| Boise State Students Compete in Shell Eco Challenge | Construction Management Teams Receive Honors | Farewell Reception for Cheryl Schrader | Calculator Crunch Video | 3D GameLab Research Project |Undergraduate Research Conference | CM Alumni Golf Tournament|Beat Coach Pete|LSAMP Summer Research| COEN Updates| Funding Oopportunities
BOISE – For the past couple of months 10 Boise State engineering students are in a competition to make the most fuel efficient car ever built. The competition is called the Shell Eco Challenge. The goal is to use diesel, gas or electricity to build a better performing vehicle. The competition will be held on March 29 in Houston, Texas.
Construction Management Teams Receive Honors in Regional and National Competition
Construction Management students received awards in 2 problem categories at the recent Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Inter-Scholastic Regional Competition and Conference held February 8-11 in Reno, NV.
Boise State entered teams in nine divisions. Teams placing included:
Design-Build – 2nd Place,
Determining Project Risk – 3rd Place
Other categories where BSU CM competed include: Commercial, Electrical, Heavy Civil, LEED, Marine, Mixed-Use, Preconstruction.
You can review the Reno Blog from this years competition http://renocompetition2012.blogspot.com.
Farewell Reception for Cheryl Schrader on Wednesday, 3/21
A farewell reception for Cheryl Schrader will be held from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, in the Student Union Simplot A Ballroom. Schrader is leaving to become chancellor of Missouri University of Science and Technology on April 2.
In February 2011, Schrader was appointed associate vice president for strategic research initiatives. Prior to that, she served as dean of the College of Engineering since 2003.
Calculator Crunch Video Posted on YouTube
Watch a fun video of our 7th annual Calculator Crunch on YouTube. The event is held each year during National Engineers Week on the COEN patio. Two winners receive graphing calculators for best distance throw and best scatter field.
CS Faculty Member is Part of Award-Winning 3D GameLab Development Team
Alark Joshi, CS, is part of a team of Boise State faculty who developed an award-winning research project in Boise State’s Department of Educational Technology (EdTech) called 3D GameLab – a “stage 3 winner” in the Digital Media and Learning Badges for Life Competition, which offers awards up to $200,000.
3D GameLab is an online learning platform that engages learners with game mechanics such as experience points, levels and badges. With a simple click, teachers and students can see the quests, projects and other work required to earn recognition for new skills, competencies, knowledge and achievements. Badges offer a digital alternative to traditional ways of validating accomplishment, skill, quality or interest in a field.
Partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 3D GameLab’s project won for their proposal called Planet Stewards, a personalized high school environmental literacy curriculum and Mozilla badge system inside 3D GameLab. High school students would be able to create their own personalized learning pathways in ocean, coastal and atmospheric science education. Their learning would be recognized as an official achievement of the National Science Education Standards.
The Digital Media and Learning Badges for Life Competition is a joint effort with the Mozilla Foundation. The competition had three stages:
- In stage one, individuals, for-profit companies, universities and community organizations proposed possible content, programs or activities.
- In stage two, individuals, teams or organizations such as EdTech, skilled in the design of badge systems, proposed the system they wanted to build.
- In stage three, the final stage, the winners from stage one were matched with the winners from stage two to form teams to make final badge proposals.
The team included: Lisa Dawley (EdTech, Boise State); Chris Haskell (EdTech, Boise State); Andy Hung (EdTech, Boise State); Alark Joshi (Computer Science, Boise State); Peg Steffen (NOAA). Work begins April 1 and lasts 12 months.
Save the Date – Undergraduate Research Conference on April 16th
Boise State University’s 9th annual Undergraduate will be held on Monday, April 16th from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Student Union Building. Plan to attend this showcase of student achievement in mentored research, scholarly pursuits and creative expression. For more information visit: http://academics.boisestate.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-research-conference/
CM Alumni Golf Tournament Set for April 27th at Shadow Valley Golf Course
Register your company team or sign up as an individual and we’ll add you to a team! This annual CM Alumni fund raising event helps the alumni chapter, the student chapter and the department with expenses throughout the year. Part of your registration fee is considered a charitable donation, and you’ll get to play with current CM students.
Register by April 13, at tournevents.com/boisest2012
Questions? Email Chapter President Josh Martin at joshua@marconid.com
Beat Coach Pete Scholarship Run/Walk April 14th
CAN YOU BEAT COACH PETE?
Lace up your shoes and put your game face on! The Beat Coach Pete Scholarship Run/Walk is a great way to do your part to help Boise State students. The race will start on campus and run along the beautiful Boise City Greenbelt.
The featured racer is Coach Pete of the Boise State football team. It’s your chance to see if you can indeed “Beat Pete.” And if you Beat Pete, you’ll receive a year’s worth of bragging rights! All finishers and supporters can join us for a fun-filled finish-line bash sponsored by Recreation Services and our premier sponsors. [continue reading...]
Funding Available for Faculty to Support LSAMP Students in Summer Research
The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) has funding for 10 underrepresented STEM students to perform research this summer with faculty mentors. Students will earn ($10.50/hr) for 20 hours a week of research.
Engaging students in opportunities to explore their field of interest outside the classroom setting is critical in supporting students’ success and degree completion. Part of this vital piece of engagement is building positive mentor-ship connections between the faculty and student.
If you have research opportunities in your lab this summer or would like to learn more, email Emily Flores, LSAMP Coordinator at emilyflores@boisestate.edu. Please include your area of research and how many students you would like to mentor.
LSAMP is a 5-year initiative funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)to increase the number of under-represented minority students completing baccalaureate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Majors eligible for LSAMP are Biological Sciences, Information Technology, Information Science/Studies, Computer Science, Computer Systems Networking, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry, Geology, Geophysics, and Physics.
COEN Faculty Updates
Amit Jain, associate professor of computer science and Mark Rudin, vice president for research and economic development, were quoted in a front page story in the March 13 Idaho Statesman about the success of the university’s computer science graduates. Students in the program are typically offered jobs even before they graduate. Read the full story here.
Funding Opportunities
NSF: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES)
Research on the Science and Technology Enterprise: Statistics and Surveys 12-545
This is about using and improving research via large datasets the NSF provides to address U.S. science and technology arenas including research and development, U.S., competitiveness, STEM Education, and workforce
Due—Every 6 months. Annually from 2013. June 6, 2012, January 15, 2013; January 15 annually thereafter.
Awards and Budget—7–12 awards from total pool of $750K
The NSF NCSES (National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics) welcomes efforts by the research community to use NCSES data for research on the science and technology enterprise, to develop improved survey methodologies for NCSES surveys, to create and improve indicators of S&T activities and resources, and strengthen methodologies to analyze and disseminate S&T statistical data. It invites proposals for individual or multi-investigator research projects, doctoral dissertation improvement awards, workshops, experimental research, survey research and data collection and dissemination projects under its program for Research on the Science and Technology Enterprise: Statistics and Surveys. See call for detailed areas of interest and for information on opportunities to license their research data for project use. Available data sets at graduates, business research and development, and public attitudes. www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvyoverview/overview.cfm
The NSF NCES is one of the thirteen principal federal statistical agencies within the United States. It is responsible for the collection, acquisition, analysis, reporting and dissemination of objective, statistical data related to the science and engineering enterprise in the United States and other nations that is relevant and useful to practitioners, researchers, policymakers and the public. NCSES uses this information to prepare a number of statistical data reports as well as analytical reports including the National Science Board’s biennial report, Science and Engineering (S&E) Indicators, and Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering. Program sponsored by the Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences. Division: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics.
NASA: Space Tech Research Opportunities for Early Career Faculty: NASA is seeking proposals from accredited U.S. universities on behalf of outstanding early career faculty beginning their independent careers. This inaugural Space Technology Research Opportunities for Early Career Faculty solicitation seeks to sponsor research in specific, high priority technology areas of interest to NASA.
Specific topic areas were selected because they can best benefit from early stage innovative approaches provided by U.S. academic institutions. The research will investigate unique, disruptive or transformational space technologies or concepts.
“NASA is committed to ensuring our nation’s intellectual capital pipeline remains the best in the world, and that we bring the brightest minds together with the best ideas to meet the challenges of NASA’s future missions,” said Michael Gazarik, director of NASA’s Space Technology Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “These grants offer a means for NASA to capitalize on the tremendous creativity and innovation that these brilliant individuals have to offer.”
NASA expects to award approximately ten grants this fall, funded up to $200,000 each per year, based on the merit of proposals received. Notices of intent to submit proposals are due March 30. The deadline for submitting final proposals is May 3. For information on the solicitation, including specific technology areas of interest and how to submit notices of intent and proposals, visit: http://go.usa.gov/P31
The Space Technology Research Opportunities for Early Career Faculty is a part of NASA’s Space Technology Program, managed by the Office of the Chief Technologist. For more information about the Space Technology Program and the crosscutting space technology areas of interest to NASA, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/oct
NSF: Enhancing Access to the Radio Spectrum (EARS): Opportunities for interdisciplinary research that increases the efficiency with which radio spectrum is used or expands access to wireless-enabled services for all Americans.
The National Science Foundation’s Directorates for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Engineering (ENG), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) are coordinating efforts to identify bold new concepts with the potential to contribute to significant improvements in the efficiency of radio spectrum utilization, and in the ability for traditionally underserved Americans to benefit from current and future wireless-enabled goods and services. EARS seeks to fund innovative collaborative research that transcends the traditional boundaries of existing programs, such as research that spans disciplines covered by two or more of the participating NSF directorates.
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12546/nsf12546.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click