Academic boot camp gives leg up to college newcomers

2007 STEM Academic Boot Camp

Students who are registered in the College of Engineering are attending the camp through Aug. 1, while students enrolled in technology or science will attend July 6 - Aug. 1. Founded by the Minority Engineering Program, the camp features intensive seminars that provide tools for succeeding in and outside of the classroom.

Fuel-flexible combustion

"It isn't easy to balance the needs of industry, academics and basic research, but that's what Purdue has accomplished at Herrick Labs over the past 50 years," said Patricia Davies, Herrick director and a professor of mechanical engineering. "The labs have developed a formula for satisfying the practical requirements of industry without compromising the academic standards of Purdue's faculty and students."

The Emerging Innovations Fund will provide commercialization funding support for early-stage technologies through small, finite grants. The funds to support the venture are in the process of being raised privately and initial capitalization will be $1.5 million.

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership, administered by Purdue's Technical Assistance Program, helped 290 companies eliminate waste and implement process improvements in fiscal year 2007-08.  Partnership director David Snow said these "lean manufacturing" advancements translated into an economic impact of almost $96 million.

Susan Curtis

Lester A. Walton, who also was one of the first African-Americans to work for the Democratic National Committee and as U.S. minister to Liberia before and during World War II, had been missing from American history books, said Purdue University historian Susan Curtis.

New type of liquid-cooling

New technologies will be needed to meet the cooling needs of future chips that produce more heat than current microprocessors. Conventional computer chips generate about 100 watts per square centimeter, peaking in small hot spots that can damage or destroy the delicate circuitry inside microchips. The chips are air-cooled with finned metal plates called heat sinks and often a small fan.

Karen L. Fingerman, an associate professor of child development and family studies, says actions that would spark a confrontation with a younger person likely will draw no reaction if the person is older. The finding helps explain why older people often get along better with family and friends than younger people, she says.

The winners were announced Sunday (June 29) at a banquet in Mansfield, Mass.

Jeffrey S. Vitter, the Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science, says part of the problems associated with health care come from patients having to deal with an ever-changing system that is difficult to understand.

Despite advances in other areas, women still struggle to find steady work and recognition as stage directors, says Anne Fliotsos, a Purdue University associate professor of theater.

A new hybrid atom

In a Nature Physics journal paper currently online, the researchers describe how they have created a new, hybrid molecule in which its quantum state can be intentionally manipulated - a required step in the building of quantum computers.

The e-mails appear to come from various Purdue administrative departments or units and ask users to confirm their e-mail address by responding with their password information. Additional variants of the scam e-mails ask users to navigate to a specific URL and then enter their Purdue user name and passwords. Many of these e-mails use Purdue terminology and appear highly authentic.

Leptospirosis, which originates from a bacterial infection in animals, can infect both humans and animals. It is traced to animal urine found in soil, puddles, creeks and larger bodies of water, says Steve Thompson of Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine. Leptospirosis can be traced to contact with blood or urine, and pets can be exposed by swimming or walking through water.

The event will be in the Purdue University Memorial Union's South Ballroom and will feature information about graduate education in fields related to agriculture, engineering, mathematics, pharmaceutical science, science and technology. Recruiter registration is now open, and registration for students will be available in July.

The Web site provides information about different student organizations and activities, centers and departments, and answers to frequently asked questions, said Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of students.

Purdue University is collaborating with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. through its Small Business Development Centers and the Edward Lowe Foundation for the 2008 program.

The flooding in central and southwestern Indiana earlier this month was the worst since 1913, said Jie Shan, an associate professor of geomatics engineering in the School of Civil Engineering. By June 19, 37 Indiana counties were declared federal disaster areas.

As corn prices continue climbing, fewer ethanol producers can afford the feedstock, said Chris Hurt. In turn, domestic livestock producers and foreign buyers are finding it more difficult either to pay the high prices or obtain the grain they need, he said.

Thomas L. Friedman

Friedman, whose talk will begin at 7 p.m. in the Elliott Hall of Music, has reported on the current Middle East conflicts, the end of the Cold War, U.S. domestic politics and foreign policy, international economics, and the worldwide impact of the terrorist threat. The College of Engineering - including its Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Global Engineering Program, and School of Mechanical Engineering - has partnered with the Center for the Environment, Energy Center, Office of the Provost and Purdue Climate Change Research Center in sponsoring his speech and related activities that week.

"There is no question that when companies look for a place to set up a business they are looking at the amenities as much as they are looking at tax incentives, infrastructure and other factors," says Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and chief operating officer of the Purdue Research Foundation, which oversees the Purdue Research Park. "The competition for skilled employees is a worldwide phenomenon that will become more intensive as the global market continues to grow."

The workshops are offered through a program funded by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

"These students were selected from more than 100 Purdue applicants," said Jane Natt, an assistant professor of communication who will lead the group. "They will spend a month in intensive training learning about media services and the sport we will be responsible for, which is bicycling. We will learn about track cycling, motocross racing, mountain bike racing and road racing so we can help gather quotes from the athletes, write recaps of the races and assist media with photography and video needs."

"The interest in biofuels seems to run parallel with the cost of fuel," says David Stanley, an associate professor of aviation technology. "Biofuels for aircraft is always controversial, but as jet fuel is getting more and more expensive and shows no sign of slowing down, it's clear something must be done. It's not the long-term answer, but it may be part of the short-term answer."

"These findings are important because the influence of speed limits on roadway safety has been a subject of continuous debate in the state of Indiana and nationwide," said Fred Mannering, a professor of civil engineering. "Indiana highway-related accidents result in about 900 fatalities and 40,000 injuries annually and place an incredible social and economic burden on the state."

Buczkowski with roaches

It is the first time that scientists have shown that a pest control bait will remain effective when it's transferred twice after the first killing dose, said Grzegorz "Grzesiek" Buczkowski, assistant professor of entomology. Passing the insecticide from one cockroach to the next is called horizontal transfer.