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Season's Greetings and Happy New Year! December 2011

In This IssueUMaine Wind TurbineTest Lab CompleteFBRI's New Wing &Technology Research

Center NearCompletion

Op­Ed Touts UMaineComposite, Forest

Bioproducts ResearchInstitute

8 New Online Coursesfor Spring 2012Horton Joins

Engineering Group atWhite House EventGrants Awarded 2011Integrated Approachto Engineering to Startin Brunswick Fall 2012Students Win TopAwards at MaineTransportationConference

UMaine AlumnusDonates $5,000 to

Campus OrganizationsUMaine Francis CroweSociety December

201132nd Edward BryandRecognition Cermony'Tis the Season ...

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Greetings!

Season's Greetings from the College of Engineering at the University ofMaine. We wish the best of the holidays and a joyous and prosperous newyear for 2012 to you and yours. Thank you for taking a few moments to catch up with us during this busytime of year. In this holiday newsletter, we are pleased to share some recentand exciting news from our engineering faculty and students, including:windblades arrive at the AEWC, FBRI Wing & Technology Research CenterNear Completion, 8 new online engineering courses for Spring '12, Studentswin Top Awards at annual Maine Transportation Conference, and muchmore.

We are doing great things here at UMaine Engineering and we are glad tokeep you up­ to­ date on all the news. Remember to please check us out onFacebook for the latest news and to reconnect with old friends andclassmates. If you would like to send us personal updates about your careeror what is happening in your life, please send updates to coe.alumni@umit.maine.edu.

Dana N. Humphrey, Ph.D., P.E.Dean, College of EngineeringUniversity of Maine www.engineering.umaine.edu

UMaine Wind Turbine Test Lab Complete

International companies to test wind blades in 2012

Source: The Free Press, 12/9/11by Christine Parrish, Feature Writer The new wind turbine blade test lab at the 37,000­foot expansion of theUniversity of Maine AEWC Advanced Structures and Composites Center inOrono is complete and equipment testing is currently under way, accordingto Paul Melrose, the project manager for research and development.

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Windblade being unloaded at the AEWC Offshore Wind Laboratory The lab equipment is being calibrated and tested, with commercial clientsscheduled for the spring of 2012. "It will be about four months beforecommercial tests begin," said Melrose. "We need to run through trials andtest procedures." Five major manufacturers of wind turbine blades are currently lined up totest their products. "I can't, of course, tell you who they are," said Melrose,noting that AEWC has signed non­disclosure agreements with thecompanies. Blade design and materials are carefully guarded secrets in thetechnology realm, he said. "I can tell you they are major companies and they are from around theworld," said Melrose.

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Blades over TipPitThe University of Maine facility, which is able to test wind blades up to 70meters (229 feet) long, is one of two labs in the country able to accommodatelarge wind turbine blades used in commercial wind farms. The other accredited lab is in Boston, in a facility located beneath the TobinBridge and operated by the U.S. Department of Energy's renewable energyagency, NREL. The Boston facility is able to test blades up to 90 meterslong, said Melrose, but is limited in other testing capabilities. Melrose said AEWC offers research and development from the ground up,including design and testing of composite materials at the nano­levels, totesting of components no larger than a human arm, to testing of full­sizecomponents, including wind blades. AEWC also has a wave lab used for offshore wind research and can test theeffects of exposure to saltwater immersion and salt spray. When completedin the spring, AEWC will have the capacity to study and test wind blades,towers, anchors and foundation systems, either in the lab or in the field, orboth.

Commercial clients will pay from $300,000 to $500,000 to test one blade,said Melrose. AEWC does not rely on state or University of Maine funding, said Melrose.Approximately 90 percent of funding comes from grants and outside income,he said.

FBRI's New Wing & Technology ResearchCenter Near Completion

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The Forest BioProducts Research Institute (FBRI) has seen increasinggrowth over the past year. This growth is most visibly evident in the twofacilities FBRI has constructed over the past six months. On the University of Maine campus, the FBRI Wing at Jenness Hall isnearing completion with an expected occupation date of January 1st. Thisbuilding has the potential to house sixteen people which will include theFBRI staff and visiting scientists. Also included in the new wing is aconference room able to facilitate meetings of up to sixteen people withstate­of­the­art video­conferencing equipment.

FBRI WingJust down the road, at Old Town Fuel and Fiber, the FBRI TechnologyResearch Center is closing in on its final phase of construction, withexpected occupation to occur no later than the end of January.

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FBRI Technology Research CenterThis 40,000 square foot facility is designed for near­industrial scale testingof new processes and products, which will provide the bridge betweenbench­scale testing of FBRI's new processes and our ultimate goal ofindustrial implementation.

Op­Ed Touts UMaine Composite, ForestBioproducts Research Institute

In an op­ed column in the Portland Press Herald, Bill Beardsley, thecommissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation, said the State ofMaine is well­positioned in the area of natural­resource economies thanks inpart to research at UMaine. Beardsley cited UMaine research programs thatare examining composite wood, liquid fuel, and sugar from trees.

Online Engineering Courses for Spring 2012

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8 New Online Courses for Spring '12

Horton Joins Engineering Group at White House Event

Karen Horton, a University of Maine associate professor of mechanicalengineering technology, joined a group from the Society of WomenEngineers (SWE) at a recent event at the White House that recognized localleaders in the effort to recruit and retain girls and women in science,technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. The recognition event was part of the Champions of Change program, whichwas created as a part of President Barack Obama's Winning the Futureinitiative. Each week, a different issue is highlighted and groups ofChampions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community activists,are recognized for the work they are doing to better their communities.

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L­R: Melissa Carl, SWE Washington Liaison; Karen A. Thole, Championof Change nominated by ASME; Melissa Tata, SWE President; Karen J.

Horton, SWE Government Relations and Public Policy Chair Photo thanks to Karen A. Thole

Horton serves as the SWE government relations and public policy chair andparticipated in the event with other SWE leaders, along with officials fromthe White House Office of Science and Technology Policy andrepresentatives from several federal agencies, in small group discussionswith the champions and other notable guests from varying sectors andcommunities around engaging and supporting girls and women in STEM. "SWE and its membership regularly inform policy makers about theeducational and workplace best practices that can lead to greater diversity inthe engineering career field, both to increase equity of opportunity in STEMcareers and to improve U.S. competitiveness," Horton said after the WhiteHouse event. "We hope that the responsible federal agencies will make changes in theirprograms based on the ideas presented in the breakout sessions to expandgirls' interest in engineering, improve the retention of college womenstudying engineering and support career opportunities for women engineers.The recently implemented NSF Career­Life Balance Initiative, whichincorporates gender­neutral, family­friendly policies, is an example of this." The sessions, which focused on changing the stereotypes of girls in theSTEM fields, mentoring, and supporting and retaining women in the STEMworkforce, were followed immediately by a larger event focused onamplifying best practices learned in each area.

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Recent research indicates that, broadly, many women leave engineering dueto workplace climate, insufficient work­life balance policies, lack ofadvancement, and inadequate professional development opportunities. The "highest­level" theme discussed was the need for leadership at the top oforganizations to exercise the will and implement the practices to change thework culture to retain women in STEM. Strategic planning around thediversification of the workforce was noted as required for success. "Organizational leaders discussed the difficulty of developing accountabilityof the middle managers, the gatekeepers, to achieve retention goals in theexisting workplace culture. Some additional themes that emerged from thediscussion included the lack of role models for girls and young women,problems of workplace culture such as women not wanting to use work­lifebalance policies for fear of being viewed as lacking dedication, the need for asmall pool of central funds to support use of these policies, the paucity ofwomen seeking patents, and need for strategies specific to women of colorand women."

Watch the Champions of Change: Girls and Women in STEM session on

YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkapBbp3Vuo

For more information on Champions of Change, go online to:http://www.whitehouse.gov/champions

Integrated Approach to Engineering toStart in Brunswick Fall 2012

The University of Maine College of Engineering is offering an innovativeprogram at Brunswick to give students an integrated approach to earning the

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first two­years of a four­year engineering degree, starting in fall 2012. This two­year, nonresidential program is designed for the student who has aninterest in engineering but would benefit from smaller classes and anintegrated approach to learning math, science and engineering. Math andscience will be taught in the context of engineering so that students cansuccessfully apply this knowledge to solve engineering problems. Thecurriculum introduces students to all engineering disciplines, so students willbe able to work with a wide range of professionals no matter theirengineering specialty. The program is specifically designed for students whowant to be civil, computer, electrical, or mechanical engineers. Live, in­person courses are taught by professors recognized nationally fortheir expertise. The program offers a world­class education close to home, atthe newly opened Brunswick Landing (formerly known as the BrunswickNaval Station). After completing coursework in Brunswick, the student is automaticallyenrolled to complete the final two years of a B.S. engineering degreeat the University of Maine in Orono , the sole institution in Maine to offer11 accredited engineering and engineering technology majors and full M.S.and Ph.D. programs ­ or can apply to transfer to the University of SouthernMaine. For more information on this program, contact Dana Humphrey at 207­581­

2216, brunswickeng@umit.maine.edu, or go online to:www.umaine.edu/brunswickengineering

Cumulative Grants AwardedThe College of Engineering departments and units listed below have

been awarded the following grant awards ­ cumulative from

July 2011 to November 2011.

Chemical and Biological Engineering $3,278,943Civil and Environmental Engineering $3,869,720Electrical and Computer Engineering $592,409

Mechanical Engineering $793,543School of Engineering Technology $206,222Advanced Manufacturing Center $480,518Amount Awarded Total: $9,221,355

For more information on each of the departments and the grants and projectsthat were awarded and also grant proposals that were submitted, go to the

University of Maine Office of Sponsored Programs online at:http://umaine.edu/orsp/reports/current­fiscal­year­reports/

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Students Win Top Awards at 61stMaine Transportation Conference

On Thursday, December 1, 2011, the MaineDepartment of Transportation (MaineDOT), the

Maine Better Transportation Association (MBTA),and the Maine Section of the American Society ofCivil Engineers (ASCE) sponsored the 61st MaineTransportation Conference at the Augusta CivicCenter. This conference provided individual andpanel presentations on various policy and technicalaspects relating to the theme "FOUNDATIONS FOR

THE FUTURE: CHALLENGES ANDOPPORTUNITIES".

Four cvil­engineering undergraduate students presented papers, placing inorder:1. Joshua Simpson ­ wildlife collisions2. Brian Steele ­ ITS3. Nicholas Hartley ­ queuing times4. Shaun Turner ­ pavement preservation SESSION II ­ TECHNICAL TRACK BIOS Nicholas Hartley Nicholas Hartley is in his third year at the University of Maine in Oronomajoring in Civil Engineering. For the past two years, Nick has worked forthe Maine Department of Transportation in the Materials Testing andExploration Section. He has been exposed to many different aspects of CivilEngineering, ranging from structural to geotechnical. With this wide range ofexposure, he has decided to dedicate his professional career to theadvancement of transportation infrastructure. With the education provided bythe University and the unmatchable experience from the Department, Nickhopes to achieve his goal of making a contribution to the innovation of howwe move ourselves and the products we need in order to survive. Joshua Simpson Joshua Simpson is a junior at the University of Maine in Orono majoring inCivil and Environmental Engineering. His intentions are to go to GraduateSchool at UMaine. He is interested in Structural and TransportationEngineering. Josh is a member of Chi Epsilon, a Civil Engineering HonorSociety. Josh's interests outside of school are sports. He lives and breathssports; and is a die­hard Boston Sports fan, especially the Red Sox. Herecently became engaged. He was born and raised in South Paris, Maine. Brian Steele

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Brian is a non­traditional student with a bachelor's degree from HobartCollege in architectural studies and geology and is about to finish his seconddegree, this time in civil engineering at the University of Maine. He has overten years of experience as a carpenter and cabinetmaker. Soon after hegraduated from Hobart, he moved out west to Jackson Hole, Wyomingwhere he worked the winters as a portrait photographer at the ski resort, andthe rest of the year as a carpenter for local contractors. He met his wife inJackson Hole and after a couple of years they decided to move back east toMaine. They now live in Freeport with their two golden retrievers, Remi andRuby. Shaun Turner Shaun Turner is a third year Civil and Environmental Engineering student atthe University of Maine. He is an Eagle Scout, part of the Order of theArrow and is still active in the Boy Scouts of America.

UMaine Alumnus Donates $5,000 toCampus Organizations

Mike Hartnett, a University of Maine alumnus who is the co­founder andchief investment officer of Campus Crest Communities, has donated a totalof $5,000 to two campus organizations. Harnett is giving $2,500 each to Engineers Without Borders­UMaine (EWB­UMaine), a student organization, and Black Bear Mentors, a program withinUMaine's Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism."On behalf of Campus Crest Communities, I'm pleased to extend donationsto organizations that share the same commitment to giving back andfunctioning as a positive force behind social and economic development,"said Hartnett, a 1981 UMaine graduate who majored in structuralengineering. "Both Engineers Without Borders and Black Bear Mentors havean impressive history of helping to improve the quality of life for others andwe are proud to support their cause." Hartnett met with leaders from both EWB and Black Bear Mentors during aDec. 9 visit to UMaine. Campus Crest, which develops student housing communities at colleges anduniversities across the country, is building a complex near the UMainecampus. The Grove at Orono is expected to be ready in time for the 2012­13school year. Campus Crest Communities owns interests nationwide in 33 student housing

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properties containing approximately 6,324 apartment units and 17,064 beds. EWB­UMaine is the campus chapter of EWB­USA, a nonprofithumanitarian organization established to support community­drivendevelopment programs worldwide through partnerships that design andimplement sustainable engineering projects. EWB­UMaine will put itsdonation towards a planned March 2012 trip to Honduras to implement astudent­designed community sanitation system in the small village of DulceVivir. The Black Bear Mentor Program began in 2003 with the mission to providearea youth the opportunity to develop assets needed to thrive by buildingsafe, healthy relationships with trained, committed college studentvolunteers.UMaine students currently mentor at Old Town Elementary School, LeonardMiddle School (Old Town), Lewis Libby School (Milford), Old TownRecreation Department and Penobscot Nation Boys & Girls Club. Thementors meet with young students once per week for 1 1/2 ­ 2 hours duringthe school year. The program provides UMaine students with training,support and leadership opportunities, and this year developed a partnershipwith Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid­Coast Maine to assist with this goal.

UMaine Francis Crowe Society December 2011

The University of Maine College of Engineering's Francis Crowe Societyrecently inducted four new members. Inducted as Distinguished Engineers were Malcolm "Mac" Knapp, Vaughn Wildfong and Lynda Kay KnappFredette. Patricia Cummings was inducted as an Honorary Engineer.

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Moshen Shahinpoor, Mac Knapp, Dana HumphreyKingfield native and 1956 mechanical engineering graduate Knapp is retiredafter a career in the automotive industry working with fuels, lubricants, smallairplane engines and powertracks for battle tanks and other military vehicles.His daughter, Lynda, was also honored as a Distinguished Engineer.

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L­R: Hemant Pendse, Vaughn Wildfong , Dana HumphreyWildfong of East Longmeadow, Mass. and vice president of sales andtechnology at JohnsonFoils/Paperchine, Inc., earned a B.S. in chemicalengineering in 1992, an M.S. in civil engineering in 1993 and a Ph.D. inchemical engineering in 1998. He has spent his career in the papermakingindustry.

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L­R:Eric Landis, Lynda Fredette,Dana HumphreyFredette received a B.S. in civil engineering in 1984 and has worked in thecivil and environmental engineering field. She currently is with Pratt &Whitney in Connecticut.

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Pat Cummings ­Honorary Engineer, Dana HumphreyCummings of Bangor and a 1989 UMaine journalism graduate and honorarymember of the Class of 1944 served as director of development for theCollege of Engineering for the past five years, and was named an honoraryengineer. She is now associate vice president for development and alumnirelations at UMaine. Civil engineer Francis Crowe, a 1905 graduate of the University of Maine,went on to oversee construction of 19 of the largest dams in the WesternUnited States, including the Hoover Dam.

All of the honorees, student inductees, and guests in a group shot.For more information on the Francis Crowe Society and this event, go onlineto:http://engineering.umaine.edu/home/francis­crowe­

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society/members/distinguished­engineers/dec­2011/

32nd Edward T. Bryand Recognition Ceremony

L­R:Radek Glaser, Karen Fogarty, Yousef Bahramzadeh, Steven Violette,William Davids, Abolfazi Razi, Alireza Sarvestani

In 1979, Dean Jim Clapp organized the College Recognition Committeewith all engineering departments, physics and chemistry to serve on the

committee. The first College Recognition Banquet was held in 1980. Criteriawere established for two awards: Ashley S. Campbell Award and the EdwardT. Bryand Distinguished Engineering Award. Other awards for individualsand students were added thru the years and the awards have continued every

year since 1980.

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GRADUATE RESEARCHASSISTANT AWARD

Radek GlaserL­R:Mohsen Shahinpoor, Radek

Glaser, Dana Humphrey

LEILA C. LOWELL AWARDKaren Fogarty

L­R: Mohshen Shahinpoor, KarenFogarty, Dana Humphrey

GRADUATE ASSISTANTRESEARCH AWARD

Abolfazi Razi L­R: Abolfazi Razi, Dana

Humphrey, Donald Hummels

GRADUATE ASSISTANTTEACHING AWARD Yousef Bahramzadeh

L­R: Mohsen Shahinpoor, YousefBahramzadeh, Dana Humphrey

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EARLY CAREER RESEARCH AWARD Alireza Sarvestani L­R: Mohsen Shahinpoor, Alireza Sarvestani , Dana Humphrey

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ASHLEY S. CAMPBELL AWARD William Davids L­R: William Davids, Dana Humphrey

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EDWARD T. BRYAND DISTINQUISHED ENGINEERINGAWARD

Steven Violette L­R: Hemant Pendse, Steven Violette, Dana Humphrey

'Tis the Season to share our time, talent and treasure mostgenerously with our family, friends and the organizations wehold dear.

The Dean, faculty and staff of the College of Engineeringextend our appreciation to the volunteers who ring the bells forUMaine and higher education through service on our College

and departmental advisory boards; advising our students on their capstoneprojects; and offering coop job experiences.

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UMaine students are also engaged in service... from the Black Bear Mentorsvolunteer work with local 5th graders to the Engineers Without BordersChapter implementing a sanitation plan for a village in Honduras.

We extend our thanks to the donors who invest their treasure in the Collegeof our Hearts Always.

If you wish to make a year end gift to THE FUND, the annual givingcampaign for the University of Maine, you may do so by clicking "GiveNow" on the College of Engineering websitehttp://www.engineering.umaine.edu/

Please contact me personally atpat.cummings@umit.maine.edu or 800­671­7085 if you wish to become involved or investin the College of Engineering.

We wish you all the blessings of the season!

Warm regards,Pat

Patricia A. Cummings '89, '44HAssociate Vice President for Development & Alumni RelationsHonorary Engineer 2011800­671­7085207­581­1155Sigma Chi Heritage HouseUniversity of Maine Development Office101 College AvenueOrono, ME 04473­4268