School of Engineering and Computer Science News

(April 1, 2009) -

Challenges in Engineering and Computer Science Spring 2009

 
Greetings,

Welcome to University of the Pacific’s School of Engineering and Computer Science. I would like to draw your attention to some of the grand challenges facing engineers and computer scientists today. A few of these challenges include: energy, environment, sustainability, the innovation process, and developing students’ global perspective. Attending Pacific means engaging these challenges toward effective solutions. At University of the Pacific’s School of Engineering and Computer Science we take great pride in providing students, faculty and industry with opportunities to learn collaboratively and to engage with these pressing issues. I invite you to read what follows and consider how you can help make a difference.

John T. Chambers Technology Center

University of the Pacific’s foundation is strong and continues to grow; the John T. Chambers Technology Center, named after a science and technology pioneer and set to break ground in April 2009, will provide cutting-edge technology facilities for superior teaching, learning, and research. The Center will include 7 multipurpose labs, some of which will be used for beta-site and benchmarking. Pacific’s longstanding relationships with industry make it possible to implement collaborative research projects.

Master of Science in Engineering Science (MSES): A Distinctive Graduate Program

Fall 2009 marks the initial launch of the School of Engineering and Computer Science’s (SoECS) distinctive graduate program with a concentration in civil engineering. Other concentrations will follow over the next few years. To ensure a strong foundation, seven new faculty scholars have joined the school. The Program’s goals are to excite and discipline the intellectual capacities of its students, to record and publish the products of intellectual inquiry, and to advance knowledge. The MSES is designed to strengthen students' technical, analytical, and professional breadth and depth.

Pacific Resources Research Center (PRRC)

Established in 2008 with a $2 million grant, the PRRC focuses on sustainable material sciences and provides an intellectually rigorous environment for cutting-edge research and development for the construction and materials industry. PRRC aims to develop and further enhance Sialite technology with a goal of markedly (50-90%) reducing green house gases and other waste generated by conventional cement processes, reducing energy consumption and cost per unit of production, improving the product quality, and fostering technology transfer and commercialization.

Environmental Research and the Natural Resources Institute (NRI)

During the last four years, a number of faculty members (Dr. Will Stringfellow, Dr. Gary Litton and Dr. Ravi Jain) have secured over $6 million in external grants from state and federal agencies. This funding supports research related to: environmental engineering, water quality, and sustainable development. In addition, in 2005, University of the Pacific established the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) to facilitate dialog on critical environmental and natural resources issues in California and the region. The Institute will also develop policy analysis models and methodologies for consensus building among key stake holders.

Jose Hernandez ’84 (Distinctive Graduate)

Jose Hernandez, Pacific SoECS ‘84 graduate and NASA Astronaut, has been assigned to be part of a crew on the space shuttle Atlantis. Launching July 30, 2009, its mission is to bring science equipment and storage racks to the International Space Station. The shuttle will also transport a new station crew member to the complex and bring another back to earth.

Pacific’s Society of Women Engineers: First Place, National Competition

Advised by Associate Dean and Professor, Dr. Louise Stark, the Pacific Society of Women Engineers (SWE) project was called Building a Cost-Effective Augmentative Communication Device. The project involved designing a retrofitting process and accompanying speech-generation software to convert donated laptop computers into Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices for individuals suffering from cerebral palsy. The team’s device was designed for only a fraction of what current products available on the market sell for – making the product much more accessible to those in need. Beating colleges from all over the U.S. including Cal Poly-SLO, University of Michigan, and University of Wisconsin-Madison; Pacific SWE brought home the National First Place $5000 award! The team recently donated a specially designed device to Stockton's United Cerebral Palsy Office and trained staff to program the device. The team is working with Pacific's Speech & Language Pathology Department to make this cost-effective product available to more individuals in need.

In Summation

Engineers and computer scientists support and enhance the quality of human experience. As stewards of the human experience, it is our responsibility to ensure that what we have created is sustainable. Advanced technologies have always solved and created challenges. As engineers, computer scientists, and educators we must rise to these grand challenges and build innovative academic programs that directly to needs in the field. With the John T. Chambers Technology Center, our Distinctive Graduate Program, The Resources Research Center, Environmental Research and The Natural Resources Institute, Distinctive Graduates and Society of Women Engineers (SWE), University of the Pacific's capacity to effectively cultivate and sustain cutting-edge educational resources for superior teaching, learning, and research has expanded and will only continue to grow. University of the Pacific strives to meet these grand challenges!

Please refer to the links below, which include an interview with Astronaut Jose Hernandez, for additional information.

With warm regards,

Ravi K. Jain, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor and Dean
School of Engineering and Computer Science
University of the Pacific

Additional Information

John T. Chambers Technology Center
http://web.pacific.edu/documents/school-engineering/acrobat/John-T-Chambers-Technology-Flyer_revised_040209.pdf

Master of Science in Engineering Science (MSES): A Distinctive Graduate Program
http://web.pacific.edu/Documents/school-graduate/acrobat/grad%20program%20sheet-Engineering.pdf

Environmental Research and Natural Resources Institute (NRI)
http://web.pacific.edu/Documents/school-engineering/acrobat/NRI_Brochure_07.pdf

Seven New Faculty Join University of the Pacific
http://web.pacific.edu/documents/school-engineering/acrobat/New-Faculty-Announcement-fall-08.pdf

Pacific Resources Research Center (PRRC)
http://web.pacific.edu/Documents/school-engineering/acrobat/PRRC-General-Brochure.pdf

Jose Hernandez (Distinctive Graduate)
http://web.pacific.edu/x20877.xml

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
http://web.pacific.edu/x19280.xml