February 2005, Issue #37

News You Can Use

Time Engineers is a unique educational game which teaches math, science, physics, plus history to students while time-traveling through 3D interactive environments. Time Engineers encourages trial-and-error experimentation, allowing students to adjust variable factors in their attempts to solve problems successfully. In Ancient Egypt, they experiment with ramps, workers, and the type of stone to build pyramids. During World War II, they help design a stealth submarine or a radar system. During the Middle Ages, students help design a drawbridge and a catapult. In each, there are several factors that students can adjust to be successful. The content, delivered through narration, text and interactive exercises, includes binary numbers, boolean logic, weirs and water flow, force balance and trajectory. Time Engineers™ comes complete with an electronic teacher's manual (PDF format) that was developed to support your efforts in the classroom or home. Click here to order.

There's gangsta rap. And now there's geeksta rap. It's all because of Rajeev Bajaj, a 39-year-old chemical engineer from Fremont, Calif., who is either going to become the def jammer of the science and technology domain or the poster boy for excruciatingly embarrassing nerdiness. Bajaj recently spent $15,000 of his own money forming an independent record label and hiring musicians to perform four rap and hip-hop songs he wrote in praise of the engineering profession. He hopes his debut album, "Geek Rhythms," will convince America that engineers indeed are cool. Click here to read the entire article.

The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center organizes and coordinates national and regional remotely operated vehicle (ROV or underwater robot) competitions for high school, home school, community college, and university students from across the U.S. and Canada. Visit our web site to learn more!

We're looking for RISE Scholars for the 2005 summer research experiences for undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Maryland, College Park.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 1, 2005

The Women In Engineering Program at the University of Maryland (funded by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates site) is seeking applications for RISE Scholars to become integral members of 2 team-based research projects coordinated by female faculty in the A. James Clark School of Engineering. Alongside faculty mentors, RISE Scholars will work on ground-breaking issues like 1) developing and testing state-of-the-art robotic hardware and software to enable a free-flying robot (SCAMP) to autonomously survey and navigate within a neutral buoyancy environment or 2) developing a vocabulary and protocol to capture design rationale! Students majoring in computer science, math, physical science, and engineering are strongly encouraged to apply.

Teams will conduct research from May 31, 2005 through August 5, 2005. The program offers multiple tiers of mentorship and training in team skills and project organization, addressing issues of concern to women in science and engineering as well. Each RISE Scholar receives a $4,500 stipend. Funds are available for transportation, room and board.

For additional information and applications, please review the RISE Scholar website at http://www.eng.umd.edu/wie/riseII.html or contact the program coordinator, Dr. Paige E. Smith (pesmith@umd.edu or 301-405-3931).