in the United States.

“My commitment to the use of modern teaching resources and project-based course offerings that are in line with industry demands will provide the best preparation for our students in obtaining internship and job opportunities,” Rasouli says.

During his career, Rasouli has served as the deputy head and head of petroleum engineering programs in Iran, Australia and the United States. Since July 2017, Rasouli has been the director of the Jodsaas Center for Engineering Leadership and Entrepreneurship in the College of Engineering and Mines at the University of North Dakota.

His research focuses on geomechanics characterization of unconventional reservoirs. He has delivered a number of industry short courses for Schlumberger’s Network of Excellence in Training program.

Before his most recent position, Rasouli served as the department chair for the University of North Dakota’s petroleum engineering department. He received his Ph.D. in rock mechanics from Imperial College London in 2002.

“

Vamegh Rasouli

brings an innovative, industry-driven approach to student development and a strong belief in academics. ”

– Cameron Wright

DEPARTMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE RECOGNIZES

doNor impact

By David Stotzer, UW Foundation Marketing and Communications Associate

Over the past year, the UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences has seen an increase in support from alumni and friends of the university. Specifically within the Department of Atmospheric Science, there have been several notable donors whose gifts are directly benefitting students and faculty within the department.

CRAIG SUTTER

This summer, the Department of Atmospheric Science received the largest private gift in the department’s history from Craig Sutter to support an endowment fund for graduate students. In addition to this generous gift, Craig made an outright donation to jumpstart the endowment. Although not an alum himself, Craig built a connection with UW while on a trip to Antarctica in the 1980s with UW faculty in atmospheric science, including department head David Hoffman, post doc researcher Terry Deshler, and head lab tech Gary Olson, who initiated the plan that got Craig involved with the Antarctic project. Needless to say, the experience made an impact on him, and Craig has held the university in high esteem ever since.

KEN POMEROY

Though perhaps better known for developing the Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings (an algorithm that predicts the success of teams across the nation) Ken Pomeroy has deep ties to UW. Ken received his master’s degree in atmospheric science from the university in 1999, and decided to give back by establishing a fund within the UW Department of Atmospheric Science. From someone who methodically and accurately predicts everything from the weather to the winners of the NCAA championships, the value of Ken’s belief in and support for the department is greatly appreciated.

RUSSELL SCHNELL

When one hears the words community engagement, financial support doesn’t always come to mind. But that’s not the case for Dr. Russell Schnell, the UW Department of Atmospheric Science’s longest supporter. Dr. Schnell recognized the importance of engaging with the university 30 years ago and has been supporting students ever since. After graduating from UW with both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in atmospheric science, Dr. Schnell has gone on to publish over 130 scientific papers on global air pollution and climate change and was even a contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report that was co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

KENNETH SASSEN

Kenneth Sassen has an extensive history with the university. Ken was one of the first doctoral students in the UW Department of Atmospheric Science, receiving his Ph.D. in 1976. Last year, he established the Kenneth Sassen Lidar Studies Scholarship to make scholarship awards to students enrolled in the department. Thanks to Dr. Sassen’s support and the work of one of his own Ph.D. advisees, Zhien Wang, the department now operates a cloud lidar system on their King Air Research Aircraft. With this scholarship, even more students will be able to contribute to these exciting new projects.

UW’S WY RKSHOP MOBILE MAKERSPACES PREPARE TO HIT THE ROAD

By Ron Podell

Rural and remote communities and schools in Wyoming soon will have access to robots, 3D printers, drones, laser cutters and all kinds of other STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) educational electronic tools and equipment. That is because the University of Wyoming’s Wyrkshop Mobile Makerspace program is ready to roll.

“The Wyrkshop Mobile Makerspace program seeks to bridge the gap between rural and remote Wyoming communities and brick-and-mortar makerspaces,” says Emily Leinen, mobile makerspace coordinator. “Students across Wyoming can earn cross-institutional credentials and get hands-on experience with cutting-edge STEAM technology and equipment in their own communities. Exposure to these makerspaces will help prepare students for future careers in STEAM fields, industry, community college and four-year universities.”

Of Wyoming’s 179 communities, 79 percent are considered rural. Throughout the state, there are 11 major brick-andmortar makerspaces that offer access to introductory and advanced emergent technology and associated curriculum, Leinen says.

These brick-and-mortar makerspaces are typically located in larger towns, which means that associated creative resources are less accessible to rural and remote communities — particularly during winter. As a result, youth in Wyoming’s rural and remote communities have limited access to experiential learning opportunities and are at a

competitive disadvantage compared to their counterparts living in more areas that are populous.

However, that is all about to change.

There are three types of mobile makerspaces — crates, trailers and mobile workshops — available to suit rural communities throughout Wyoming. The concept is comparable to the old bookmobile, but with technological equipment — rather than books — on wheels being brought to the doorsteps of schools. There are three maker crates that contain five pieces of equipment; the trailer option includes two 7-by-14-foot trailers where equipment is pulled out to make a pop-up makerspace; and the mobile workshop option is an 8.5-by-28-foot cargo trailer where students can go both inside and outside. This workshop includes all of the equipment in the 7-by-14-foot trailers but in larger quantities.

Equipment in the mobile makerspaces includes 3D printers, a Glowforge 3D laser cutter, LEGO and LEGO Mindstorm, codable kits and toys, ozobots, microcontrollers and electronics, mini drones, sewing machines, a soldering bench, projectors, laptops, iPads and woodshop tools.

“With these mobile makerspaces, rural communities will be able to have creative sources for their K-12 students that they may not normally get the chance to use,” says Ashley Hope Carlisle, a UW professor of sculpture. Some of her students helped design and build the inside of the 7-by-14foot trailer. “The goal is to engage students with electronics as well as craft and art-making materials and equipment. We want to get them working with their hands so they can develop their problem-solving skills.”

Dillon Weiss, a UW junior from Jackson majoring in mechanical engineering, said he was part of a robotics club during high school. Weiss was among several students who helped design the mobile makerspace trailer and come up with ways to make sure the devices do not jostle during transport.

“When I first saw a robot, it was like going to space for me. Robotics is what inspired me to become an engineer,” Weiss said. “This could inspire other kids to become engineers.”

Emily Leinen, UW mobile makerspace coordinator, talks to invited guests at a ribbon-cutting event for the Wyrkshop Mobile Makerspace program Oct. 3. Equipment in these mobile makerspaces includes 3D printers, a Glowforge 3D laser cutter, LEGO and LEGO Mindstorm, codable kits and toys, ozobots, microcontrollers and electronics, mini drones, sewing machines, projectors, laptops, iPads and woodshop tools.

Students can train in one makerspace and instantly gain access to the entire network. Under the collaborative Maker Access Map program, students can attend free workshops, earn badges, learn marketable skills and gain hands-on experience with world-class equipment, all for free. Makerspaces provide a critical opportunity to access emergent technology and fabrication tools that may otherwise be inaccessible due to cost, size, ventilation, power or other factors.

Mobile makerspaces can stay at a school — at no cost — from one month to six months, Leinen says.

Startup funding for the project was made possible through support from Gov. Mark Gordon’s Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) initiative. WIP’s goal is to improve Wyoming’s economic prosperity through the coordinated efforts that link community goals and strengths to the state’s strategy for economic development and diversification.

“The governor signed off on this and is excited about all of the components,” Leinen says. “My component (Wyrkshop Mobile Makerspace) is $1.5 million.”

For more information about the Wyrkshop Mobile Makerspace program, go to www.uwyo.edu/wip/ makerspace. To find a local makerspace, go to www. wyrkshop.org/map. To request a mobile makerspace, email Leinen at eschmid@uwyo.edu or go to the website for more information.

Rebecca Austin, left, a Wyrkshop Mobile Makerspace coordinator, talks with children about the makerspace during UW’s recent STEM Carnival.

UW JOINS CONSORTIUM IN NSF I-CORPS HUB’S

$14M STEM INNOVATION PROGRAM

The University of Wyoming has joined seven other universities in the newly awarded National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Great Plains Hub — a $14 million, five-year effort to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs in rural, economically underserved regions.

NSF I-Corps consists of regional hubs across the nation, and each hub consists of a lead institution and seven or more partner universities, researchers, established entrepreneurs, local and regional entrepreneurial communities, and federal agencies. The new Great Plains Hub is part of a group of five additional hubs announced by NSF in September.

“The NSF I-Corps program is a proven mechanism to stimulate creation of new products and startup companies,” says Cameron Wright, Carrell Family Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and institutional leader for UW’s portion of the grant. “The Great Plains Hub will serve this area of the country for the first time and benefit both the state of Wyoming and the University of Wyoming.”

UW is joined by hub leader North Dakota State University and hub partner institutions the University of North Dakota, South Dakota State University, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Each institution will host regional I-Corps courses and contribute to programming and curriculum strategy in STEM.

“The I-Corps program trains researchers to assess commercialization

opportunities in their work and lowers the barriers to entrepreneurship for those researchers,” says Erica Belmont, department head and associate professor of mechanical and energy systems engineering, and faculty leader for UW’s portion of the grant. “This increases the efficiency and success of moving research products out of the laboratory to effect positive societal change and drive economic growth.”

Founded by NSF in 2011, I-Corps programming nationwide empowers researchers to combine their technical and scientific knowledge with an entrepreneurial mindset to develop new technologies and startups

that benefit society. The I-Corps curriculum addresses the knowledge gap between the skills needed to develop an innovative technology in a lab and the skills needed to bring that technology to market.

The Great Plains Hub will become the 10th I-Corps hub within the National Innovation Network . The Great Plains Hub launches officially in 2023. People interested in learning about opportunities to participate can email Belmont at ebelmont@uwyo. edu. STEM researchers interested in finding out more about the Great Plains Hub can visit gp-icorps.org/ wordpress/.

“THE I-CORPS PROGRAM TRAINS RESEARCHERS TO ASSESS COMMERCIALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR WORK AND LOWERS THE BARRIERS TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR THOSE RESEARCHERS.”

— ERICA BELMONT

Cameron Wright

Erica Belmont

UW Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Names First Female Full Professor

Katie Li-Oakey has become the first female full professor in the University of Wyoming’s Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.

Li-Oakey is a leading researcher in her field of multiscale materials for separation, energy conversion and storage, and health care. She is well known in the scientific community for her dedication to connecting fundamental research with functional materials and devices.

“I am honored to have my efforts and accomplishments recognized in this promotion,” Li-Oakey says. “During my time as a faculty member, I have had the pleasure to work with many talented students, both undergraduates and graduates. All of our accomplishments are a team success. This recognition reflects on my group’s hard work throughout the years.”

Since joining the UW faculty in fall 2013, Li-Oakey has published over 27 articles and received a number of patents. She regularly is invited to speak at national and international meetings, seminars and lectures on membranes, 2D materials and solid-liquid interaction in nanoconfined environments. Her list of honors includes Intel Fab Achievement Awards, an Anadarko Faculty Fellowship, a Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium Faculty Fellowship and her department’s Teacher of the Year Award.

“The Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering is fortunate to count Dr. Li-Oakey as one of our faculty,” says Patrick Johnson, department head and a professor of chemical and biomedical engineering. “She is internationally recognized for her work on membranes and nanomaterials. Her impact can best be measured by the numerous students and postdoctoral scholars she has mentored who have moved on to rewarding STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.”

Li-Oakey is a leader in her area of research, nano and micromaterials, which involves discovering the electron transfer effect in a catalyst platform formed via atomic layer deposition — and the super-fast mass-transfer mechanism of solvated ions and molecules through covalent organic frameworks. The electron transfer effect is used by a vast range of scientists in national laboratories, academia and industry. The mass-transfer mechanism in confined framework pores underpins the specific areas of liquid separation using artificial membranes, in addition to offering a platform to many other fields, such as in interactions of electrolytes and electrodes for energy conversion and storage.

“I’m very happy to see Dr. Li-Oakey reach this highest academic rank,” says Cameron Wright, Carrell Family Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. “Dr. Li-Oakey is an exemplary role model for our female students and junior faculty members. Her career success sends a strong message of encouragement to them all.”

Among her current projects in collaboration with colleagues, her team is working on experimental and computing research in critical mineral recovery; the effect of complex liquid environments on separation; carbon electrodes for supercapacitors and batteries from Wyoming coal; and controlled degradable polymer scaffolds for future-generation orthopedic therapy.

Li-Oakey received all of her degrees in chemical engineering: a B.S. (1994) from Shandong University (formerly Shandong University of Technology); an M.S. (1997) from Tianjin University; and a Ph.D. (2003) from the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Katie Li-Oakey

Life Among the Stars

Did you know? If you’d like to learn more about H. David Reed, be sure to check out “From the Trench of Mission Control to the Craters of the Moon.”

Q & A About Former NASA Flight Dynamics Officer H. David Reed’s Life

H. David Reed lived a very exciting life.

Born in Scottsbluff, Neb., and raised in Billings, Mont., Reed earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Wyoming in 1964. Upon graduating, he joined NASA in Houston, where he became a mission controller responsible for tracking and trajectory dynamics. While at NASA, Reed was a flight dynamics officer for Apollo Flights 5, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 14; was the prime flight dynamics officer for Apollo 13; and was a joint recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom as a result of his contributions in the safe return of the Apollo 13 crew.

Reed died this year at the age of 80 after a long and courageous battle with leukemia. We’ve since sat down with his wife, Florence, and best friend and former co-worker Bill Stoval, as they shared memories of Reed’s incredible life in the field of science.

Q: David seemed to be someone who embraces all aspects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Was David always interested in space and science?

FR: While growing up in Billings, Dave discovered his passion for rocketry and, while in grammar school and high school, he built, blew up and launched 1- and 2-stage rockets in his backyard. He always wanted to work for NASA. I believe he even built a 3-stage rocket in the wind tunnel at the University of Wyoming.

Q: What was David involved with in developing at NASA?

FR: Dave was involved in developing pinpoint landing techniques that made focused lunar research possible. The Apollo 14 crew named a crater on the moon for Dave in recognition of his many contributions to the Apollo Program.

Q: What were the best or most memorable parts of working with David at NASA?

BS: I have many memorable moments involving Dave. The oldest memory I have is the delight Dave took in terrorizing me when he was a senior in our fraternity house at the University of Wyoming during my freshman (pledge) year. Those moments created a bond between us that lasted almost 60 years. Then, three years after Dave graduated from UW, he called me and offered me a job with NASA as a flight dynamics officer (Fido) in the Apollo program! After joining him in Houston, he became my mentor and saw to it that I was exposed to the many facets of space flight that a Fido must be an expert in if he wants to man the console. Dave was a master at preparing not only for a nominal mission, but more importantly for unknown and potentially dangerous situations that could arise during certain mission phases, such as launch and powered descent. Dave helped to create the platform from which my career evolved, and I modeled many of my personal operating philosophies based on his training.

Q: Are you optimistic about the future of human space exploration? Why or why not?

BS: I am cautiously optimistic about future manned space flight involving a return to the moon but have doubts about its long-term future. My primary concerns center on the astronomical costs involved with space exploration and whether or not the perceived benefits from those endeavors would justify the expense! Those decisions would not be made by scientists but by politicians.

Q: What did David do after leaving NASA?

FR: After leaving NASA in 1971, Dave moved to Carlisle, Mass., and joined the Research and Development Division of the U.S. Department of Transportation in Cambridge. There he developed the Satellite Data Fusion Facility and created the Intransit Group that was involved in pioneering the introduction of integrated satellite communications systems, radio frequency identity tags and global positioning system positioning in the enforcement of United Nations sanctions against Serbia/Montenegro. Dave traveled all over the globe in support of multiple federal agencies, introducing new technologies in Bosnia, Haiti, Mogadishu, Somalia, South Korea and the Arabian Peninsula.

Q: Why is exposure to STEM learning opportunities important?

BS: Exposure to STEM learning is obviously vital to anyone wishing to pursue any type of career in the world of science. However, the benefits derived from STEM classes and their ability to invigorate one’s thought processes apply to almost every educational field and/or profession.

Q: Do you feel that David believed the basis of being an engineer incorporates a lot of creative problem-solving?

FR: Dave was an early adaptor to solar energy and was always working on ingenious projects that could save time, energy and money. His garage was full of his tools of the trade, where he was always working on another of his daily brainstorms.

Q: What do you hope people take away from David’s life experiences?

FR: Dave took advantage of every opportunity and then gave it 200 percent. If he walked into a room and nothing was happening, he started something. He spent most of his life on the cutting edge of technology.

BS: Dave’s incredible career should be an inspiration to all engineering students, as it demonstrates the unlimited opportunities available to individuals willing to roll up their sleeves, dive into new and diverse situations and solve the associated problems. His work in developing the lunar “pinpoint” landings remains one of the truly remarkable achievements in manned space flight history.

Q: How did David stay active in the community?

FR: Since settling in Carlisle in 1973, Dave remained active in the community by volunteering with local theater, youth sports, the Boy Scouts, the Carlisle School Band and organizing neighborhood block parties. For decades, Dave and I were involved with or ran Old Home Day, the cherished townwide yearly family celebration. For many years, he rode in the Old Home Day parade in his beloved 1961 white Corvette convertible. In 2019, Dave and I were the joint recipients of the Honored Citizen Award for our contribution to the community. In 2010, he was inducted into the College of Engineering and Applied Science Hall of Fame at his alma mater, a tribute from the University of Wyoming for all of his accomplishments. In September 2019, Dave was the keynote speaker at the Air Force Ball at the National AF Museum at Wright-Patterson AB, honoring the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Ethan Allen

BSEE ’44 – Yucca Valley, CA

James Andrews

BSCH ’83, BSME ’85 – Cheyenne, WY

Joel Berwick

BSPE ’84 – Grand Junction, CO

Gene Christensen

BA ’60 – Salt Lake City, UT

Edward Christensen

BS ’58 – Farr West, UT

Leslie Copple

BS ’48 – Ellijay, GA

James Edgeington

BSEE ’55, MS ’56 – Albuquerque, NM

LeRoy Feusner

BSCH ’68 – Powell, WY

Robert Gietz

BSCE ’61, MS ’67 – Rochester, WA

Harry Huson

BSME ’69 – Casper, WY

We regret to announce the passing of the following alumni.

Larry Irving

EXP ’60 – Laramie, WY

Robert Johnson

BSCE ’59 – Rock Springs, WY

George Krell

BSCE ’64 – Laramie, WY

Eugene Legerski

BSCE ’67 – Cheyenne, WY

Rulon Maughan

BSEE ’70 – W. St. George, UT

Larry McKee

MS ’72 – Gering, NE

Connie McMath

BSME ’61 – Keystone Heights, FL

George

Mosher

BSME ’50 – Bellflower, CA

Andrew Pappas

BSCE ’49 – Cheyenne, WY

Bud Partridge

EXP ’55 – Salt Lake City, UT

Bret Pizzato

BSEE ’89 – Rock Springs, WY

George Porter

BSME ’64 – Colorado Springs, CO

Gary Powell

BSPE ’76 – Midland, TX

H. David Reed*

BSME ’64 – Carlisle, MA

Donald Rees

BSEE ’55 – Centerville, OH

Gene Roccabruna

BCSE ’58 – Cheyenne, WY

Joseph Rusk

BSEE ’67 – Lafayette, CO

John Sawick

BSEE ’70 – Shelby, IA

Louie Shifrar

BSME ’51 – Sheridan, WY

Stephen Tully

BSEE ’70 – Loveland, CO

Richard Walters

BSME ’60 – Lakewood, CO

Michael Ward

BSCE ’75 – Casper, WY

Robert Whipple

BSCH ’88 – Cheyenne, WY

Estes Yinger

BS ’64 – Santa Rosa, CA

*CEPS Hall of Fame Member

College of Engineering an d Physical Sciences (600304)

Engineering Scholarship Fund (630223)

Atmospheric Science (500046)

Chemical and Biomedical Engineering (500131)

Chemistry (500072)

Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management (500074)

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (500661)

Geology and Geophysics (500194)

Mathematics and Statistics (500266)

Mechanical Engineering (500272)

Energy and Petroleum Engineering (500132)

Physics and Astronomy (500302)

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Dept. 3295 1000 E. University Avenue Laramie, WY 82071-2000

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