Spring 2011 - Department of Chemical Engineering - Texas A&M ...

Jeong Honored for Excellence in Teaching
Hae-Kwon Jeong, assistant professor in the Artie McFerrin
Department of Chemical Engineering, has been recently
honored for his teaching efforts by the Celanese Corp. as well
as through a student-selected honors program of The Texas
A&M University System.
As recipient of the Celanese Excellence in Teaching Award, Jeong
was recognized for his dedication and outstanding contributions to
the education and professional development of chemical engineering
students at Texas A&M. He was presented the award in conjunction
with the announcement of the winners of this semester’s student
plant design competition, sponsored by Celanese Corp.
Jeong also was named recipient of the Teaching Excellence
Award, issued as part of a voluntary, student-selected honors
program of The Texas A&M University System.
The winners represent the top 20 percent of participating
Students Present Community Service Projects
Allen Academy and the Children’s Museum of the Brazos
Valley are among a group of organizations benefitting from a
student-led effort at Texas A&M in which aspiring engineers
tackle projects aimed at improving their community.
The effort, known as “EPICS,” which stands for Engineering
Projects in Community Service,
has resulted in six communitybased
initiatives. Through the
program, teams of undergraduate
students earn academic credit
with multiyear, multidisciplinary
projects that solve engineering
and technology-based problems
for community service and
education organizations.
The course, which is open
to all engineering students, is
instructed by Lale Yurttas of the
Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering.
The projects include partnerships with the Children’s Museum
of the Brazos Valley, Allen Academy, Habitat for Humanity,
Texas A&M Transportation Services, the Colonias Program and
sustainability initiatives at Texas A&M.
A partnership between EPICS and the Children’s Museum of
the Brazos Valley is helping to generate interest among children
in math, science and engineering through the creation of new
faculty members from all 11 campuses of the Texas A&M System.
Awards are based on rankings from evaluations created and
administered by students, with weighting for factors such as class
size, and all faculty members are eligible.
The Teaching Excellence Awards were initiated by Chancellor
Michael D. McKinney in 2008 to honor and financially reward
the system’s top teachers as selected by students. All faculty
members who teach at least a three-hour course are eligible.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Jeong conducts
research focusing on the development of novel methodologies
to design, modify, deposit and microfabricate nanostructured
materials and to build them into hierarchical structures and
complex forms for wide ranges of applications including
separation membranes, selective catalysts, adsorbents as well as
microsystems, fuel cells, bio-separation and microphotonics.
educational and interactive child-safe exhibits.
Allen Academy is receiving a helping hand from student engineers
who are assisting in enhancing the school’s online presence by
helping it to more effectively convey important information to
students, parents, teachers and other interested audiences.
At Texas A&M, the EPICS course is
open to all engineering students. Students
participating in the EPICS program
earn academic credit with multiyear,
multidisciplinary projects that solve
engineering and technology-based
problems for community service and
education organizations.
Other projects include a student team
working closely with Habitat for Humanity
(HFH) as part of a project aimed at
designing independent green homes for
the organization’s clients. This semester, an
EPICS team has worked to develop a green building rating system
for the Bryan/ College Station HFH affiliate while also exploring
the potential use of solar power within the homes.
EPICS also has partnered with Texas A&M Transportation
Services to examine how solar panels and solar energy can
help create more sustainable parking on campus. Related
efforts include the use of solar trees to generate energy and
provide shade to outdoor lots around campus. The team is also
investigating smarter lighting solutions in campus garages and
at outdoor lots.
A partnership between EPICS and the Colonias program at Texas
A&M is helping to supply clean water to the 2,000 communities
along the Rio Grande River by improving the durability and
portability of a press for the clay water filters in use in that region.
Another team of students is assisting Texas A&M’s
sustainability officer by examining the potential implementation
Six Faculty Members Honored with NSF Award for Research and Teaching
Six faculty members in the Artie McFerrin Department of
Chemical Engineering each have been recently awarded with the
Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, sponsored
by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Assistant professors Mariah Hahn, Arul Jayaraman, Katy
Kao, Carl Laird, Jodie Lutkenhaus and Associate Professor
Benjamin Wilhite have each been honored with the prestigious
award, which was established to support junior faculty within
the context of their overall career development, combining in
a single program the support of research and teaching of the
highest quality and in the broadest sense.
Through the award program, the NSF emphasizes the
importance on the early development of academic careers
dedicated to stimulating the discovery process in which the
excitement of research is enhanced by inspired teaching and
enthusiastic learning.
Examples of educational activities supported through the
CAREER Award include development of undergraduate courses
and teaching modules, undergraduate research experiences, and
research experiences for high school students and teachers.
“This is one of the most prestigious awards bestowed upon
young faculty members, and it is a testament to their dedication
to the integration of teaching and research,” said Michael Pishko,
of “xeriscape landscaping,” which if employed on campus, could
significantly reduce water costs by using native plants to the
region. The group also designed enhanced bike racks that offer
added security and ease of use while conserving space.
The EPICS program recently received a $5,000 grant from
The Association of Former Students, aimed at helping it build
on the initial success it has demonstrated during its short time
at Texas A&M.
Charles D. Holland ’53 Professor and Department Head.
“The recipients of these awards frequently have a lasting positive
impact on the undergraduate programs in their departments.”
Chemical Engineering Student Athlete Breaks Texas A&M 800-meter School Record
Michael Preble (left)
Dr. Mariah Hahn Dr. Arul Jayaraman Dr. Katy Kao
Dr. Carl Laird Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus Dr. Benjamin Wilhite
Chemical engineering undergraduate student Michael Preble earned an automatic berth
into the NCAA Indoor Championships this March with a record-breaking performance in
the 800 meters event during a qualifier meet at Iowa State University.
In the 800, Preble crushed his previous best mark of 1:50.14, running a 1:47.27 time to
break the Texas A&M school record and finish first in the race.
“It felt really good to finally run this fast in the 800,” noted Preble, who had set
personal best times in the 500 meters (1:02.15) and 600 yards (1:08.50) this indoor
season. “We’ve been working hard in practice with Coach Francique and trusting in what
he’s been telling us. For it to finally all come together is the greatest feeling.”
Page 12 Page 13