Issue: February 2007

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Calendar of Events

Mar. 23-25: Vodafone Symposium
Apr. 13-14: AT&T MEP Reunion
Apr. 14: Scholarship Luncheon

Dean Larry Benefield It is the start of the new year and a time to celebrate the successes of the past one. At the top of that list is the news that the college exceeded our campaign goals for the year. I want to extend my deepest thanks to all of you who supported this effort.

The results of your generosity are already being felt across the engineering quad. One benchmark I'm particularly proud of is the quality of our new faculty. This diverse group of individuals is already making a difference in the classroom and in the laboratory. Their presence has energized us all. I invite you to learn a little more about some of these rising stars.

The candidate interviews for these positions reinforced for me the critical role our facilities enhancement program plays in our ability to recruit strong faculty. Being able to walk candidates through state-of-the-art labs in newly renovated Ross and Wilmore, and past the first phase of the new Shelby Center is without doubt our most powerful recruiting tool.

This is why, in the coming year, our primary fundraising goal will be to raise $15 million to ensure the timely completion of Phase II of the Shelby Center. This portion of the complex will house critical laboratory and academic space necessary to support growing programs in nanotechnology, wireless, materials, transportation and bioengineering, and to anticipate the technologies of the future.

To date we have raised $3M towards this goal and have no doubt that members of the Auburn Engineering family like yourself will help to ensure that Phase II will be completed. Learn more about this project.

Larry Benefield

Feature Story

Auburn University Names Ralph Zee Acting Head for Research

Ralph H. Zee today was recently named acting associate provost and vice president for research at Auburn University.

Zee has been the associate dean for research in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering since 2001, directing the research efforts of eight academic departments and 11 research centers. His new position was effective Jan. 1, 2007.

"Innovation and academic discovery are central to Auburn's mission and promote the economic and social well-being of Alabama, the Southeast and our nation," said AU President Ed Richardson.

"Dr. Zee is an accomplished research leader, and I look forward to working with him," Richardson said. "He and the alternative fuels committee have made great progress, and we will continue to move Auburn forward on this critical national priority with his leadership and insight.

Richardson earlier this year elevated alternative energy research to a top university priority and committed $3 million toward the effort in fiscal year 2007. Zee serves as co-chair of Auburn's alternative energy initiative, which promotes the development and use of renewable energy from natural resources. Read full story.

Student Stories

Students, Faculty, Families Attend Game Showcase

Auburn faculty, students and members of the community headed to Foy Union to try out games developed by 15 teams from an Auburn University introduction to engineering class. The games, which ranged from trivia and board games to a miniature demolition derby to a variety of sports-themed competitions, were part of the student?s final design project for the class. Read full story.

Faculty Stories

Gupta Releases Second Book

Ram Gupta Ram B. Gupta, alumni professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering recently released his second book, "Solubility in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide." The book is a professional reference text for use in designing supercritical fluid processes in chemical, food, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology and environmental engineering.

"About eight years ago, when designing nanomedicine using supercritical fluid, we found that solubility data was not readily available," Gupta said. "Hence, we started to compile this information." Read full story.

Research Stories

Taylor Appointed Chair of AU's Alternative Energy Initiative

Steven Taylor Steve Taylor, department chair and professor of biosystems engineering, has been appointed by AU President Ed Richardson as head of the Alternative Energy Committee.

Taylor will also lead the soon-to-be-established AU Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts, which will capitalize on the university's research expertise in forestry, engineering and agriculture and position AU as a national leader in converting natural resources into fuels and other products. The center will be an integral part of the Institute for Natural Resources. Read full story

Program Stories

Engineers Discuss Huntsville as Place to Work and Live

Huntsville, Alabama Official City Logo Engineering professionals from Huntsville, representing NASA, the Department of Defense and various private industries, visited with Auburn students interested in learning more about employment, living and recreational opportunities in the Huntsville area. Read full story

Alumni Stories

Retired Accenture CEO Discusses Career with AU Students

Auburn Industrial and Systems Engineering alumnus Joe Forehand and retired chairman of Accenture - the world's largest consulting firm - recently spoke to students about his career, its relation to the industrial and systems engineering discipline, and the perspective he has gained from his professional achievements. Read full story

Seminars

Perchlorate as an Environmental Contaminant

The Environmental and Water Resource (EWR) seminar series hosted by the Department of Civil Engineering recently hosted Edward Todd Urbansky, chemist and special projects head for the United States Air Force to discuss the environmental hazards of perchlorate.