Graduating Engineer & Computer Careers

Category Archive: Uncategorized

  1. Oil Spill Update!

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    Oil Spill As the BP oil spill continues to gush thousands of gallons a day on the heels of failed attempts to halt the leaking well, actor Kevin Costner has come forward to offer a possible new solution. An unlikely source for such technology, Costner has been working for over fifteen years to quietly develop the machine that employs centrifugal force to separate oil and water.

    Costner’s representative and business partner, attorney John Houghtaling, explained the technology to the Los Angeles Times, noting: “The machines are essentially like big vacuum cleaners, which sit on barges and suck up oily water and spin it around at high speed,” Houghtaling said. “On one side, it spits out pure oil, which can be recovered. The other side spits out 99% pure water.”

    The actor developed an interest in water preservation and recovery while filming the ill-fated action flick Waterworld. He has reportedly invested over $24 million into the technology. BP has already begun talks with Costner about utilizing it.

    After tar balls washed up on the Florida Keys, rampant fear that the oil will destroy delicate ecosystems and industries comes closer likelihood. It has already begun to coat Louisiana’s wetlands.

    Read the full story from the Los Angeles Times here.

  2. Engineers Help in Oil Leak

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    Surely you’ve heard about the massive oil leak that has been wreaking havoc on the Gulf Coast for the past week. The slick has been spreading quickly, and BP (the company that owns the well) has been doing everything they can think of to stop the spill since efforts to try to shut down the well have failed.

    That’s where engineers save the day.

    A massive dome began its descent 5,000 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico on Friday to try to cap the well. Though this procedure had been done before, it had never been tried on a well of this size. The containment dome would have collected the leaking oil at the main leak point.

    The workers at BP encountered a problem, however, when hydrates (crystallized gas) clogged the containment dome. Needing to set aside the dome on the sea floor, BP has started work on it’s plan B, a smaller containment dome that they will be able to keep free of hydrates using  hot water or methanol if necessary.

    The oil is gushing at a rate of 5,000 barrels per day and so far an estimated 2.6 million gallons of oil has been spilled. Hopefully, this engineering feat will be able to contain the oil.

  3. Supporting Young Women in the Sciences

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    Lately, women have been making a push to be more included in disciplines that were traditionally dominated by men, like engineering and technology. Two recent stories have showcased this drive.

    Mattel just announced Barbie’s 125th and 126th careers. The toy company, based in El Segundo, California, let voters choose the 125th career of the versatile doll. The winner was News Anchor Barbie, but when votes poured in from all over the world for Computer Engineer Barbie, Mattel couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use this as Barbie’s 126th career. Mattel designers worked with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering to produce a doll that has a binary code design on her shirt and a laptop—pink, of course. The doll also comes with a special code that unlocks career-themed content online.

    Another step taken to promote engineering and computer careers to young females is through the Girl Scouts. The University of Maine hosted girls from various troupes to teach them about opportunities in electrical and computer engineering. Though not for a merit badge, the day allowed the girls to consider future careers in the field.

    Read more about women in engineering and technology at GraduatingEngineer.com.

  4. Students Develop Campus-Specific Smartphone App

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    UC Davis Mobile image from www.bizjournals.comWhile taking an iPhone application course last fall, two computer engineering students, Sunny Dhillon and Fei Li, created UC Davis Mobile, a smartphone app designed for University of California Davis students and staff.

    Among other things, using the app, students and staff can access the school’s email portal, find out when their team is playing, read the school paper and check when the next Unitrans bus will arrive.

    According to Ken Joy, one of two professors who teach the iPhone application course on campus, the app has already been downloaded 2,000 times and plans to add more features are in the works this semester.

    Read the complete article here

    Learn more about computer engineering at www.GraduatingEngineer.com

  5. STEM Resources at your Fingertips

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    Girl taking part in STEM programFor young women and girls interested in STEM subjects and careers, learning about science, technology, engineering and math opportunities can be as simple as doing an internet search.

    According to today’s educational advice column in the Detroit Free Press, using a search phrase like, “science and math summer enrichment,” plus your town, is a great first step when looking to enhance your STEM credentials.

    More specifically, the American Association of University Women (http://www.aauw.org/education/ngcp/NGCPresources.cfm) provide numerous resources for STEM-interested girls and young women and be sure to look into local Expanding Your Horizons (expandingyourhorizons.org) activities.

    To learn more about women in STEM fields, visit GraduatingEngineer.com and for more young women and girls STEM resources, read our article, Bridging the Gap: Programs for girls in science and engineering.

  6. Career Q&A at The Times

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    Brooklyn Bridge Panorama by Philipp KlingerThis week, New York Times readers have the opportunity to interact with Colonel John R. Boulé II in a sort of comment box Q&A. Join the discussion or just peruse the comment section if you’re curious about Mr. Boulé, his command of the New York District of the Army Corps of Engineers or USACE’s various projects in the New York area.

    Image: Brooklyn Bridge Panorama by Philipp Klinger.

    Learn more about careers in the Army Corps of Engineers at GraduatingEngineer.com.

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