Yue Li, an associate professor of civil engineering at Michigan Technological University, specializes in earthquakes and natural disasters. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to work at a research center in Finland, seeking solutions to the ever-present threat facing nuclear power plants during natural disasters. He and his Finnish colleagues are focusing particularly on the nuclear plants’ performance during earthquakes.
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by Marcia Goodrich
Effervescent enthusiasm for students and the classroom marks both winners of Michigan Technological University’s 2014 Distinguished Teaching Award. Tess Ahlborn, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, received the award in the associate professor, professor category. Scott Miers, newly promoted to associate professor of mechanical engineering–engineering mechanics, was honored in the assistant professor, professor of practice and lecturer category.
“Dr. Ahlborn is enthusiastic, almost to the point of being weird—and I mean that in the best possible way,” wrote one of her students. “It’s contagious! Absolute genuine enthusiasm. This woman loves concrete, and if you don’t love it, it’s okay, but you sure can appreciate it solely based on her absolute love for it.”
Wrote another, “You want to come to class and would be crazy to miss it or sleep during it. It’s a great folly and only hurts you to miss.”
David Hand, chair of civil and environmental engineering, calls Ahlborn “well deserving of the Distinguished Teaching Award.”
“She works hard at her teaching and takes it very seriously,” he said. “And the students really like her. She’s an excellent teacher.”
Ahlborn, who joined the faculty in 1995, primarily teaches structural engineering courses focusing on concrete and the design of concrete buildings and bridges. As for her secrets to good teaching, she insists there aren’t any.
“All you have to do is be fair and consistent and crack a joke once in awhile,” said Ahlborn. “When you get into structural details, students can get glassy-eyed pretty fast. A 30-second break can do wonders for bringing your class back.”
Actually, there may be more to it than that. “I hate to say it, but I’m an entertainer,” she said. Ahlborn makes a conscious effort to avoid speaking in a monotone when she lectures. She invites alumni to speak to her classes on life after Tech, and she regularly brings in current news articles relating to the course, not to mention chunks of concrete with stories to tell. All together, “it helps the students understand why what they are learning is important.”
“She uses good real-world examples,” a student wrote. “Her classes are casual, yet well-structured, and draw on her experience working in industry, as well as experience with the American Concrete Institute, to explain the relevance of what we learn.”
She also connects her material with the rest of the civil engineering curriculum, helping provide students with a cohesive body of knowledge that can launch their careers. “They start to realize how important their education has been,” Ahlborn said. “I tell them, you and your Tech education, you will make us proud.”
And the jokes? “My rule of thumb is that you must be able to tell it to six-year-old kids at the kitchen table,” she said. The engineer-y ones are best: “Did you hear about the band 1024 Megabyte? They haven’t gotten any gigs yet.”
Yes, it’s a lot of work, she says. “But the students empower me. I used to think I was there to inspire them, but a couple years ago, I realized, these guys are so engaged, they are inspiring me. And all of a sudden, my teaching changed. It’s their reactions that keep me going.”
Scott Miers has won his department’s teaching award twice, and it’s easy to see why.
“Scott’s a ball of fire,” said Bill Predebon, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics. “The enthusiasm that he brings to the classroom is contagious. The material is difficult—thermodynamics is challenging— but the students get exited because he is excited. Plus, Scott’s approachable. He makes sure students aren’t intimidated, and he’s open to any questions.”
The students agree. “Scott makes every topic interesting and exciting. He is available for undergraduate students, both in his office and via email. It’s very clear that my class is a priority, based on the tremendous time and effort he puts into it,” wrote one of his students. “He has enthusiasm, passion and effort that he brings to the class.”
Wrote another, “His assignments related to the real world or industry data give us an indirect hands-on experience. His grading and exams are very fair and you can tell he puts time and thought into writing good exams.”
Miers, who teaches internal combustion engines as well as thermodynamics, got his professional start outside academia, and since joining the faculty six years ago has continued to work on industry-sponsored research. “It grounds me in the fundamentals and the applications of engineering, so even though I’m not employed by John Deere, I can bring that to the classroom,” he said. It pays off. “I’ll get emails from former students who say that when they were first hired, they were better prepared than many senior engineers.”
He makes sure students have mastered concepts before proceeding, while minding the need to cover the material. The balancing act works. “I have never felt lost in any of his lectures, unlike almost all of my other classes,” said one student.
Miers finds the process very satisfying. “I like being a part of the aha moment, when that light bulb goes on,” he said. “I love to troubleshoot. It’s so exciting. You find the student’s stumbling block, then you let them discover the solution on their own. Once they make that leap, you can’t hold them back.”
“There are many days I walk down the hall and think. ‘I get paid to do this?’”
Like Ahlborn, he admits to being on stage in the classroom. “Part of good teaching is acting,” he said. “The material is the easiest part. There is a certain level of performance required to keep students engaged.”
“He has made me excited to be a professional engineer and confirmed my career path,” wrote a student. “I have never looked forward to a class as much as I do when Dr. Miers is teaching. . . . He has been the best teacher I have had at Michigan Tech in the five years I have attended this school.”
Miers and Ahlborn will each receive a cash prize of $2,500.
Last week the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and the School of Technology participated in the MI Construction Career Days in Howell MI. This is an event sponsored by FHWA, MDOT, Mita, Operating Engineers Union Local 324 as well as others. According to the event web site , “MICCD is Michigan’s premiere construction career exploration event. Based on the National Career Day model, MICCD provides Michigan’s young people a chance to experience construction up-close, getting the chance to use real tools, materials and heavy equipment under the direct guidance of construction professionals from all sectors of the industry.”
On Thursday morning Governor Snyder visited the event and had his picture taken with our MTU students that were meeting with the high school students attending the event.
Adam Ward’s got a lot of helping hands as he tries to determine stream and lake depths in Iowa. Through CrowdHydrology.org, anyone can read the water level off a ruler (more scientifically, stream stage off a staff gauge) and text the numbers to an online database.
The citizen scientists are helping researchers elsewhere, too—New York, Wisconsin, Utah and Michigan—and it’s all the brainchild of Ward’s colleague, Chris Lowry, an assistant professor in the Department of Geology at the University of Buffalo.
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Flint-based Rowe Professional Services selects new president: Leanne Panduren, a 1993 Michigan Tech University graduate hired by Rowe as an assistant engineer in its Flushing office, is set to take over as CEO in January 2016. More details
Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala recognizes top projects and honors individuals
On February 22, 2014, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) honored firms for engineering and surveying excellence during the association’s 49th annual Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards ceremony at the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids. Outstanding Michigan engineering and surveying projects from the past year, as well as engineering professionals who have significantly contributed to the profession, were honored.
Great Lakes Engineering Group – ACEC Small Firm of the Year
Great Lakes Engineering Group (GLEG) is the 2014 Small Firm of the Year and specializes in bridge inspection – one of only three firms in the state to obtain MDOT prequalification for underwater bridge inspection. The firm’s founder and principal, Amy Trahey PE, a 1994 civil engineering graduate of Michigan Tech University, was instrumental in obtaining this prequalification. Mrs. Trahey has served on the ACEC/Michigan Board of Directors since 2009. She was Treasurer for two years and will become ACEC/Michigan’s first female president in 2015.
GLEG employees hold memberships with ASCE, MSPE and MCA and actively participate in local schools and zoning boards, along with youth baseball teams. GLEG encourages students to pursue careers in engineering through mentoring, internship programs, and job shadowing. Employees serve on the Michigan Technological University Civil and Environmental Advisory Board and routinely support the ASCE steel bridge competition.
GLEG is a woman-owned civil and structural engineering firm dedicated to providing full engineering services to private and public clients primarily in Michigan. The company was founded upon the need for structural engineering services that specialize in the field of bridges.
Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering – Eminent Conceptor Winner
This year’s engineering Eminent Conceptor Award winner was Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc., Grand Rapids, for the West Bay County Wastewater Treatment Facility upgrades. A number of Michigan Tech civil engineering alumni worked on the project including: Rich Grant – 1984, Bruce Sabin – 1979, 1981, Eric Griffith – 2007, Gary Bartow – 1976, Steve VandenBrink – 1978, Bob Wilcox – 1999, Carey Bond – 1992 and also a couple of chemical engineering alumni: Elaine Venema – 2006 – ChE, and Brian Schanhals – 2009 – ChE
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The West Bay County Regional WWTP (WBC) provided wastewater service to six communities. In 2009, the City of Essexville and Hampton Township requested to connect to WBC and provide them with 2.3 million gallons per day (mgd) capacity. WBC would need to move quickly since they would have to have this capacity available before the wastewater service contract with another municipality expired.
While WBC wanted to accommodate these neighboring communities, WBC already needed to mitigate Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) overflows for up to 25 year storm events. The added 2.3 mgd flow would complicate the solution. Before additional customers could be connected, MDEQ required WBC to create additional treatment capacity, mitigate both WBC’s SSOs, and the customer community Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs).
Critical project needs included significant WBC plant capacity expansion, add flow equalization, address odors and inadequate biosolids storage capacity, and improve on the chlorine contact time for disinfection.
FLEIS & VANDENBRINK’S ROLE IN THE PROJECT
Fleis & VandenBrink (F&V) completed a capacity study, design and construction engineering as part of an expedited schedule to complete the project within about 15 months. F&V also was the inter-community consensus builder while provided funding assistance, construction management, and start-up and operations assistance.
CEE ACADEMY Alumni News
This year’s ACEC/M Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award was presented to Melvin “Ernie” Orchard, PE, founder and past president of OHM Advisors, to honor his outstanding leadership roles in ACEC and several community organizations.
When Ernie Orchard became president of the consulting firm Orchard, Papke, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. in 1972, he immediately engaged with ACEC/MI. Energetic in his support of ACEC, Ernie later held leadership roles at the state and national levels. In the mid-70’s, he helped to organize the first Political Action Committee in Michigan’s Chapter of ACEC and the first Legislative Day in Lansing to bring attention to issues impacting the design profession.
The ACEC/M Felix A. Anderson Image Award was presented to Richard Anderson, PE, of Somat Engineering, Inc. for his actions and contributions to enhance the image of the profession.
Mr. Richard O. Anderson, a 1971 civil engineering graduate of Michigan Technological University (MTU), is a Principal Engineer and former President of Somat Engineering, Inc. in Detroit, Michigan.
As a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), he is a nationally known expert for his innovative and cost effective solutions to infrastructure projects and engineering education. During a distinguished career spanning over 42 years, he has worked on over 6,500 projects including airports, high-rise office structures, health care facilities, transportation facilities and many others.
Professor Tess Ahlborn (CEE) hosted two “Bridging the Gap” workshops and a “Michigan Tech College Corner” at the Tech Savvy–Powered by AAUW event held April 26 in Gaylord. The event brought together 155 middle school girls and 55 caring adults to introduce and explore STEM opportunities, including concepts needed for designing and constructing bridges. Attendees also gained insight from women mentors who pursued degrees and careers in typically male-dominated STEM fields, and how persistence played a key role in success.
Senior Design Colloquium Civil and Environmental Engineering Department;
Friday, May 2, 2014: Presentations will be in Dow 641 and 642
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is pleased to invite the University community to attend the Spring 2014 senior design team presentations. This semester students in four sections have undertaken a wide range of interesting projects to fulfill the Department’s design project requirement. Refreshments will be served.
CEE Senior Design Colloquium Schedule PDF
Dow 641; 8:05 am
Digital As-Builts for the City of Houghton Pipe Networks
Instructor: Dr. Amlan Mukherjee
1. BNB Consulting
Bryan Daavettila, Brian Kernstock, Nathynn Mitchell
2. ADT Engineering
David Auricchio, Tyler Tomlinson, Ashley Smokoska
3. MED
Zhongyue Mao, Eric LaBelle, Duane Burfield
4. Three Star Consulting
John M Ferry, Derek Collar, Yubin Tan
Heavy Lifting Device (HLD) at Kiewit
Dow 642; 8:05 am
Offshore Services Yard in Ingleside, Texas
Instructor: Mike Drewyor
1. HLD Foundation Design by ACE Engineering
Tim Johnson, Project Manager
Dan Becker, Alex Philips, Lan Shi
2. HLD Mast Erection by Upright Engineering
Pat Spalding, Project Manager
Kyle Chouinard, Jiayi (Joe) Ding, Zack Weber
3. HLD Boom Load out onto Barge by BSF Construction
Evan Feinauer, Project Manager
Tom Briggs, Aric Souilliere
4. HLD Lift of Production Module – Rigging Design by BWYD Engineering
Doug Burmeister, Project Manager
Justin Wigand, Greg Donajkowski, Tianye Yang
Dow 641 9:30 am
Michigan Tech Trailhead Lodge
Design Competition
Instructors: Bill Leder, Bill Baxandall
1. TDWS Consulting
Kelcey Traynoff, Project Manager
Allyssa Demers, Eric Simmons, Kevin Wilks
2. BBY&B
Ben Bryant, Project Manager
Jared Belovich, Alex Bomstad, Kaili Yue
3. Team NRAM Rod
Nicholas Lanoue, Project Manager
Ryan Anderson, Michael LaFerve, Adam Suokas
4. I.S.S.I.
Alice Flanders, Project Manager
Evan Kryzske, Wen Tao Liu, Casey Holvenstot
Dow 642 9:55 am
Evaluation of Sludge Process Train
Alternatives for Class A Biosolids
Production at the Gogebic-Iron Wastewater Authority (GIWA) Treatment Facility
Instructors: Dr. Eric Seagren & Dr. Jennifer Becker
1. DESM Engineering
Mitchell Murphy, Project Manager
Dominic Davis, Wesley Ellenwood, Courtney Sian
2. Sustainable Biosolids Solutions
Keith Anderson, Project Manager
Justin Kosmowski, Ryan Leveille, Jonathan Witham
3. ABCK Consulting
Anna VanderKooi, Project Manager
Brogan Beyette, Collin DePrekel, Kaitlin Hannum
4. PACS
Shawn Conard, Project Manager
Kyle Slavik, Will Ashbaugh, Mike Polkinghorn
Adriano Rothschild received the The Danielle Ladwig Award for Graduate Excellence is made annually to a graduate level civil or environmental engineering student in recognition of outstanding achievement in academics, research, and service, in memory of our friend and colleague, Danielle F. Ladwig.
Tia Scarpelli received the The Nicole Bloom Award for Environmental Sustainability is made annually to an undergraduate civil or environmental engineering student who has demonstrated leadership, passion, and activism for effecting environmental sustainability at the local, national, or global level.
Xu Yang received the Graduate Research Excellence Award
Tess Ahlborn was voted the Howard Hill Faculty of the Year of Chi Epsilon students presenting her with the award.
Three graduate students have received Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Christa Meingast in environmental engineering and Gregory Hardy and David Diesenroth in mechanical engineering won the competitive fellowships. Benjamin Winter in civil engineering received an honorable mention.
“NSF Graduate Research Fellowships are one of the oldest, most prestigious and competitive programs nationally,” said Jodi Lehman, assistant director for research development at Michigan Tech. “It is the fellowship program that other federal programs such as the Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy use as a benchmark,” she noted.
“The Graduate School is happy to see our students honored for their scholarship and achievements in and out of the classroom,” said Debra Charlesworth, assistant dean of the Graduate School and coordinator of the NSF Graduate Research Fellows program at Michigan Tech. “These prestigious awards recognize not only our students, but the faculty and staff who have provided opportunities and mentoring for them to reach their potential. They join an outstanding group of Michigan Tech NSF scholars who are conducting research around the world.”
Charlesworth herself is a former NSF Graduate Research Fellow.
“The recent awards and honorable mention demonstrate the quality of a Michigan Tech education at all levels and disciplines,” said Craig Friedrich, director of graduate studies for the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics and Richard and Bonnie Robbins Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering. “Our students are on par with the top research institutions in the US, and the support provided by Jodi Lehman helping students prepare fellowship applications continues to grow our success and recognition with the National Science Foundation and other agencies.”
Certain names bring forth visceral associations. Alcatraz is one, but the notorious prison of the past is also a place for a Michigan Technological University alumna to use some of her civil engineering skills in the present.
Debra Campbell, a 1976 graduate, works for the National Park Service on Alcatraz, perched on an island in San Francisco Bay. She has been involved in four recent projects on the iconic island.