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April 30, 2008

Q:: The aim of the Tong Biomedical Engineering Design Awards is to encourage biomedical engineering students to design and create engineered prototypes of their ideas for the potential pursuit of new business ventures in biomedical industries. Two competitions and respective awards are granted. Name one of them.
A:: The two awards are the Design Award and the Research and Development Award.
W:: Nobody.

April 16, 2008

Q:: A special timetable designation is used for courses that are applicable to the majority of engineering disciplines and for which expertise exists in the College of Engineering, but that do not fit into any single academic department within the college. The designation means “general-purpose, appropriate for all engineering students.” Name the timetable designation.
A:: INTEREGR
W:: Nobody

April 2, 2008

Q:: Student members of Engineers Without Borders spent their winter break constructing a wastewater system that, when complete, will link two small rural communities in El Salvador to the sewer system in a larger neighboring city. Name one of the two small communities.
A:: La Granja or Nuevo Ferrocarril. During their trip to El Salvador, EWB members also gave presentations to schoolchildren about sanitary habits and taught local community members how to set up hand-washing stations. They took water samples that will be analyzed at the Wisconsin State Health Laboratory of Hygiene to further help community members identify and treat wastewater pathogens. More about this interesting project is reported in a College of Engineering news story.
W:: Daniel Dunar

March 7, 2008

Q:: Poe, E., Near a Raven begins a poem written in 1995 by Mike Keith that is an example of constrained writing. What is the rule that constrains the poem?
A:: The number of letters in the words of the poem, in order, represent the mathematical constant pi. Poe, E., Near a Raven is 3.1415.
W:: Greg Lucas

February 20, 2008

Q:: In the recent Innovation Days competition, which invention placed in three prize categories—Schoofs Prize for Creativity, Tong Prototype Prize, and Younkle Best Presentation Award?
A:: Danielle McIntosh for Hoopla Rack, a system for transporting hula hoops via bicycle.
W:: Nick O'Brien

February 12, 2008

Q:: A project by a team of UW-Madison researchers has made significant progress toward making fusion energy possible. What's the official name of the project?
A:: Helically Symmetric eXperiment. More information about this interesting project is available at http://www.engr.wisc.edu/news/ar/2007/ece.html.
W:: Max Michalski

January 23, 2008

Q:: One specialty of a faculty member in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering is survival during pandemics. Name the faculty member.
A:: Vicki Bier, UW-Madison Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Physics, and director of the Center for Human Performance and Risk Analysis.
W:: Michael J. Smith

December 12, 2007

Q:: A team comprising both engineering and business students submitted a wind-powered pumping system as an entry in the 2007 G. Steven Burrill Technology Business Plan Competition. The device won both second place in the Burrill competition and Sustainability in Entrepreneurship Recognition by the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. What was the name of the pumping system?
A:: WindLift
W:: Nobody

November 28, 2007

Q:: The Department of Engineering Professional Development offers an online master's degree program that focuses on internal combustion engines. What's the official name of the degree?
A:: Master of Engineering in Engine Systems
W:: Khusrow Uzair

November 14, 2007

Q:: The U.S. Department of Energy has named a professor in the Department of Engineering Physics to lead its Office of Fusion Energy Science (OFES). What's the professor's name?
A:: Steenbock Professor of Engineering Physics Raymond Fonck formally assumed the role of OFES associate director on March 1.
W:: Chris Meyer

October 31, 2007

Q:: Question: In fall 2005, members of a student engineering organization collected 300 pounds of canned goods during a Halloween trick-or-treat food drive. What's the full name of the organization?
A:: Institute of Industrial Engineers
W:: Chris Lucas

October 17, 2007

Q:: Question: What is the name of the canoe paddled by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Concrete Canoe Team to its fifth consecutive national title at the American Society of Civil Engineers 20th annual National Concrete Canoe Competition? As a result of its win, the team also participated in, and won, the 30th annual Dutch Concrete Canoe Challenge in the Netherlands in September.
A:: Descendent
W:: Kyle Hendricks

September 19, 2007

Q:: Question: The goal of the Tong Biomedical Engineering Design Awards competition is to further student prototypes toward commercialization. Describe one device that was invented by a winning team in spring 2007.
A:: Any of the three listed at http://www.engr.wisc.edu/bme/tongbme/: (1) Fine-needle aspiration improvement. Mechanical-electrical device that improves on the current manual method for obtaining tissue samples for diagnosis; (2) Auditory substitution device that uses vibro-tactile stimulation to substitute for regional frequency hearing loss; or (3) Image and measure muscle motion and joint kinematics during movement under load.
W:: Chris DeWall

September 19, 2007

Q:: Question: Since 1979, the Chemical and Biological Engineering department has regularly invited distinguished members of the chemical engineering profession to Madison for extended stays as Hougen Visiting Professors. Name two Hougen Professors.
A:: Any two listed at http://www.engr.wisc.edu/che/hougen.html.
W:: Evan Rogers

September 5, 2007

Q:: Registration opened September 3 and closes October 5 for the College of Engineering student invention competition — the Schoofs Prize for Creativity. What sport was the focus of last year's first place winner?
A:: Fishing. Brian "Sunya" Nimityongskul won $10,000 for inventing the Adaptive Fishing Kit, which converts a standard fishing rod and reel for people who fish with one arm.
W:: Tyler Cramer

April 25, 2007

Q:: A generous gift from a UW alumnus supported remodeling of the new Student Learning Center in Engineering Hall. What is the name of the alumnus?
A:: The college recently finished remodeling an underused portion of Engineering Hall. Thanks in part to a generous gift from UW alumnus Wade Fetzer (BS ’59) and his wife, Bev, the college has a modern student learning center to complement the engineering learning center in Kurt F. Wendt Library.
W:: Rishi Amrit

April 12, 2007

Q:: The director of the UW Energy Institute recently said, “Our mission is to integrate all energy activities at UW-Madison and to focus them as a resource to serve Wisconsin and beyond.” What is the director's name?
A:: Paul Meier
W:: Danielle Alling

March 14, 2007

Q:: On March 21, the lecture “Engineering Education for the 21st Century” will be presented in 1800 Engineering Hall. Who is the speaker?
A:: William A. Wulf, President, National Academy of Engineering
W:: Murali Rajaa Rajamani

February 28, 2007

Q:: “The College of Engineering will provide a contemporary engineering education that fosters an understanding of the societal context of engineering and a passion for life-long learning.” This goal guides the work of about two dozen members of the COE 2010 Roundtable. Name two 2010 Roundtable members.
A:: Any two: Sandy Arnn, Sue Babcock, Dave Beebe, John Booske, Steve Clark, Mike Corradini, Steve Cramer, Neil Duffie, Mike Graham, Laura Grossenbacher, Dan Klingenberg, Phil O’Leary, Jay Martin, Mike Morrow, Tom Mosgaller, John Nelson, Paul Peercy, Sarah Pfatteicher, Rob Radwin, Parmesh Ramanathan, Jeff Russell, Nicole Rybeck, Harry Steudel, Amy Wendt, and Don Woolston
W:: Aaron Johnson

February 14, 2007

Q:: Which invention in the recent Innovation Days competition placed in all four prize categories—Schoofs Prize for Creativity, Tong Prototype Prize, Younkle Best Presentation Award, and Sorenson Design Notebook Award?
A:: Ladder Cat
W:: Janelle Anderson

January 29, 2007

Q:: A Wisconsin team has used brain stem cells grown as neurospheres to coax brain endothelial cells to form a tighter, more dense barrier to small molecules that would otherwise diffuse through the blood vessel cells. Name two team members.
A:: Eric V. Shusta, Clive Svendsen, and Christian Weidenfeller were team members mentioned in a recent article.
W:: Bill Kobs

December 6, 2006

Q:: The UW-Madison School of Business offers a competition that encourages student teams to develop and present technology-based business plans. The purpose of the competition is to encourage collaboration between cross-disciplines, so teams must comprise at least two people and members must be enrolled in different schools or colleges across campus. What's the full, official name of the competition?
A:: G. Steven Burrill Technology Business Plan Competition
W:: Laura LeGault

November 22, 2006

Q:: The Department of Engineering Professional Development offers 22 categories of courses in engineering, design, operations, production, management, maintenance, and planning for engineers, architects, contractors, consultants, managers, and other technical professionals. Name one of the 22 categories.
A:: The following are course categories offered by the Department of Engineering Professional Development:
Building Systems and Construction
Chemical and Process Engineering
Civil Engineering and Public Works
Disaster Management
Electrical Engineering and Power Systems
Energy
Environmental Engineering
Facilities Management and Maintenance
Facilities Planning and Architectural Design
Internal Combustion Engines
Manufacturing and Industrial Processes
Mechanical Building Systems
Medical Devices and Biomedical Engineering
Pharmaceutical Engineering
Planning, Zoning, and Building Codes
Plant Engineering and Maintenance
Product Design and Liability
Project Management
Refrigeration
Structural Engineering
Telecommunications and Data Communications
Transportation
W:: Jacob Davis

November 8, 2006

Q:: The Department of Engineering Physics offers several technological focus areas for the B.S. in Engineering Physics degree. Name one of them.
A:: Focus areas offered for the B.S. in Engineering Physics degree are nanoengineering, plasma science and engineering, and scientific computing.
W:: Liana Prescott

October 11, 2006

Q:: The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has four advisors for undergraduate electrical engineering and two advisors for undergraduate computer engineering. Name any one of the six.
A:: David Anderson, William Hitchon, Akbar Sayeed and Giri Venkataramanan, are advisors for the Electrical Engineering Program, and Michael Schulte and Kewal Saluja are advisors for the Computer Engineering Program.
W:: Rob Oleinik

October 11, 2006

Q:: The winner of this year's Early Career Achievement Award credits a professor of mechanical engineering and industrial and systems engineering as being a mentor. What's the mentor's name?
A:: Procter & Gamble Professor Emeritus Donald S. Ermer was a mentor cited by Christine M. Schyvinck, winner of this year's Early Career Achivement Award.
W:: Dusty Smith

September 27, 2006

Q:: In what year did UW-Madison create an interdepartmental biomedical engineering graduate program?
A:: UW-Madison created the program in 1974.
W:: Talia Esser

September 13, 2006

Q:: The 2006 Hougen Visiting Professor will speak on Sept. 26 and Nov. 21 at 4:00 p.m. in 1800 Engineering Hall. On which editorial board does the professor serve?
A:: Design and Nature
W:: Nobody

September 1, 2006

Q:: Each year, the College of Engineering holds IdeaFests — information sessions for students who might be interested in the G. Steven Burrill Technology Business Plan Competition, Schoofs Prize for Creativity or Tong Prototype Prize. What is the date of the first IdeaFest for the fall 2006 semester?
A:: Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006, 5 PM. 1610 Engineering Hall. IdeaFests are also scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 5 PM in 1610 Engineeering Hall, and Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 5 PM in Grainger Hall (see Today in Grainger Hall postings in Grainger Hall for the room number).
W:: Douglas Detert

April 26, 2006

Q:: An innovative new construction is being built in front of Engineering Hall for display May 1-May 14. What's the four-word title of this project?
A:: Portals to an Architecture is a synthesis of art and engineering realized as an outdoor exhibit on Engineering Mall. CEE graduate student Steve Preston and students in an introduction to engineering design course built the sculpture.
W:: Matt Garrison

April 12, 2006

Q:: A work of art entitled “Synchros” is displayed in the lobby of the Mechanical Engineering Building. What is the full name of the person who donated the work?
A:: “Synchros,” which was installed in 1998, was donated by Helen Whitman-Obert.
W:: Tim Miller

March 29, 2006

Q:: The College of Engineering publishes a newspaper about student accomplishments. Its title is also the name of a lemniscate symbol. What is the title of the newspaper?
A:: The Infinity newspaper was launched Winter 2005 to highlight achievements by engineering students at UW-Madison.
W:: Gavin Pang

March 15, 2006

Q:: What is the next number in this well-known look-and-say number sequence? 1 11 21 1211 111221
A:: 312211. The answer usually is said rather than computed. Say the numbers in the sequence aloud: The first number is "one one." The second number describes the first number (one one) as "11." The third number describes the previous number, which is "two ones," or "21." The fourth number describes the previous number, which is "one two, one one," or "1211." The fifth number describes the previous number, which is "one one, one two, two ones," or "111221." The next number must be "three ones, two twos, one one," or "312211."
W:: Irene Chen

March 1, 2006

Q:: The winning invention for the Schoofs Prize for Creativity and Tong Prototype Prize uses a famous, interesting component that was invented early in the 19th century. What application is this component most commonly known for?
A:: The Fresnel lens was originally developed for lighthouses and is used in a wide range of magnification products. Inventor Angie Franzke used a Fresnel lens for the prizewinning invention Concentrating Solar Collector.
W:: Bala Shanmugham

February 2, 2006

Q:: Hilldale Professor Emeritus of Chemical and Biological Engineering Edwin Lightfoot, recipient of the National Medal of Science, will be honored at the Hougen Symposium, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006, in 1610 Engineering Hall. What year did Prof. Lightfoot join the UW-Madison faculty?
A:: Lightfoot joined the UW-Madison faculty in 1953. According to the National Science Foundation (NSF), which oversees the award process for the National Medal of Science, Lightfoot was recognized for “vigorous and sustained leadership in developing the fields of biochemical and biomedical engineering, particularly in the areas of blood oxygenation, oxygen diffusion into tissue, mathematical modeling of biological reaction pathways, bioseparations and studies of diabetic responses.”
W:: Cody Kleinboehl

February 2, 2006

Q:: How many people are allowed on a team that competes for the $10,000 prize for Innovation Days, the College of Engineering event that includes the Schoofs Prize for Creativity and the Tong Prototype Prize?
A:: From the Innovation Days rules: “There is no limit on the number of team members; small interdisciplinary teams are encouraged. Each team member must provide documentation of participation.”
W:: Kevin Jayne

January 18, 2006

Q:: A new consortium in the College of Engineering will phase in four interesting and challenging research projects. A few key terms related to the research are power absorber, high boost, speed and load transients, and excessive wall wetting. What is the full name of the consortium?
A:: The Diesel Emissions Reduction Consortium was formed recently by the Engine Research Center. The consortium's mission is "to assist diesel engine manufacturers and related industries to meet future diesel engine emissions regulations."
W:: Tim Cluff

December 7, 2005

Q:: This week's quiz has a thread through ancient Greece. The atmosphere of Io, the innermost moon of Jupiter, is abundant in an inorganic compound whose chemical formula matches the acronym for an exciting new program on the College of Engineering campus. The program sponsors coaching, outreach, and volunteer opportunities for a competitive tournament. The goal is to enrich science and technology interest for students aged 8-18. What's the acronym, full name, and web address of the program?
A:: The compound is sulfur monoxide, SO, which is also an acronym for Science Olympiad, a new activity on the COE campus. Wisconsin websites about the Science Olympiad include http://so.engr.wisc.edu and http://wisconsinso.org/.
W:: Colin McCambridge

November 23, 2005

Q:: A seven-person task force organized during summer 2005 to manage designs for the UW-Madison College of Engineering of the future. Name two of the task force members.
A:: The 2010 Task Force formed in response to an invitation from the American Education Leadership Institute to explore the drivers for change in engineering education and to build new designs for the next 5, 10, and 20 years. Task force members are Dean Paul Peercy, Patrick Farrell, Michael Graham, Jay Martin, Sarah Pfatteicher, Jeffrey Russell and Amy Wendt.
W:: Kara Beharry

November 9, 2005

Q:: How many patents were issued to faculty, staff, and students in the College of Engineering in 2004-2005? (Hint: The answer is also the 10th prime number.)
A:: Twenty-nine. College of Engineering faculty, staff and students made 116 invention disclosures in fiscal year 2005, with 91 U.S. patent applications filed and 29 patents issued. This is the fifth consecutive year the college has reported more than 100 disclosures.
W:: Lauren Budden

October 26, 2005

Q:: Converting the decimal number 3,052 to hexadecimal yields the acronym for an interdepartmental research center in the College of Engineering. What are the acronym and full name of the center?
A:: In hexadecimal, 3,052 is BEC. The Biomedical Engineering Center, College of Engineering, is an interdepartmental research center that combines the talents of researchers in engineering and medical disciplines to work toward common research goals and educational activities in biomedical engineering.
W:: Kynan Shook

October 12, 2005

Q:: Which chemical engineering alumnus and WARF employee was instrumental in helping pass the 1980 federal Bayh-Dole Act, which gave U.S. universities the right to own their federally funded intellectual property and license it to companies for commercial development?
A:: Howard Bremer BS, Chemical Engineering, 1944
W:: John Archambault

September 28, 2005

Q:: What engineering spin-off company developed a device that relays data from cameras and other sensors to an array of electrodes placed on the tongue, allowing a blind person to “see” via electrical impulses?
A:: Biomedical Engineering Professor Paul Bach-y-Rita's company, Wicab, Inc., developed the system, called BrainPort. Bach-y-Rita, who pioneered research in sensory-substitution and brain-machine interface technologies more than three decades ago, formed Wicab in 1998.
W:: Jonathan Beavers

August 31, 2005

Q:: Which two current engineering departments existed in some form as early as 1858?
A:: Civil engineering and mechanical engineering. In 1858, the university grouped civil and mechanical engineering in the Department of Science, Literature and the Arts. Two years later, it discontinued engineering instruction, however — only to reinstate engineering education two years after that, using military instructors to teach the courses.
W:: Tony Turpin

May 11, 2005

Q:: Which College of Engineering administrator is also a kayak instructor?
A:: Mark Mastalski, director of the Engineering Student Leadership Center, has been a kayak instructor for five years. He teaches kayaking with UW Hoofers and at Rutabaga in Madison. He is the proud owner of three kayaks. His favorite place to kayak is Equador's Jondachi River because "You are in a tropical rain forest, with parrots, parakeets, and monkeys all around."
W:: Paul Van de Sand

May 11, 2005

Q:: Which College of Engineering administrator is also a kayak instructor?
A:: Mark Mastalski, director of the Engineering Student Leadership Center, has been a kayak instructor for five years. He teaches kayaking with UW Hoofers and at Rutabaga in Madison. He is the proud owner of three kayaks. His favorite place to kayak is Equador's Jondachi River because "You are in a tropical rain forest, with parrots, parakeets, and monkeys all around."
W:: Paul Van de Sand

Apr. 27, 2005

Q:: In 2004, the college announced its new Classified Staff Distinguished Achievement Award. Who was the first winner of this award?
A:: Jean Hoover, a 30-year veteran of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, won the 2004 Classified Staff Distinguished Achievement Award. Jean oversees document duplication for the department. The winner of the 2005 award will be announced at a celebration and ceremony May 3.
W:: Amanda Stone

Apr. 13, 2005

Q:: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Pat Farrell is known as an avid collector of what kind of car?
A:: Associate Dean Farrell is an Alfa Romeo fan and has owned four over the past 15 years of collecting. He got interested in them in high school when his dad bought one. Pat says they are "bargain exotic" cars — lots of interesting, quirky features and cool looks but not too expensive. Naturally he tinkers with them, since few people around are interested in repairing them — and they do tend to break down a lot, he says. His most dramatic breakdown experience was when one Alfa caught fire while he was driving home down Mineral Point Road. "At first, there was just smoke and I thought no big deal. Then flames started shooting out and I figured we'd better pull over." A backseat fire extinguisher took care of the flames, and Pat was able to prevent the fire department from completely hosing the car when they arrived on the scene!
W:: James Berbee

Mar. 30, 2005

Q:: “Evolve²” is the theme for what college event?
A:: Evolve² is the theme for the biennial Engineering EXPO April 14-16, 2005. Thousands of students from around Wisconsin, along with the general public, are expected to visit this student-run engineering showcase. For more information, see http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~expo/.
W:: Jennifer Scheuren

Mar. 16, 2005

Q:: Of the college's current department chairpersons, who has served in that post the longest?
A:: The college's longest-serving current chair is Professor Philip O'Leary of the Department of Engineering Professional Development. He has been that department's chair since 1995.
W:: Suzanne Rybeck

Mar. 2, 2005

Q:: "Sixty Strut Tensegrity Sphere" is the sculpture hanging in the atrium of the Engineering Centers Building. How many tubes does the sculpture have?
A:: Sixty. "Sixty Strut Tensegrity Sphere" is considered one of the most spectacular of Buckminster Fuller's works illustrating the concept of tensegrity. The structure consists of 20 three-strut tensegrity prisms in an icosahedral (having 20 faces) form. Sixty tubes radiate outward from the center of its complex arrangement. Originally created for a Dayton, Ohio bank in 1979, the sculpture was eventually donated to a Dayton art museum and later placed in storage. UW-Madison alumnus Leah Temkin saw it at a Chicago art show and purchased it as a gift to the college in memory of her late husband, chemical engineering alumnus Blair "Bud" Temkin. He and his brother started Port Shell Molding, a successful foundry in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.
W:: Phil Mauermann

Feb. 16, 2005

Q:: Which College of Engineering assistant dean is also a yoga teacher?
A:: Engineering Assistant Dean for External Relations Karen Walsh has been a certified yoga teacher since March, 2003. She teaches in the evenings at a local yoga studio. (She also holds a black belt in tae kwon do, but hasn't broken a board in years!)
W:: Julie Rae

Feb. 2, 2005

Q:: Which prize winner in the 2004 Schoofs Prize for Creativity was tested last summer at the Kohl Center?
A:: The 2004 second-place, $7,000 winner, "Ice Light," was tested under the Kohl Center ice in summer '04. The Ice Light is a replaceable edge-lit film that creates illuminated images such as logos or advertising within ice sheets in ice arenas. The images are easy to turn on and off. It was invented by mechanical engineering students Mike Casper and Anthony Nichol. Casper and Nichol, along with consumer-science student Paul Hohag, were also second-prize winners in the business school's G. Steven Burrill Technology Business Plan Competition in 2004. Their new company, BriteIce Technologies, is working on marketing their product. The 2005 Schoofs Prize and Tong Prize Competitions will be held on Feb. 10-11 in the Engineering Centers Building — all are invited to attend. For more information, see innovation.engr.wisc.edu.
W:: Suwandi

Jan. 19, 2005

Q:: College of Engineering Dean Paul Peercy recently celebrated his five-year anniversary as dean. Dean Peercy did his undergraduate work at Berea College in Kentucky. When he transferred to UW-Madison for graduate work in physics, what well-known UW-Madison administrator was one of his classmates?
A:: Dean Peercy received an MS in 1963 and a PhD in 1966, both in physics, from UW-Madison. His well-known classmate was UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley.
W:: Dale Rudd

Dec. 13, 2004

Q:: For the past two years, the College of Engineering's Concrete Canoe team — paddling canoes dubbed “Rock Solid” and “Chequamegon” — has won the national concrete canoe championship. What year did the college first enter a canoe in the competition, and what was its name?
A:: “Mad-Town” USA in 1991. Other canoes have included “The Buckyneer,” “Wisconcrete Woody,” “Great Dane,” “Ironsides and Rose Boat,” and “Mine Bender.”
W:: Chilwin Tanamal

Nov. 24, 2004

Q:: Wendt Library, named after former Engineering Dean Kurt Wendt, serves as the primary library for the College of Engineering. But it also serves as the primary library for three other academic departments at UW-Madison. What are they?
A:: Computer Sciences, Statistics, and Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences.
W:: Gavin Pang

Nov. 18, 2004

Q:: The College of Engineering just named two people to the title of "research professor." Who are they?
A:: David Gustafson, formerly a professor of industrial engineering, and John Santarius, formerly a senior scientist in the Fusion Technology Institute. Gustafson's work focuses on the use and design of computer systems to help people cope with major illnesses. Santarius' work focuses on the use of advanced fusion fuels for electrical energy production and space propulsion.
W:: Rajaa

Nov. 10, 2004

Q:: This year marks the 10th anniversary of one of the College of Engineering's most distinctive features. What is it?
A:: The fountain on Engineering Mall, known as Maquina. It's also become the logo of the College of Engineering.
W:: Cliff Amundsen

Oct. 27, 2004

Q:: He is perhaps the most famous student to ever enroll in the College of Engineering. Although he didn't graduate with an engineering degree, he did receive an honorary degree from UW-Madison, in part in recognition of something he did in 1927. Name him.
A:: Charles Lindbergh, who made the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. He was a student at the college from 1920-22, and the college's Lindbergh series of lectures are named after him. He received his honorary degree in 1928.
W:: Dan Bergmann

Oct. 13, 2004

Q:: This student came to UW-Madison to study engineering in 1957 and walked on as a member of the Badgers football team. Today, he still maintains a strong tie to engineering. Who is he?
A:: Grainger Professor of Engineering Physics Gerald Kulcinski, who also serves as associate dean of research for the College of Engineering. He played guard and linebacker for the Badger football team.
W:: Mary Weaver-Klees

Sep. 29, 2004

Q:: The Department of Materials Science and Engineering has five members of the National Academy of Engineering on its current faculty. Name them.
A:: They are: IBM Professor of Materials Science and Engineering John Perepezko; Wisconsin Distinguished Professor Y. Austin Chang; Erwin W. Mueller Professor and Bascom Professor of Surface Science Max Lagally; Grainger Professor of Superconducting Materials and L.V. Shubnikov Professor of Materials Science and Engineering David Larbalestier; and College of Engineering Dean Paul Peercy, who holds a faculty appointment in the department.
W:: Bin Shi

Sep. 15, 2004

Q:: The oldest section of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Building, know as the “Sawtooth,” was recently torn down. When was it built?
A:: It was built in 1920, and was originally known as the the Randall Shop, for its proximity to Randall Avenue. Its jagged roof quickly led to it becoming known as the "Sawtooth."
W:: Jay Hille

Sep. 1, 2004

Q:: The national World War II memorial recently unveiled in Washington, D.C., has a connection to the College of Engineering. What is it?
A:: The names and services of those who served in the war can be accessed at touch-screen kiosks at the memorial that incorporate technology developed by the college's Trace Research and Development Center. The memorial utilizes the Trace Center's EZ Access, a set of simple interface enhancements that are integrated into electronic products and devices such as public information kiosks. The technology makes it easier for people with disabilities to access information.
W:: Michael Ketter

Apr. 29, 2004

Q:: What's the connection between one of Madison's most popular plays of recent years and the 2004 Schoofs Prize for Creativity?
A:: Both featured ice fishing. The Schoofs Prize for Creativity was awarded to students Joe Cessna, Nicholas Passint, and Bryan Wilson for their invention of an expandable ice fishing net that folds up like an umbrella. The play is "Guys on Ice," which has played to packed audiences in Madison in recent years and features two guys in an ice shanty contemplating life, the Green Bay Packers, and their ice fishing camaraderie.
W:: Pat Arnold

Apr. 14, 2004

Q:: Three College of Engineering faculty members were recently named among 20 UW-Madison faculty members as the most cited researchers in their fields during the past two decades. Name two of them.
A:: Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor B. Ross Barmish, Industrial and Systems Engineering Professor Emeritus George E.P. Box, and Wisconsin Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Y. Austin Chang. The three were cited by Thomson ISI, which conducts surveys of research citations.
W:: Nobody

Mar. 31, 2004

Q:: A group of College of Engineering students will once again this year visit the Johnson Space Center in Houston to experience weightlessness in a vehicle known euphemistically as what?
A:: The "Vomit Comet," technically known as the KC-135 Weightless Wonder, an aircraft that allows participants to experience periods of weightlessness by climbing and dropping steeply. The aircraft is part of NASA's Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program.
W:: Seth Potratz

Mar. 17, 2004

Q:: This College of Engineering faculty member was recently named one of the 2003 Scientific American 50. Who is it?
A:: Steenbock Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering James Dumesic. The winners are recognized for their contributions to advancement of technology on science, engineering, commerce and public policy. Dumesic was chosen by editors of Scientific American as the winner in the energy area for his work in pioneering economical catalysts for turning biomass into hydrogen fuel.
W:: Dale Rudd

Mar. 3, 2004

Q:: Chemical and Biological Engineering Professor Emeritus R. Bird shares a distinction with the likes of former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger. What is it?
A:: He has been given a knighthood. Bird was recently knighted into the Order of Oranje Nassau by the counsel general of The Netherlands. He received the honor for his many activities as an advocate for the Dutch culture. He studied in The Netherlands as a Fulbright scholar in 1950, and has gone back to visit the country several times.
W:: Selasi Konu

Feb. 18, 2004

Q:
A:: The O.Z. Pack — a protective book carrier and stationary binder that's been described as halfway between a folder and a backpack. It is also sold in Ozcanli's home country of Turkey.
W:: Jackson Wai

Feb. 04, 2004

Q:
A:
W:: Terry Hoffman

Jan. 21, 2004

Q:: What is the date of the next lecture in the Computational Sciences Lecture Series?
A:: Feb. 19, 2004
W:

Dec. 10, 2003

Q:: Two College of Engineering faculty are among this year's 100 Top Young Innovators. Name one of them.
A:: Scott Schuetter
W:: Chemical and Biological Engineering Assistant Professor David Lynn and Biomedical Engineering Assistant Professor Nimmi Ramanujam are two of the world's Top Young Innovators, according to Technology Review, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Magazine of Innovation.

Nov. 26, 2003

Q:: A research group in Chemical and Biological Engineering tested materials to find one that could replace an expensive precious metal used in producing hydrogen for fuel cells. What's the name of the expensive metal?
A:: Platinum. In the June 27, 2003 issue of Science, College of Engineering chemical and biological engineers report the discovery of a nickel-tin catalyst that can replace the precious metal platinum in a new, environmentally sustainable, greenhouse-gas-neutral, low-temperature process for making hydrogen fuel from plants. More….
W:: Donna Bell

Nov. 13, 2003

Q:: Two College of Engineering faculty members are currently working with noted UW-Madison stem-cell pioneer James Thompson on research that focuses on freezing and storing embryonic stem cells. Name them.
A:: Howard Curler Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering Juan de Pablo and Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering Sean Palecek. The two faculty members are researching ways in which stem cells can be possibly freeze-dried, stored at room temperature, and transported more easily. Their work may have implications for the way blood is stored and transported.
W:: Mahesh S. Illindala

Oct. 29, 2003

Q:: This year's winner of the Tong Prototype Prize, Aaron Bland, won for design improvements in what kind of mode of transportation?
A:: A bicycle. Bland's prototype, the AB-1, featured a shock-absorbing system for the rear wheel of high-performance mountain bikes.
W:: Aura Gimm

Oct. 15, 2003

Q:: Name the latest member of the College of Engineering faculty to be elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
A:: Grainger Professor of Superconducting Materials and L.V. Shubnikov Professor of Materials Science and Engineering David Larbalestier. He is currently director of the college's Applied Superconductivity Center.
W:: Vaishnav Gorur

Oct. 1, 2003

Q:: A new member of the College of Engineering faculty recently spent 10 years overseeing research efforts at an orthopedics company in Switzerland. Name the professor.
A:: Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Heidi-Lynn Ploeg. Her research interests include bone modeling and remodeling, orthopedic implant design, biomechanics, finite element analysis, and material fatique.
W:: Ravi Murugesan

Sept. 17, 2003

Q:: The UW-Madison Concrete Canoe team won its first-ever national championship this year with a canoe named after a nationally designated area in Wisconsin. Name it.
A:: The Chequamegon, after the Chequamegon National Forest.
W:: Deanna Dietrich

Sept. 3, 2003

Q:: This past summer, the Department of Chemical Engineering changed its name to the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering to reflect the increasing importance of the biological sciences in its research and curriculum. Prior to this, what was the last academic department in the college to undergo a name change?
A:: In 1995, the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics merged with the Department of Engineering Mechanics. The faculty approved a new name, the Department of Engineering Physics. (This is actually the department's third name. It was first established as the Department of Nuclear Engineering.)
W:: Gavin Pang

May 14, 2003

Q:: Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering John Kao has developed a novel way of healing injuries through use of a common household device. What is it?
A:: Bandages. Kao's bandage invention uses modified gelatin and polymers to develop the molecular structure needed to help cells heal an injury.
W:: Winton Parlindungan

April 30, 2003

Q:: College of Engineering faculty disclosed a record number of invention disclosures to the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation in the 2001-02 academic year. How many were there?
A:: A total of 116 disclosures, the largest number of any UW-Madison college or school.
W:: Ashwanth Vijayan

April 16, 2003

Q:: J. Lance Cavanaugh, senior development director for the College, once worked in development for another Wisconsin college. Name it.
A:: Beloit College. Cavanaugh, who grew up in Madison, joined the University of Wisconsin Foundation's development team last summer.
W:: Alexander Ferrugia

April 2, 2003

Q:: President George W. Bush last year appointed what College faculty member to serve as chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board?
A:: Professor of Engineering Physics Michael Corradini. The board provides scientific and technical oversight of the U.S. Department of Energy's program for managing disposing of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from civilian nuclear power plants. More ...
W:: Nora McGann

March 19, 2003

Q:: The College of Engineering's FutureTruck team, which won the 2002 national FutureTruck Challenge, used what kind of sport utility vehicle in the competition?
A:: A Ford Explorer. The FutureTruck team defeated 14 other teams in competition held in California and Arizona.
W:: Sanjay Paidisetty

March 5, 2003

Q:: Name the Colorado artist who designed the 11,000-square-foot terrazzo floor of the College's Engineering Centers Building.
A:: Scott Parsons worked on the floor, from design to finish, for more than two years. The floor was financed in part by the state's Percent for Art program, which designates a percentage of a building's budget for works of public art.
W:: Colleen Heinkel

February 19, 2003

Q:: Richard Wright (CEE BS '51, MS '57), a College of Engineering 2002 Distinguished Service Award recipient, recently authored a book about his work studying what archeological wonder?
A:: Machu Picchu, in Peru, South America. Wright's book, entitled "Machu Picchu: A Civil Engineering Marvel," was published last year by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
W:: Murali Rajaa

February 5, 2003

Q:: Nate Altfeather, the first-place winner of the 2002 Schoofs Prize for Creativity, based his invention on his experience in what university-sponsored sport?
A:: Crew. Altfeather developed the Check-meter as a way to help himself and his crew teammates row more consistently and avoid what's known in the sport as "check," or negative acceleration.
W:: Wendy Beckman

January 22, 2003

Q:: One of the college's newest faculty members counts cryptography and coding theory among his research interests. Name him.
A:: Nigel Boston has joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a shared appointment in mathematics, as a new professor. He earned his PhD in mathematics in 1987 from Harvard University; his early work in number theory provided a key step in the celebrated recent proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. He conducted postdoctoral research at IHES in Bures-sur-Yvette, France and has taught at the University of California-Berkeley and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Boston's research interests include cryptography, coding theory, watermarking, algebraic methods in filter design, number theory, and Galois representations.
W:: Brian Boland

November 27, 2002

Q:: UW-Madison chemical engineers have developed a process to make hydrogen from biomass. What's the substance they use to make their hydrogen fuel?
A:: Glucose. It's the same energy source used by most plants and animals. In the process, glucose is converted to hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and gaseous alkanes with hydrogen constituting 50 percent of the products. More refined molecules such as ethylene glycol and methanol are almost completely converted to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. "The process should be greenhouse-gas neutral," says Researcher Randy Cortright. "Carbon dioxide is produced as a byproduct, but the plant biomass grown for hydrogen production will fix and store the carbon dioxide released the previous year." Cortright, graduate student Rupali Davda and Chemical Engineering Professor James Dumesic published their findings Aug. 29 in the journal Nature. For more: http://www.engr.wisc.edu/news/headlines/2002/Aug28.html
W:: Sarah Stritesky

November 14, 2002

Q:: The Engineering Centers Building will become home to one of the college's nine departments. Which one?
A:: The college's newest department, biomedical engineering, will call ECB home. Faculty and staff are currently housed in buildings around campus. The new ECB location will help make the department "a community," according to Department Chair Rob Radwin.
W:: Jean Dussault

October 30, 2002

Q:: The Engineering Centers Building sits on the site of what were known as the Temporary Buildings. When were these temporary buildings constructed?
A:: The famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) Temporary Buildings were constructed just after World War II. A huge influx of returning veterans created a space crunch on campus, and the temporary buildings provided everything from lab space to a cafeteria. They were torn down in 2000, making them more long-lived than temporary.
W:: Mary Ann Sveum

October 16, 2002

Q:: In 2001, the college dedicated a portrait gallery of its past deans. Name the artist who painted the four newest portraits of Deans Bollinger, Wendt, Johnson and Marshall.
A:: Nationally known portrait artist and UW-Madison alumnus Ben MacReady painted the new deans' portraits located across from 1800 Engineering Hall. To learn more about MacReady and the deans' portraits, visit http://www.engr.wisc.edu/news/headlines/2001/Dec03.html.
W:: Derek Ploor

October 3, 2002

Q:: Which College of Engineering alumnus sponsors a prototype contest for undergraduates?
A:: Peter Tong (MS '65) sponsors the Tong Prototype Prize, part of the College's Innovation Day student invention competition. Tong also sponsors a forgivable loan program for Innovation Day contestants to help fund their prototype construction. For more information, see http://studentservices.engr.wisc.edu/tongprize/.
W:: Yannis Pappas

September 18, 2002

Q:: Three chemical engineering faculty members are the authors of the seminal chemical engineering textbook, Transport Phenomena." Name one of them.
A:: Chemical Engineering Professors Ed Lightfoot, Warren Stewart and Bob Bird are the esteemed authors of the revered 1960 textbook. It was recently updated; read more about it in the Fall/Winter 2001-02 issue of On These Foundations, the chemical engineering department newsletter.
W:: Ben Hackel

September 4, 2002

Q:: Engineering EXPO was started as an alternative to St. Patrick's Day festivities that featured an increasingly hostile rivalry between engineering students and another group of students. Who were these students?
A:: Engineering and law students had a notorious rivalry which came to a head each St. Patrick's Day. It featured a parade and practical jokes that became increasingly dangerous. In 1940, the college started Engineering EXPO to give engineers another outlet for their energies.
W:: Ari Lukoff

May 15, 2002

Q:: A tax on what form of transportation provided funding when the college was established in 1889?
A:: An appropriation of one percent of the state's railroad license tax for continuous use by the College of Mechanics and Engineering — later known as the College of Engineering — enabled the college to greatly expand its work.
W:: Karen Croysdale

May 1, 2002

Q:: Each year, the college and Polygon sponsor a fall job fair for engineering students. What is the name of this job fair?
A:: Career Connection is the September job fair at the College of Enginering. To learn more, go to http://ecs.engr.wisc.edu/student/careerconnection.cfm.
W:: Kevin Krause

April 18, 2002

Q:: Which College of Engineering office sponsors the Engineering Summer Program (ESP)?
A:: The Engineering Summer Program is sponsored by the college's Diversity Affairs Office. ESP brings high school students to the campus for a seven-week residential academic program that prepares them to apply to the College of Engineering. "ESP is the most effective effort we have for recruiting undergraduate diversity students," says Diversity Affairs Assistant Dean Doug Henderson. Twenty-two students attended the ESP program in 2001; a similar number is expected this year.
W:: Brian Sullivan

April 3, 2002

Q:: Which College of Engineering staff member received the Ragnar E. Onstad Service to Society Award at Engineers' Day 2001?
A:: Senior Artist Phil Biebl of Engineering External Relations was the Onstad Award winner in 2001. Read more about his award at http://www.engr.wisc.edu/news/eday/facstaff.html#BIEBL.
W:: Kevin Grohskopf

March 20, 2002

Q:: Two Wisconsin companies sponsored the largest number of engineering co-op students in the 2000-01 school year. Name one.
A:: There was a tie between Kohler Corporation and Kimberly-Clark Corporation, both Wisconsin companies, for hiring the most co-op students. Each sponsored 44 work terms for co-op students during the 2000-01 school year.
W:: Faye Helstrom

March 6, 2002

Q:: In 2002, engineering students will for the first time compete in a national contest to create a more fuel-efficient version of what sports-oriented vehicle?
A:: A team of College of Engineering students will enter the Clean Snowmobile Challenge for the first time this year. To read more about the competition, go to http://www.engr.wisc.edu/news/headlines/2001/Dec10.html.
W:: Dustin Zachman

February 20, 2002

Q:: The engineering building that houses the main labs of the Computer Aided Engineering Center was once used by what state agency?
A:: In 1939, the State Highway Commission of Wisconsin completed central highway testing laboratory on engineering campus. The building was known as the State Highway Laboratory. A 40-year agreement allowed university engineers to use the facility for instruction, research and thesis work. In 1977, the building was remodeled to house computer sciences and physics. It was again remodeled in 1983 and 1987, becoming home to Computer-Aided Engineering in 1987.
W:: Tim Spiegelhoff

February 6, 2002

Q:: Which College of Engineering building celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2001?
A:: The Kurt F. Wendt Library turned 25 in 2001. The library has been a campus leader in making materials available electronically to faculty and staff. Incidentally, the library is named after the college's sixth dean, who served from 1953-1971.
W:: Thaddeus Baranowski

January 23, 2002

Q:: In 2001 one of the college's three student vehicle teams won first place at their national competition. Name the team.
A:: The college's SAE Mini-Baja Team outperformed 104 teams to take the winner's circle at the SAE Mini-Baja Competition in Manhattan, Kansas in April. The team scored 922.036 points putting them 12 points ahead of second-place finishers Brigham Young University and more than 100 points ahead of third-place winners Utah State University. Teams are charged with building a single passenger, four-wheel-drive, off-road vehicle around a 10-horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine. The vehicles are judged on acceleration, braking, maneuverability and endurance. In addition to a sales presentation, the teams must present cost and design reports. The college also fielded a second car that placed 33rd.
W:: Steven Abitz

December 12, 2001

Q:: Only three people have chaired the Department of Engineering Physics, historically the fewest number of chairs of any COE department. Name all three.
A:: Professor Max Carbon chaired the Department of Nuclear Engineering from its inception in July 1963 until 1992, when he was succeeded by Professor Gil Emmert. Emmert served until July 1, 2001, when Professor Michael Corradini succeeded him.
W:: Robert Radwin

November 28, 2001

Q:: In 1997, the college welcomed a new director of its Co-op Education and Internship Program — John Archambault. Who was John's predecessor?
A:: Marion Beachley was the co-op program director prior to John. Incidentally, Marion is the wife of Mechanical Engineering Professor Emeritus Norm Beachley.
W:: Kyle Gudmunson

November 14, 2001

Q:: Four College of Engineering faculty members have named professorships that are the same as a well-known campus building. Name one of them.
A:: ECE's Tom Lipo and Tom Jahns are Grainger Professors of Power Electronics and Electrical Machines; and David Larbalestier is the Grainger Professor of Supercomputing Materials and L.V. Shubnikov Professor. Associate Dean Jerry Kulcinski is the Grainger Professor of Engineering Physics. The professorships are sponsored by the Grainger Foundation, and, of course, share the name of UW-Madison's Grainger Hall.
W:: Karan Mehra

October 31, 2001

Q:: The College of Engineering currently has 16 faculty members (including emeritus professors) who are members of the National Academy of Engineering. Name two of them. (Hint: There are three other NAE members at UW-Madison, but we're looking for COE faculty only!)
A:: All of the esteemed engineering faculty listed below are members of the National Academy of Engineering. The NAE is one of the field's most prestigious organizations, and membership is by election only.

Byron Bird
John Bollinger
Gary Borman
James Callen
Y. Austin Chang
Michael L. Corradini
James A. Dumesic
Gerald Kulcinski
Max Lagally
Edwin Lightfoot
Arthur Lodge
Phil Myers
Paul S. Peercy
W. Harmon Ray
Dale Rudd
Warren Stewart
W:: Catherine Marin

October 3, 2001

Q:: What was the theme of the College of Engineering's 2000 annual report?
A:: The 2000 annual report was called "Engineering Interaction." Find a printed copy in Wendt Library, or view it on line at http://www.engr.wisc.edu/news/ar/2000/.
W:: Andre Christopher Potro

October 3, 2001

Q:: What was the theme for Engineering EXPO 2001?
A:: "From Concepts to Reality" was the theme of Engineering EXPO 2001. EXPO is a biennial event run completely by students. More than 7,000 people attended the last EXPO. See you for the next EXPO in spring, 2003!
W:: Mark Street

September 19, 2001

Q:: Which chemical engineering alumnus sponsors an annual student invention competition for UW-Madison undergraduates?
A:: Richard J. Schoofs (BSChE '53) sponsors the annual BRAINSTORM: The Schoofs Prize for Creativity. Concerned that students needed more exposure to entrepreneurship, he inaugurated the competition in 1995. The competition encourages undergraduates to create an original patentable object or process, and educates them about the steps involved in entrepreneurship. Schoofs was instrumental in designing the contest, making certain it focused on creating marketable products and that a business plan was considered part of the project. Schoofs won the Wisconsin Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2000, and the college's Distinguished Service Award in 1997. For more information on the competition, go to http://studentservices.engr.wisc.edu/brainstorm/brainstorm.html
W:: Derek R. Ploor

September 5, 2001

Q:: What is the name of the experiment in which engineering physics students used castoff equipment and constructed a tabletop fusion experiment of novel design that produced plasma performance levels of interest to the sophisticated fusion scientists?
A:: Known as Pegasus, the three-year, $2.5 million program is today funded by the Department of Energy. It involves the design and construction of a small but innovative fusion reactor prototype capable of generating high-pressure hydrogen gas plasmas, the fuel that drives fusion energy production in a process similar to the one that powers our sun. To read more about this novel project, see the Winter 1996-97 issue of Perspective.
W:: Ethan Brodsky

May 9, 2001

Q:: Students in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at one time made their own jewelry to benefit student programs. What was this jewelry called?
A:: "EnginEarrings" was the name give to this line of student-made jewelry. The earrings, pins and bolo ties were made of aluminum in the department's laboratories. Read more about the project at http://www.engr.wisc.edu/alumni/perspective/22.2/earrings.html
W:: Kerry DeWitt

April 25, 2001

Q:: Who is the first (and only) faculty member to serve as the College's Philip Dunham Reed Professor of Photonics?
A:: Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Dan Botez is the College's Philip Dunham Reed Professor of Photonics. He is also the director of the Reed Center for Photonics.
W:: Walt Hislop

April 11, 2001

Q:: The College of Engineering is currently home to 14 research consortia. Which of its consortia has the largest number of industrial members?
A:: WEMPEC, the Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium, which as of last fall had 49 active members.
W:: Jonathan Bird

March 28, 2001

Q:: The college is home to one of few active, university-based nuclear reactors remaining in the U.S. In what year was it built?
A:: In 1961, the college's reactor was completed in a corner of the mechanical engineering building.
W:: Martha Voytovich

March 16, 2001

Q:: Which artist and inventor of the geodesic dome is the creator of a new sculpture to be placed in the engineering centers building?
A:: When the engineering centers building is completed, a massive stainless-steel-and-wire sculpture designed by the visionary engineer-inventor-artist R. Buckminster Fuller will hang at the entrance to its atrium. "Sixty-strut Tensegrity" is a 500-pound, 9-foot "crystal ball" through which admirers can glimpse its creator's vision of the future, and its donors' memories of the past. Recipient of 47 honorary doctorates (including one from UW-Madison), holder of more than 20 U.S. patents and author of nearly 30 books, Fuller is best known for inventing the geodesic dome. He also devised tensional integrity, or tensegrity. Tensegrity describes a structural-relationship principle in which each component of an architectural system stabilizes the others by balancing forces of compression and tension. The sculpture will be the gift of the Temkin family, in memory of the late chemical engineering alumnus Blair "Bud" Temkin.
W:: Robin Roehl

February 28, 2001

Q:: What technological achievement, co-invented by a COE alumnus, was featured on a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1999?
A:: The integrated circuit was part of the U.S. Postal Service's commemorative "Celebrate the Century" series for the decade of the 1960s. The circuit's co-inventor was electrical engineering alumnus Jack Kilby.
W:: Alberto Rodriguez

January 26, 2001

Q:: Where is Marshall Rock?
A:: You'll find Marshall Rock near the pylons at the end of the mall, next to the pool. Marshall Rock is a tribute to the college's sixth dean, W. Robert Marshall. Originally, it was located on a grassy area where the addition to Engineering Hall now stands. (Yes, at one time this was an open lawn.) With the addition's construction, the rock was moved until Engineering Mall was completed.
W:: Nobody

December 27, 2000

Q:: What is the name of the holographic artwork installed in the Engineering Hall atrium?
A:: The work is called "Light Rain," created in 1992 by artist Rudie Berkhout. His holographic works have been exhibited and installed all over the world. He was a fashion and stage lighting designer before being inspired in 1975 to begin designing high-tech holographic artworks. A native of Holland, Berkhout now resides in New York City. His work was commissioned for the college under the Wisconsin Arts Board's Percent for Art Program.
W:: Barry Paye

December 13, 2000

Q:: Paul S. Peercy is the college's 8th dean. Who was its first?
A:: John Butler Johnson served as the first dean of the College of Engineering, from 1899 - 1902.
W:: Tomy Widya

November 29, 2000

Q:: Where in the college will you find these words inscribed: "To the advancement of engineering knowledge, the fostering of professional integrity, and the encouragement of devotion to the service of mankind, this building is dedicated"?
A:: You will find these words inscribed on the wall of what was once the main entrance of the Engineering Building, now known as Engineering Hall. (Look on the green polished marble wall, underneath the "Numen Lumen" symbol, near the Edison Generator on the first floor.)
W:: Jim Berbee

November 15, 2000

Q:: The college has two alumni who are famous for their "airborne" achievements. Name one.
A:: One is Charles Lindbergh, who attended the college as a student from 1920-22. He was, of course, the first person to cross the Atlantic by air. The other is astronaut Brewster Shaw (BSEMA '68, MS '69) who flew on the first of his two Space Shuttle missions in 1983; he commanded another in 1985.
W:: Tom Smart

November 1, 2000

Q:: Which COE staff member has served as a Madison alderperson?
A:: Robert Dye, associate dean for finance and personnel, served as the district 3 alderperson for three two-year terms, from 1983-89. Of his city council service, Dye says, "It's a terrific experience that keeps on giving. It takes much time and energy but I learned a lot about local politics, and have been involved (hooked) ever since." He is still serving the community as a member of the Board of Park Commissioners and the Madison Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board.
W:: Mike Smith

October 18, 2000

Q:: The street that runs through the engineering campus is called Engineering Drive. But that hasn't always been its name. What was it called before 1995?
A:: Prior to July 1, 1995, Engineering Drive was called Johnson Drive. Then-Dean Bollinger chose the new name so that the college's addresses would "reflect what we do here, and not be some unrelated name." There was some speculation that the "Johnson" referred to former engineering Dean J. Butler Johnson, but this has never been substantiated.
W:: Ted Laufenberg

October 4, 2000

Q:: In what year did the college establish MS and PhD programs in industrial engineering?
A:: The industrial engineering MS and PhD degrees were established in 1966. The BS curriculum was approved in 1968.
W:: Michael Freytag and Robert Keefe

September 20, 2000

Q:: Both a COE alumnus and a former College of Engineering dean have buildings named after them on the UW-Madison campus. Name one of them.
A:: The two who have lent names to university buildings are 1950 electrical and computer engineering alumnus David Grainger, for Grainger Hall, and the late engineering Dean Emeritus Kurt F. Wendt, for Wendt Library.
W:: Vasu Ramaswamy

September 4, 2000

Q:: Which COE faculty member played for the Wisconsin Badger football team while an engineering student?
A:: Jerry Kulcinski played middle linebacker and right guard ("we played both ways then.") Freshman-1957 (freshmen could not play varsity then). He lettered in 1958, '59,and '60.
W:: John Wiley

May 17, 2000

Q:: Which faculty member was the first recipient of the college's Ragnar E. Onstad Service to Society Award?
A:: Emeritus Professor Phillip S. Myers, mechanical engineering, won the first Onstad award in 1978. The award honors teachers of engineers who have been leaders in contributing to solutions of societal problems. Source: Engineers' Day program 1999, Engineering External Relations
W:: Gottlieb Marmet

May 3, 2000

Q:: Which building on the engineering campus was nearly torn down to make way for the Engineering Building?
A:: The Mining and Metallurgy Building, now known as the Materials Science and Engineering Building. In the early 1940s, plans were being made to expand the engineering campus--at one point, to nine separate buildings on the present college site. In the process, the Mining and Metallurgy Building nearly became history. A proposal was made to build the Engineering Building on University Avenue next to Mechanical Engineering--directly on the site of Mining and Metallurgy (or M&ME as it was known). That meant either tearing down M&ME, or adopting the more fanciful scheme of pouring a concrete slab underneath it and moving it to a new location. But the Engineering Building rose across the street instead, leaving Mining and Metallurgy firmly on its original foundation. Source: The Wisconsin Engineer
W:: Reid Cooper

April 19, 2000

Q:: What was the title of the first winning paper in the college's Steuber Prize for Writing?
A:: The first winning paper was "Neural Nets and Applications" by electrical and computer engineering major John Verberkmoes. The year was 1992. Source: Perspective, Vol. 18 No. 4
W:: Nobody

April 5, 2000

Q:: What was the theme of Engineering Expo 1975?
A:: "Engineers Helping People" was the theme of Expo '75. There were 120 student exhibits and 16 by industry. The first place award for a student exhibition went to Robert Williams, for a computer model of a human musculoskeletal system. Source: Perspective, Volume 2, No. 3
W:: Nobody

March 22, 2000

Q:: Which College of Engineering faculty member originally began his college career in summer school at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music, and then switched to an engineering major at UW-Madison?
A:: Professor of Industrial Engineering and Dean Emeritus John Bollinger originally pursued music. (His principal instrument was the trumpet.) He quickly discovered that there would probably be a greater future in engineering. Music's loss was engineering's gain--Bollinger graduated from the college in '57 with a BS mechanical engineering and in '61 with a PhD, also in ME. He was dean of the college from 1981 through 1999. Source: Engineering External Relations
W:: Maggie Tongue

March 8, 2000

Q:: Which College of Engineering faculty member climbed Mt. Rainier in 1998?
A:: Associate Professor Susan Babcock, materials science and engineering, climbed the peak with a group of 23 other climbers. She trained for the climb by hiking the stairs in the Engineering Research Building, carrying a pack loaded with volumes of "JMSA Proceedings of the Microscopy Society." Source: MS&E News, Winter 1998
W:: Richard Matyi

February 23, 2000

Q:: Which College of Engineering faculty member has appeared in a film by Hollywood director Michael Apted?
A:: Professor Nick Hitchon, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is one of the subjects of Apted's documentary series, "Seven Up." The series follows seven Britons from their childhood, checking in with them every seven years. "They took a sampling from different parts of the country and class structure. I was one of the two children from a rural area. I was from the lower class, and a little girl was from the upper class. From what I understand, they had a hard time finding a farmer's kid who would talk to the camera until they found me. I was talkative even then." The series last filmed Hitchon's life in 1998. Sources: Perspective, Volume 17, No. 3; Nick Hitchon
W:: Jeff Stevens

February 9, 2000

Q:: What was the name of the project that won the college's first Schoofs Prize for Creativity?
A:: The Tri Sailor, a kind of collapsible land yacht/iceboat. It was built by undergraduate Tom Swetish. The wind-powered recreational vehicle was designed so that one person could disassemble it, without tools, in about 15 minutes. The year was 1995.
W:: Melissa Jansen

January 26, 2000

Q:: Which College of Engineering building was originally constructed by the federal government?
A:: The Materials Science and Engineering building began as the original Forest Products Laboratory. The college took possession of the building in 1932, renaming it the Mining and Metallurgy Building.
W:: Laura M. Jensen

December 15, 1999

Q:: Which College of Engineering alumnus has his name immortalized at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center?
A:: John Bardeen (BSEE '28, MSEE '29) has his name carved in bronze in a special "Inventors Walk" near Epcot's Innoventions. (Pass Innoventions, face "The Land," and look down on the sidewalk.) Bardeen was the co-inventor of the transistor.
W:: Mitch Pederson

December 8, 1999

Q:: In front of the sculpture Máquina is a spinning bronze wheel with lots of names on it. Without naming names, who are the people listed?
A:: Relatives of William Conrad Severson, the UW-Madison alumnus who created Máquina. The names refer back to the title "The Descendant's Fountain" carved in cement on the sculpture's base Severson created and donated his work on the sculpture in memory of his family.
W:: Catherine Knuteson

November 24, 1999

Q:: Which College of Engineering alumnus's first job out of college was tackling opponents for the Green Bay Packers?
A:: Don Davey, who received a BS in 1990 and an MS in 1995, both in mechanical engineering. After starring for the Wisconsin Badgers, Davey suited up in the green and gold. He was a defensive end for the Pack from 1991-94. Source: www.packers.com/history/roster
W:: Tom Shambeau

November 10, 1999

Q:: Who was the first female faculty member to receive tenure in the College of Engineering?
A:: Denice Denton in 1992. Denton was a professor of electrical and computer engineering. She is now dean of the college of engineering at the University of Washington. (Note: Lois Greenfield, a faculty member in the college's Department of General Engineering for many years, was an adjunct professor.)
W:: Peter Bianco

October 27, 1999

Q:: Which College of Engineering faculty member appeared in television commercials as a child and had roles as a movie extra?
A:: Electrical and computer engineering assistant professor Damon L. Tull appeared in national TV commercials for companies such as ITT, AT&T and Metropolitan Life from ages 4 to 16. He was found regularly in TV Guide, EBONY and LIFE magazines. He also appeared as an extra in the movie "Claudine" with James Earl Jones and Diahann Carroll. Later in his career, he had an extra role as a basketball player in the Chevy Chase film "Modern Problems." ("'Modern Problems' was an awful movie," he laughs.)
W:: Marianne Machotka

May 12, 1999

Q:: "Between Classes" is the name of the sculpture located on the steps of Engineering Hall. Who is the artist who created it?
A:: J. Seward Johnson, whose realistic statues in bronze can be found in numerous locations all over the world. (His sculpture of Abraham Lincoln talking with a little boy can be found in Gettysburg in front of the hotel in which Lincoln stayed before delivering the Gettysburg Address.)
W:: Nobody

April 28, 1999

Q:: In approximately two years, the College of Engineering will break ground on an exciting new era. What major construction project is slated to begin at that time?
A:: The Engineering Centers Building - a 130,000-square-foot facility that will bring faculty, graduate and undergraduate programs together under one roof - will replace the deteriorating temporary buildings on the southeast corner of Breese Terrace and University Avenue. The state-of-the art facility will offer much needed space for extracurricular learning opportunities and multidisciplinary research.
W:: Rebecca Wuellner

April 14, 1999

Q:: The first chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering went on to found what later became Rayovac Corporation. What was his name?
A:: Charles F. Burgess chaired the Department of Chemical Engineering from 1905 to 1913.
W:: Dick Marleau

March 31, 1999

Q:: The original Engineering Building, constructed on Bascom Hill around 1900, is now occupied by which school?
A:: School of Education
W:: Victor Chen

March 17, 1999

Q:: Name the mechanical engineering graduate who made it possible to jump on a 'Hog' and "live to ride, ride to live."
A:: In 1901, 21-year-old William S. Harley (BS Mechanical Engineering, 1907) and Arthur Davidson, 20, began experiments to "take the work out of bicycling." Two years later, with the assistance of Arthur's brothers, Walter and William, they had produced three motorcycles and the start of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. For more information, please refer to http://www.harley-davidson.com/.
W:: Polly Kurz

March 3, 1999

Q:: As captain of the UW men's tennis team from 1916-1918, Arthur C. Nielsen, Sr. (BS Electrical Engineering, 1918) made quite a name for himself on campus. In fact, his family's name now appears on the university's first-class tennis stadium. What did Nielsen do after graduation that made his name famous around the world?
A:: In 1923, Arthur C. Nielsen Sr. formed the ACNielsen Corporation, which pioneered the concepts of "market share" and "cost per thousand." In 1936, ACNielsen bought the rights to the Audimeter, the first automated, mechanical device for measuring radio audience listening habits. The company began measuring radio audiences in 1942, then unveiled its television index in 1951. Today, "Nielsen Ratings" is a household word, and the company is helping customers in 97 countries achieve success by providing a better understanding of their markets.
W:: Mike Watz

February 17, 1999

Q:: Name the College of Engineering alumnus who supervised the design of the Hoover Dam, the Grand Coulee Dam and some of the first dams of the Tennessee Valley Authority project.
A:: Cooksville, Wis., native John L. Savage (BS Civil Engineering, 1903) was responsible for all three of these projects, as well as many others which took him around the world. He received an honorary doctorate from UW-Madison in 1934 and was awarded numerous gold medals by engineering groups. He died in 1967 at the age of 88.
W:: Nobody

February 3, 1999

Q:: Which former member of the College of Engineering faculty also served as mayor of Madison?
A:: Professor Storm Bull, who taught mechanical engineering and steam engineering at UW-Madison from the late 1870s through the early 1900s, was elected mayor of Madison in 1890 after serving two years on the city council.
W:: Nobody

January 20, 1999

Q:: In what year did 'Wisconsin Engineer,' UW-Madison's award-winning, student-operated magazine, make its first appearance?
A:: 1896
W:: Zach Heiden

December 23, 1998

Q:: Who was the only person to receive two Distinguished Service Awards from the College of Engineering?
A:: Raymond George Herb was presented Distinguished Service Awards in 1976 and 1994. A graduate of the physics department and a professor there until 1972, Herb and two of his students established National Electrostatics Corporation (NEC), in Middleton, Wisconsin, in 1965. Under Herb's direction, NEC became the world's leading manufacturer of electrostatic accelerators. The use of the accelerators has expanded to many fields, including medicine, the computer chip industry and pollution control. One machine built by NEC is in use at the Louvre Museum in Paris to help detect art forgeries, while two others are in place at the ends of the England-to-France Channel to monitor cargo for hazardous or illegal substances.
W:: Nobody

December 9, 1998

Q:: In what year was the Nuclear Engineering Program established?
A:: The Nuclear Engineering Program leading to the MS and PhD degrees in nuclear engineering was established in 1957. A curriculum leading to the BS degree was approved in 1961, and the Department of Nuclear Engineering (now the Department of Engineering Physics) was established in July 1963.
W:: Michael Larson

November 25, 1998

Q:: Who was the first female graduate of the College of Engineering?
A:: Emily Hahn (BSMinE '26) was a world traveler who documented her experiences in 52 books as well as 181 pieces for The New Yorker. Her writing career spanned eight decades and every continent.
W:: Luke Vanderbloemen

November 11, 1998

Q:: Name the College of Engineering graduate who received two Nobel Prizes?
A:: John Bardeen (BSEE '28, MSEE '29) shared the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics with William B. Shockley and Walter H. Brattain for their joint invention of the transistor. In 1972, Bardeen shared his second Nobel Prize in Physics with Leon N. Cooper and John R. Schrieffer for their theory of superconductivity.
W:: Susan Shafer

October 28, 1998

Q:: Name the record-setting aviator who developed his interest in flying while studying mechanical engineering at UW-Madison?
A:: Charles Lindbergh, who attended the College of Engineering in the early 1920s, became the first person to make a non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Though Lindbergh left the College of Engineering early to pursue his flying career, he returned to UW-Madison in 1928 to receive an honorary LLD.
W:: Lauren Rathmann

October 14, 1998

Q:: Who was the first woman to receive a Distinguished Service Award from the College of Engineering?
A:: Elizabeth Jackson McLean (CE '54), who at that time was the assistant commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Works.
W:: JJ Nowlin

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