COMMUNITY UPDATE

A bi-weekly roundup of news and events for faculty and staff

Pre-registration is required to attend

Engineering Innovations in Medicine Collaboration Platform Launches

A new online platform recently launched as part of the cross-college Engineering Innovations in Medicine initiative. The platform was developed to create and manage collaborative research projects that span Cornell Engineering and Weill Cornell Medicine.

Ober named Polymers Program Director for NSF

Christopher K. Ober, the Francis Norwood Bard Professor of Metallurgical Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering, has been appointed under the National Science Foundation’s Visiting Scientist, Engineer, and Educator Program to the position of Polymers Program Director in NSF’s Division of Material Research. Ober’s term with the NSF is expected to begin in April.

CCGB Approves Change to the Liberal Studies Distribution Requirement

Following a vote by Cornell Engineering’s College Curriculum Governing Board, undergraduate students matriculating in summer 2024 or later will now have seven (up from six) groups from which to fulfill their liberal studies requirement. Students will be required to take one course from the new group, race and equity, consisting of courses from the social difference category in Arts and Sciences and the diversity category in Cornell CALS. This change is responsive to the Faculty Senate’s 2021 anti-racism initiative and aligns with pending ABET requirements.

Engineering Advising’s Martin promoted

Benjamin Martin has been promoted from assistant director to associate director for Engineering Advising. Martin has been with Cornell Engineering since 2017 and advises undergraduate students, students pursuing pre-health, veteran students, and students interested in internally transferring into engineering. 

Crypto, green hydrogen form ‘dynamic duo’ to thwart climate change

Cornell engineers say that pairing crypto mining – notable for consuming carbon-based fuel – with green hydrogen could provide for wider deployment of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power.

‘You the Engineer’ climate change course opens to Title 1 schools

Cornell Systems Engineering offers online professional certificates

Consortium identifies 5 grand challenges in biomedical engineering

Creating a remote sensor to detect health troubles

Doug McIlroy ’53: Applied physicist to programming pioneer

Funding connects undergrads to sustainability research

Nature: 11 reasons why we’ve stayed in academia

Several scientists, including Yu Zhong, assistant professor (MSE), explain why they have remained in academia. 

FedScoop: NASA investigating 2023 theft of astronaut training devices

Greg Falco, assistant professor (MAE, Systems) and a cybersecurity expert, provides insights on the case of missing NASA tablets.

Nature: Chatbot AI makes racist judgements on the basis of dialect

Nikhil Garg, assistant professor (ORIE, Cornell Tech), comments on the persistence of racism and stereotyping in artificial intelligence.

Nozomi Nishimura, associate professor (BME), was elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering's College of Fellows "for outstanding innovations in optical methods for intravital studies to advance the understanding of microscale physiology.”

Silvia Ferrari, John Brancaccio Professor (MAE) and associate dean for cross-campus engineering research, received a Raymond Corporation University Research Program grant for her proposal "Real-time Mixed Human-Robot Teaming using Digital Twins."

Ekaterina Selivanovitch, postdoctoral associate (CBE), was selected for the 2024 CAS Future Leaders program. The unique program provides early-career scientists with leadership training and connections to peers from around the world. CAS is a division of the American Chemical Society.

Construction is continuing on the new Thurston Hall addition. Minor noise and activity present - lesser levels to that of the past few weeks - as workers do the following:

• Detailing of glazing and installation of metal panels and associated support system
• Ongoing detailing of the addition roof and connection to the existing building roof
• Delivery of communicating stair stringers through the main skylight
• Begin installation of lab casework
• Begin installation of Tectum ceiling panels
• Ongoing drywall finishing and painting of the 2nd and 3rd floors
• Ongoing framing of the 1st floor, begin hanging drywall

Any questions about the project can be emailed to faccoecis-help@cornell.edu

An eclipse-watch gathering will be hosted by Cornell Engineering on April 8 at 3 p.m. on the terrace at Carpenter Hall. NASA approved viewing glasses will be available and light refreshments will be served. Families are invited.

Dragon Day

Friday, March 29, at 12 p.m.

Visit the Dragon Day site

BME 7900 Seminar

Fridays, 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. – 226 Weill Hall

April 12

CBE Soft Matter Seminar

Wednesdays 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. – 128 Olin Hall

April 10

CBE Spring Seminar

Mondays 9:05 a.m. to 10:05 a.m. – 255 Olin Hall

April 8 | April 10

Ezra's Round Table / Systems Seminar

Fridays, 12:20 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. – 253 Rhodes Hall

April 12

LASSP & AEP Seminar

Tuesdays, 12:20 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. – 700 Clark Hall

April 9

MSE Seminar

Thursdays, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – B11 Kimball Hall

April 11

Community Update will publish again April 11 | Subscribe | Submit news