Transitions to alternative vehicles and fuels

"For a century, almost all light-duty vehicles (LDVs) have been powered by internal combustion engines operating on petroleum fuels. Energy security concerns about petroleum imports and the effect of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on global climate are driving interest in alternatives. Transitions to Alternative Vehicles and Fuels assesses the potential for reducing petroleum consumption and GHG emissions by 80 percent across the U.S. LDV fleet by 2050, relative to 2005.
This report examines the current capability and estimated future performance and costs for each vehicle type and non-petroleum-based fuel technology as options that could significantly contribute to these goals. By analyzing scenarios that combine various fuel and vehicle pathways, the report also identifies barriers to implementation of these technologies and suggests policies to achieve the desired reductions. Several scenarios are promising, but strong, and effective policies such as research and development, subsidies, energy taxes, or regulations will be necessary to overcome barriers, such as cost and consumer choice."

Available for free download at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18264

The Engineering Exchange

Under the banner of "developed by engineers for engineers," the Engineering Exchange functions as a global educational networking community for engineers. The materials on the site are divided into eight primary areas, which include Groups, Videos, Images, Events, Blogs, and Resources. Sections such as the Top Blog Posts showcase some of the most popular insights, which include updates like Manufacturing Productivity Through Design Efficiency and technical pieces on engineering software. Moving on, the Groups area is a great way for visitors to learn from other professionals with sub-sections that include Green Engineering, Water & Wastewater, and Solar Power Development. The Videos section is another gem that features over 1400 items such as Additive Manufacturing: When will it arrive? and The Safest Key-Smart Key. Additionally, visitors can search all of the videos and create their own playlists. 

http://www.engineeringexchange.com/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

Nuclear Systems Design Project

It might be inadvisable to build your own nuclear power plant, but for those looking to learn the basics, this OpenCourseWare course from MIT can help. This course was originally taught in the fall of 2011 by Dr. Michael Short. On the page, visitors can look over the syllabus, the course calendar, the readings, and the lecture videos and class notes. This last area is quite useful, as it contains videos and slides from talks on hydrogen and biofuel production, process heat, and the entire nuclear system design process. Additionally, the site contains links to some of the assignments for the course and information about team projects. [KMG]

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/nuclear-engineering/22-033-nuclear-systems-design-project-fall-2011/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

National Geographic Education Collections

The National Geographic Education website has a number of sections dedicated to different areas within the natural sciences including animals, climate change, ecosystems, engineering, oceans, migration and weather. On the site, visitors can dive in via the Latest Updates or browse the features. Visitors can use the filters on the site to look over the resources by Type, Grades & Ages, Intended Audience, and Subjects.

http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/topics/

MIT OpenCourseWare: Teaching College Level Science & Engineering

How does one teach science and engineering at the college level? It can be a daunting question, particularly for newly minted PhDs, but this rather fine course from the OpenCourseWare initiative at MIT offers high-quality suggestions. The site includes a syllabus, calendar, readings, video discussions, assignments, and other related resources. In the Syllabus area, visitors can learn about the basic lesson plans for the course. The Readings area has some great material, including sections on Teaching Equations, Course Design, Lecture Planning and Performing, and Political Barriers To Educational Change. Visitors should look over the Video Discussions area, which includes conversations with Professor Sanjoy Mahajan about the material. Finally, the site includes links to helpful books and other materials that will be most useful for those seeking further edification.

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/5-95j-teaching-college-level-science-and-engineering-spring-2009/index.htm

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

IEEE Access

JCU researchers in engineering now have access to a new journal from IEEE. 

"IEEE Access is an interdisciplinary, applications-oriented, all-electronic archival publication continuously presenting the results of original research or development across all of IEEE's fields of interest. Supported by author publication fees, its hallmarks are a rapid peer review and publication process with open access to all readers. Articles are reviewed for technical substance and presentation quality. But, unlike IEEE's traditional Transactions or Journals, reviewers are asked to assess the technical correctness of a paper and its potential interest to readers. Readers will evaluate the work through their comments and usage metrics, updated frequently, will be displayed with the abstract of each paper published. Especially encouraged are submissions on:

• Interdisciplinary topics, or applications-oriented articles that don't naturally fit into one of IEEE's existing primary Transactions or Journals;
• Practical discussions of new experimental or measurement techniques, including negative results;
• Applications articles describing interesting solutions to engineering or information system design challenges;
• Development of new or improved fabrication or manufacturing techniques;
• Reviews of new or evolving fields oriented to assist others in understanding the new area."

Records for IEEE Access will appear shortly in JCU's ejournal list and Tropicat.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/aboutJournal.jsp?punumber=6287639

Engineers Against Poverty

Engineers Against Poverty (EAP) is a non-governmental organization that works in the field of engineering and international development. EAP works to harness members' combined skills to alleviate poverty throughout the world and work on the challenges involved with sustainable development along the way. The materials on the site are divided into five sections, including Major Initiatives, Key Issues, Publications, and EAP's Programme. A good place to start is the Major Initiatives area. Here users can learn about some of the key issues and challenges in the domain of engineering, poverty reduction, and more. The EAP's Programme area has information and working papers on the organization's work in transforming extractive industries and infrastructure projects. Finally, the Publications area contains works like "Employment Intensive Road Construction" and "Climate Compatible Development in the Infrastructure Sector Overview.

http://www.engineersagainstpoverty.org/about_eap.cfm

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center: Video Lab Manual

This website from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) brings together almost three dozen helpful instructional laboratory videos. The videos are contained in three sections, including Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. Each video has been recorded in a high-quality digital format and a number of them are available in Spanish as well. Some of the offerings here include "Preparation of Cholesterol Ester Liquid Crystals," "Synthesis of Nickel Nanowires: Beaker," and "Synthesis of a Superconductor." It should be noted that there is an important disclaimer at the bottom of the homepage that is worth reading before attempting any of these activities.

http://education.mrsec.wisc.edu/Edetc/nanolab/http://education.mrsec.wisc.edu/Edetc/nanolab/ 

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

Berkeley Lab: Center for Science and Engineering Education

At the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the staff members are always looking for ways to create valuable, high-quality educational products for educators. This website provides interested parties with materials created by the lab's Center for Science and Engineering Education (CSEE). On the website, visitors can find sections that include High School Students, Teachers, and Undergraduates & Graduate Students/Faculty. In this last section, visitors can learn about undergraduate laboratory internships and researcher programs offered by the CSEE. The Programs link will take visitors to a listing of offerings by name (such as Science Bowl) and type. Visitors should't miss the Educational Resources area, which includes links to helpful handouts and activities, such as "Energized Learning" and "Hands-On Universe."

http://csee.lbl.gov/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

American Society for Engineering Education: Blogs & Newsletters

The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) has an ambitious and dedicated public outreach program to extend their mission to both their members and those who might wish to learn more about their work. Here, interested parties can read a variety of publications, including the "ASEE Connections Newsletter," "First Bell Newsletter," "Capitol Shorts Newsletter," and "The Accelerator Newsletter." The "First Bell Newsletter" is a good place to start, as it contains news prepared "exclusively for the engineering and technology education community." Moving on, "The Accelerator" is a fine monthly e-newsletter that keeps "engineering students informed and helps them connect and succeed." It's full of the latest news affecting student life, engineering, and higher education, along with details on scholarships and tips on career planning. Finally, the "Capitol Shorts" contains information intended to keep deans and department chairs abreast of important developments in Congress and federal agencies affecting engineering education and research.

http://www.asee.org/papers-and-publications/blogs-and-newsletters

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

MIT OpenCourseWare: Introduction to Electric Power Systems

This fine course is offered as a welcome addition to MIT's OpenCourseWare initiative. The materials from this version of "Introduction to Electric Power Systems" are from the iteration taught by Professor James Kirtley in Spring 2011. On the site, visitors can look over the syllabus, the course calendar, readings, assignments, and quizzes. The topics covered here include load flow, power electric motor drives, and polyphase networks. The site also includes a number of problem sets, along with their accompanying solutions. Visitors can look over the readings and provide feedback on the course to the site administrators.

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-061-introduction-to-electric-power-systems-spring-2011/ 

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012. http://scout.wisc.edu/

MIT Center for Materials Science and Engineering

The MIT Center for Materials Science and Engineering "is devoted to the design, creation, and fundamental understanding of materials that are capable of enhancing the human experience." Visitors to this site can peruse the eight primary sections here, which include Facilities, Research, Highlights, and Connecting to Industry. In the Research area, visitors can learn about the Center's ongoing research projects, including work on the design of nanomaterials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Journalists and others may find the Highlights area quite useful, as it contains updates on the Center's research accomplishments, such as the development of fibers that can detect and produce sound. The site is rounded out by a collection of related links which lead to other relevant research centers at MIT and the Lincoln Laboratory.

http://mit.edu/cmse/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012. http://scout.wisc.edu/

Zachry Department of Civil Engineering Ethics Site

The Zachry Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University has created this most useful website for undergraduates enrolled in engineering ethics courses. Working with funds provided by the National Science Foundation, the department has created reports, essays, teaching materials, and case studies to help educators and students alike. The materials here are divided into nine sections, which include Collected Case Studies, Collected Essays, and Collected Links. The Collected Case Studies area is a good place to start, as it features important overviews of well-known (and some not-so-well-known) cases, such as "TV Antenna Collapse" and the tragic explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Moving on, the Collected Essays area features brief and thoughtful pieces on the basic concepts and methods in engineering ethics, along with pieces on professional rights and responsibilities. The site is rounded out by the Guest Contributions area. Here users will find guest pieces vetted by the site's administrators which provide additional perspective on everything from the advertisements in Consumer Reports to problems with military aircraft.

http://ethics.tamu.edu/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012. http://scout.wisc.edu/

Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering

The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering was created "to develop biologically inspired materials and devices that will solve critical medical and environmental problems and to translate these transformative technologies into products that have an impact on society and the world." The Institute's team of specialists includes technology development fellows, professors, postdocs, and a range of other partners. On the homepage, visitors can browse areas that include Innovation, Translation, and Collaboration. Each area includes multimedia clips, press releases, and interviews with Wyss researchers. Some compelling discoveries include human organs made on a small chip and a novel coating that repels almost every type of liquid and solid. Additionally, the Library section contains interactive features, along with speeches and essays from the Wyss faculty. Visitors are encouraged to sign up for the Wyss Twitter and RSS feeds. 

http://wyss.harvard.edu/ 

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012. http://scout.wisc.edu/

The Higher Education Academy: Engineering

Based in Britain, the Higher Education Academy (HEA) "supports a large network of learning and teaching practitioners involved in engineering and materials.” This particular section of their impressive website brings together learning resources, best practices materials, and pedagogical studies designed to help persons who teach engineering. On the left-hand side of the page, visitors will find seven sections, including "Engineering Teaching Guides," "Engineering Events," and their "STEM Blog.” In the "Engineering Teaching Guides" area, visitors will find several valuable guides, including "Approaches to the Teaching of Design,” "Assessing Creativity in Design,” and "Introduction to Learning and Teaching.” The "STEM Blog" is a real gem because a variety of commentators give their opinions about new online interactive tools and teaching techniques related to the STEM fields. The site is rounded out by a link to the UK Centre for Materials Education and archived material from the main site.

http://84.22.166.132/guides.html

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012.http://scout.wisc.edu/

 

Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students

Students in the engineering and science fields need to communicate a broad set of often highly technical materials to lay audiences. This process can be challenging, and this nice set of materials from Pennsylvania State University will be a boon to students in these fields. The site has five main sections: Introduction, Presentations, Correspondence, Formal Reports, and Other Documents. The Introduction area contains three helpful documents that provide insights on crafting the style of any given document and assessing the audience. Moving along, the Formal Reports area gives helpful suggestions on composing laboratory reports, theses, and dissertations. The site is rounded out by a glossary of writing and composition terms and additional references and resources.

http://www.writing.engr.psu.edu/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012. http://scout.wisc.edu/

The Science of Speed

A unique partnership between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASCAR is the basis for this fun and informative website. The site features twelve episodes created as part of "The Science of Speed," hosted by Diandra
Leslie-Pelecky. Each episode features a NASCAR car in a variety of racing and testing situations, and some special guests turn up, such as Jeff Gordon and Michael McDowell. The topics covered here include car safety, drag &
drafting, grip, sound, and friction. Each clip is accompanied by racing footage and expert commentary that makes each encounter lively and compelling. This is a great way to pique the interest of those persons who might find certain aspects of physics and related fields a bit inaccessible. Visitors shouldn't miss the "Firesuits" episode as it explores the world of
these very important safety devices.
http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/sos/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012. http://scout.wisc.edu/

Introduction to Electrical Engineering and Computer Science I

MIT's OpenCourseWare program has been a hit over the past few years, and people from around the globe have written in to praise the high-quality and free educational materials offered on the site. One of the more recent offerings is this introductory course on electrical engineering and computer science. After conversations with colleagues and OpenCourseWare users, MIT decided to create a course for beginners. The materials here include lecture videos from the spring 2011 iteration of the course, recitation videos, course notes, software and design labs, and homework assignments. The topics covered include software engineering, circuits, and signals and systems. Visitors are encouraged to download the course materials and to offer feedback to the OpenCourseWare team. 

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-01sc-introduction-to-electrical-engineering-and-computer-science-i-spring-2011/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012. http://scout.wisc.edu/