|
|
 |
Oct. 15: A. James Clark School of Engineering Innovation Hall of Fame Induction Oct. 16 and 17: Homecoming and Reunion Weekend Nov. 11: Maryland Society Reception (prior to Shirley Povich Symposium) Nov. 11: Shirley Povich Symposium Nov. 19: College of Education Alumni Awards Dinner |
Join the Clark School in honoring Buno Pati ’86,M.A. ’88 and Ph.D. ’92 for his innovations in electronic circuitry that paved the way for the powerful, low-cost electronic devices that are now part of everyday life. |
 Building First-Class Campus EnvironmentsGifts Fund Equipment for Top-Notch Labs By Tom Ventsias
Thanks to two recent bequests, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, or ChBE, now has the latest scientific tools to prepare students for careers in biochemical engineering, which advances research in areas like alternative energy fuel cells. The gifts have enhanced the infrastructure and funded new equipment for the department’s Unit Operations Lab, an integral part of every chemical and biomolecular engineering major’s undergraduate experience. The lab is the first beneficiary of a $30,000 bequest from the estate of James Blakeley Lowe ’63 dedicated to providing students the latest equipment. A second gift of more than $500,000 from the estate of Virginia Murray also benefits equipment purchases for ChBE as well as the College of Chemical and Life Sciences. Virginia Murray’s bequest honors her late husband, Guy Edward Murray ’36, a chemistry major who worked for Western Electric for 37 years. A capstone course in the upgraded Unit Operations Lab lets students experience a pilot plant, which is a small-scale chemical facility designed to research full-scale production. This allows hands-on experience using and managing facilities students will encounter in the field, including the study of reactors and bioreactors, separations (such as distillation), heat transfer (heat exchangers), energy conversion (fuel cells) and fluid flow (pumps and valves). “We read about these concepts early in the program, but once we’re in the lab and using these tools it’s a whole different story,” says Kunal Pandit ’09, who is now in the department’s master’s program. Pandit wants to specialize in protein engineering, which can be used to break down sugars in the production of alternative energy sources like bioethanol fuels. “The lab has special lasers that can very accurately measure particle sizes, something that is important for my research,” Pandit says. Assistant Professor Chunsheng Wang, who manages the lab and teaches the capstone course, has already seen students benefit from the enhancements provided by the Lowe and Murray gifts. “We’re able to conduct fuel-cell experiments using a new test station to measure the performance of fuel cells students have constructed under controlled conditions,” he explains. “We are the only program in the state to have fuel-cell experiments available to undergraduates.” Undergraduates from the Fischell Department of Bioengineering are also able to use the upgraded lab. “The improvements to the space and the equipment translate into better learning experiences in biochemical and biomedical engineering for students in both departments,” says F. Joseph Schork, ChBE professor and chair of the department. They also enhance the research programs of the faculty, Schork says. Learn how you can make your mark on Maryland by supporting A. James Clark School of Engineering.  | ||||||
