ASEE’s Conference Connection: 2009 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Newsletter

Welcome to Austin and ASEE’s 116^th annual conference and exposition. We hope you’re comfortably settled. If you need assistance, our conference staff is available at the information kiosk near the registration desk at the Austin Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 4.

The ASEE Go Global Pavilion, presented by Autodesk at the Exhibit Hall on Monday, June 15, is back by popular demand. Highlighting ASEE’s expanding international activities and global initiatives of ASEE corporate partners Autodesk, HP, Quanser, and National Instruments, the pavilion offers a prime opportunity to expand your knowledge of engineering education’s impact on the global economy, experience different cultures and teaching techniques, share best practices, participate in interactive presentations, and more. Activities, appetizers, and drinks, are free but ticketed, and space is limited. Please stop by the pavilion during exhibit-hall hours to reserve your spot.

Go Global Pavilion Schedule, Monday June 15:

• Hewlett-Packard: 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
• Autodesk: 12:00 Noon – 12:45 p.m.
• National Instruments: 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
• Quanser: 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
• Autodesk: 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

The ASEE K-12 Pavilion, presented by Autodesk at the Exhibit Hall on Tuesday, June 16, is new this year, showcasing how ASEE corporate partners help attract and retain the next generation of engineering students through innovative STEM and engineering education products, services, and programs.

ASEE will also be sharing exciting new initiatives of its K-12-focused Engineering Go For It brand. Come learn about the expanded eGFI platform launching in September 2009, to include the 4th edition of the eGFI print magazine, a new interactive eGFI Web site, and an e-newsletter for teachers.

Activities, appetizers, and drinks are free but ticketed, and space is limited. Please stop by the pavilion ticket desk at registration to reserve your spot.

K-12 Pavilion schedule, Tuesday, June 16:

• ASEE eGFI 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
• Autodesk 12:00 Noon – 12:30 p.m.
• ASEE eGFI 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
• National Defense Education Program 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Hewlett-Packard 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Owen Software 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Boston Museum of Science 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Autodesk 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Make way for ASEE’s robotic car! It’s roaming the exhibit hall floor with information on the Global and K-12 Pavilions.

highlightS FROM SUNDAY’S OPENING: Tom Roberts moderated Greet the Stars, an orientation session for new ASEE members and first-time conference attendees. ASEE’s President, Sarah Rajala, and other leaders were on hand to explain the work of the Society and their ambitions for the conference.

Afterward, everyone gathered at Stubbs BBQ Restaurant for spicy ribs, hot music–and a little bull riding!–at ASEE’s annual picnic, presented by National Instruments.

What’s On Tomorrow:

Monday will be a full day, with early-morning technical sessions and breakfasts followed by the Main Plenary I and a series of panel discussions and sessions through the afternoon. At 4:30 p.m., work shifts to pleasure with the “Focus on Exhibits” Happy Hour, featuring complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and good company.

For the titles, times and locations of all workshops, visit the online session locator at: www.asee.org/osl. You can build an individual matrix or use a keyword search to find topics of interest.

ASEE Main Plenary I, 8:30 – 10:15 a.m.

Austin Convention Center, Ballrooms D & G. Expected to draw over 2,000 attendees, this year’s plenary, “Diversity and International Relations in Engineering” sponsored by Lockheed Martin and Dassault Systèmes, features two compelling keynote speakers, Carl B. Mack, executive director of the National Society of Black Engineers, and Gu Binglin, president of Tsinghua University.

Carl B. Mack

Gu Binglin

Notable panels:

Programs that Serve Industry and Academia 7:00 – 8:15 a.m. Austin Convention Center, 10B. Moderator: Keith Plemmons, The Citadel. Educators and engineering professionals discuss how to meet the needs of both traditional students and technical professionals.

History of Aerospace Education 10:30 a.m. – Noon. Austin Convention Center, 8A. Moderator: Wallace Fowler, University of Texas, Austin. From Biplanes to Spaceplances, this session explores programs, teaching methods, and curricula in aerospace education.

Engineering Education in Africa, Asia and the Mid-East Region 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Austin Convention Center, 13B. Moderators: Vladimir Genis, Drexel University; Owe Petersen, Milwaukee School of Engineering.

New Research and Trends Related to Minorities in Engineering 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Austin Convention Center, 18C; Moderators: Tokunbo Ogunfunmi, Santa Clara University ; Tommy Stevenson, Mississippi State University

Hands-on Lean Manufacturing Simulation Workshop 2:15 – 4:00 p.m. Austin Convention Center, 13A. Moderators: Dave Kim, Washington State University Vancouver; Frank Liou, Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Other panels of interest:

“Taking A Break from Academia” 10:30 a.m. – Noon. Austin Convention Center 4B; LED Speed Dating 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Austin Convention Center, ML 7; Experiments in Remote-access Laboratories 12:30 – 2:00p.m Austin Convention Center, 10A; Widgets, Add-ons, Toolbars, and Videos 2:15 – 4:00 p.m. Austin Convention Center, 6A; Robots in Education 2:15 – 4:00 p.m. Austin Convention Center, 12B.

View a complete listing of conference sessions of special interest for K-12 educators.

View sessions of interest for college and graduate students.

Cross-disciplinary technical sessions:

Quanser & National Instruments: Innovative Experiments to Teach Advanced Controls More Cost-Effectively 10:30 a.m. – Noon. Austin Convention Center, 11B.

Engineering Ethics: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor 2:15 – 4:00 p.m. Austin Convention Center, ML 10. Moderator: Jameson Wetmore, Arizona State University.

Selected NSF grantees poster session presentations:

Using Gaming and Motion Simulation to Enhance Vehicle-Dynamics Education, State University of New York, Buffalo; Cultivating Engineering Discourse: Results of Faculty Development Efforts, University of Texas, El Paso; Computed Tomography in Simurad: Medical Imaging Simulation Software, Stevens Institute of Technology; Arizona-Texas Consortium for Alternative and Renewable Energy Technologies, Arizona State University.

And don’t miss:

MathWorks Product Demo: MATLAB & Simulink 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Austin Convention Center, 11A – Product Demo Room.

Best Zone Paper Competition 2:15 – 4:00 p.m. Austin Convention Center, ML 6. Division(s): Council of Zones

Events highlights: MONDAY

Breakfast with Champions 7:00 – 8:15 a.m. Austin Convention Center, ML 5. Moderators Cynthia Finelli, University of Michigan, and Tom Litzinger, Pennsylvania State University, lead a discussion for engineering educators. Tickets $25 pre-reg., $35 on-site.

International Division Speakers Breakfast 7:00 – 8:15 a.m. Hilton Austin Hotel, Hilton – 400. Kurt Paterson, Michigan Technological University, and Nick Safai, Salt Lake Community College, moderate an informal discussion among International Division officers, members, session chairs, and speakers.

ASEE BISTRO 10:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m. Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 4. Open during the Exhibit Hall’s hours of operation, the Bistro features breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beverages, available for purchase.

ASEE Go Global Pavilion, presented by Autodesk, 11:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Exhibit Hall 4. Be sure to reserve your space to attend this popular event highlighting the international activities of ASEE and initiatives of ASEE corporate partners.

The Student Robot Competition 2:15 – 4:00 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall 4, sponsored by the Two-year College Division. Come watch these autonomous student-designed robots navigate a course while amassing a collection of ping pong balls. Presentations by the students on their designs take place in the morning, 7:00 – 8:15 a.m. Austin Convention Center, 18A.

“Focus on Exhibits” Happy Hour 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Austin Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 4. Sponsored by NCEES, with complimentary drinks and buffet stations.

ASEE Meet the Board Forum 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. at the Go Global Pavilion, Austin Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 4. This complimentary session is hosted by the ASEE Board of Directors.

Awards Reception for Campus Representatives 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Hilton Austin Hotel, Salon B. This complimentary reception, hosted by ASEE Headquarters and the Board of Directors, honors ASEE campus representatives.

Complimentary Cocktail Reception 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Hilton Austin Hotel, Hilton – 400. Hosted by the International Division. Registration is requested.

Awards banquets, receptions, dinners, and meetings will be held by several ASEE divisions, including the Minorities in Engineering, Nuclear and Radiological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Manufacturing divisions. Check for locations, times and ticket prices at: www.asee.org/osl.

Keep in Mind:

Registration continues Monday for attendees, exhibitors, and presenters, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the Austin Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 4. Registration lines can be long, so please allow ample time before sessions begin.

ASEE conference staff members are on hand to help with your questions on the conference program, scheduling, and other non-registration issues, at the information kiosk, located near the registration desk, Exhibit Hall 4.

The Projects staff at the ASEE booth in the Exhibit Hall can provide the latest information on fellowships and scholarships administered by the Society. Learn about millions of dollars’ worth of programs for faculty, post-doctoral researchers, graduates, and interns sponsored by the U.S. Navy, National Science Foundation and Department of Defense.

The Speaker Ready Room provides a dedicated quiet space for presenters to prepare their materials. 8:30 – 5 p.m. Monday – Wednesday, Austin Convention Center, ML-2. Internet not provided. Internet is provided in the lobby of the convention center.