Spring Seminars

Our line up of spring seminars covered a broad range of topics and included speakers from industry and academia.  Some samples include:

Philip Reiner, deputy director of research and development at Stanley Associates, Inc., discussed the development of new and novel fabrication techniques at micron and nanometer scales has enabled new classes of materials and structures to be engineered for use in a wide variety of applications. Reiner discussed the underlying principles of quantum mechanics and the role it plays in determining basic physical properties of these materials and structures, as well as the challenges posed for the realization and practical implementation of these materials.

Reiner has more than 22 years experience developing and managing research projects in a wide variety of fields and is currently developing advanced MEMS-based safe and arm devices for small munitions and rockets. This work includes the development of new wafer level micro-fabrication and z-axis integration techniques as well as the development of nano-energetic materials for use in MEMS devices. He is also the principle investigator for the development of high-speed sensors for real-time autonomous target detection and classification for missile systems.

Paul H. Cohen, professor and department head of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University, discussed research results which shed new light on the nature of residual stresses in machined surfaces. These results are significant to achieving product quality and are potentially critical to nano-scale physical machining of components for future products.

Cohen's work has focused on the modeling of plastic deformation processes, development of new tooling materials and tribology. His more recent research has examined properties and processes at the nano-scale.

J. Michael Lyon, director of propulsion and structures for the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center, talked about emerging needs, his directorate's track record in bringing new systems to the war fighter, current technology gaps and developing trends of interest. He also provided an overview of the  Army's future missile capabilities for flying farther, faster and stealthier, remaining safe to handle and transport, and keeping cost increases at a minimum.

Gerald G. McGlamery, Jr., senior staff engineer in the Process Fundamentals department of the Global Chemical Research division at ExxonMobile Chemical Company, provided ExxonMobil's Energy Outlook through 2030; and John Christy, climatologist for the state of Alabama, discussed CO2 and the Environment from a climatologist's perspective.  The talks were part of the Department of Chemical Engineering's 2008 Colloquium on Future Energy Sources, the Environment, and the Economics, which examined various aspects of future energy sources, the environment, and economics as it relates to energy production, its associated environmental and economic impacts, close interrelationships, and highly interactive nature.