First Bell
Today's engineering and technology news prepared exclusively for the engineering and technology education community

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Fewer than 40 percent of Minnesota students meet tougher state science standards.

The AP (8/19, Bakst) reports that the "first look at how Minnesota children are adapting to tougher state science standards isn't pretty. On a new batch of state tests, fewer than 40 percent of fifth-graders and eighth-graders statewide met or exceeded scoring benchmarks for their age and just shy of 43 percent of high school students did." The AP notes that the "results published Tuesday are startling to some in science education -- and renewing a debate about the amount of class time devoted to the subject." The tests "were taken by 184,570 public school students this spring," and "[u]nlike the state's pencil-and-paper math and reading tests, these assessments were taken on computers with some questions following video clips."

        Minnesota's Star Tribune (8/19, Johns) adds that "Minnesota has long enjoyed a reputation as a nationwide leader in science education, but the results" of the test may "cast a shadow on that image." This was the first instance of the test being given in Minnesota, "and the results don't count toward student graduation requirements or the federal No Child Left Behind law." However, the scores "still raise questions among some educators about whether the state is doing enough to live up to its reputation, or whether the bar has been set too high." Randy Smasal, science specialist for the Anoka-Hennepin school district, said, "I would still argue that in the state of Minnesota, kids are getting a high-quality science education. ... It's just not at the level that we want it to be at."

University of New Mexico's new engineering building features "cutting-edge" technology.

New Mexico Business Weekly (8/18, Robinson-Avila) reported that "[w]hen University of New Mexico (UNM) engineering students return to school on Aug. 23, many will attend classes in a newly completed, $43 million facility with cutting-edge technology." UNM is completing "the finishing touches on its Centennial Engineering Building -- a 147,000-square-foot complex along University Boulevard near Central Avenue that will house the civil engineering department, biomedical engineering, and some chemical and nuclear engineering labs." According to Business Weekly, "Inside the building are some of the most modern laboratories for research and instruction. The civil engineering section, for example, has a new structures lab that will allow engineers to test the stability of materials and architecture for roads and bridges." In addition, the "centennial building will provide the first dedicated installations to date for the Center for Biomedical Engineering," which "will include labs and equipment to build biomedical devices and to study cell culture and chemistry."

Researchers propose mounting ion nanothrusters on spacecraft.

New Scientist (8/18, Mullins) reported that researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have "propose that tiny 'nanothrusters' could be made into flat sheets mounted on the side of spacecraft." Current ion thrusters, which "work by accelerating gas ions to generate force in the opposite direction," also "waste a lot of gas and are limited in lifetime because the accelerated ions damage the engine." Nanothrusters, the researchers say, "get around these problems." New Scientist explained the mechanics of the nanothrusters and added, "These nanothrusters can be used in large numbers on flat panels" that could, in turn, "cover large areas of spacecraft and in the drag-free space environment give all vehicles fine and efficient control." The researchers "hope the flat-panel thrusters will reduce the cost of spacecraft thanks to their efficiency and light weight."

Michigan affected by shortage of tech workers.

The Detroit News (8/18, Rogers) reported that the "shortage of computer workers" in Michigan "is particularly acute." While the state's "overall...workforce shrinks, the number of IT jobs is increasing." However, "that growth has been stunted by companies' inability to find enough workers. Especially in demand are highly educated IT professionals such as software developers, systems analysts and computer programmers." In addition, many of the state's "skilled professionals leave for places with healthier economies." The Detroit News pointed out that Michigan "lost 53,000 jobs overall last year," but "employment in computer systems design grew two percent, adding about 800 jobs to the state," and the "[g]rowth is expected to continue." And although the "state's higher education institutions are trying to keep up with the demand," they have "seen enrollment slide in computer-related study" over the last few years. "Nationwide, the number of students enrolling in computer science majors has dropped by more than half since 2000, to about 7,915 students in fall 2007, according to the Computing Research Association in Washington, D.C."

German engineering union demands "inflation-busting" salary raise.

The Wall Street Journal (8/19, Kessler) reports that "Germany's powerful engineering union IG Metall is preparing to demand inflation-busting wage increases during negotiations this fall that will affect 3.6 million workers." Armin Schild, head of the central German negotiating region for IG Metall, which is "Europe's largest, said...that the union wants to boost buying power that has been sliced by a year of rising inflation. Consumer price inflation in Germany stood at 3.5 percent in July." Schild said, "Workers can't escape from energy, food and housing inflation. They need more money." The Journal notes, "The negotiations affect nearly every major German automaker and their suppliers." IG Metall "has threatened strikes that could start as early as Nov. 1, after its current wage contract expires."

Iran offers to launch satellites for other countries.

The New York Times (8/19, A11, Fathi, Shanker) reports, "A day after Iran declared that it had test fired a new rocket capable of launching a satellite, the country said Monday that it was prepared to help other Muslim countries send up satellites. But by then, Pentagon and military officials in Washington were concluding that the Iranian missile launching had been a failure." The officials, "speaking on ground rules of anonymity to discuss intelligence reports, said the first stage of the missile performed successfully, but the second stage failed." But "despite the mission's overall failure, the launching was expected to add to Iran's knowledge about how to improve its missile skills, and thus was still viewed as a worrisome development, according to the American officials."

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GM seeks to recapture "innovator" label.

The Detroit Free Press (8/18, Merx) reported that General Motors Corp. (GM) is putting the focus on the future as it approaches its Sept. 16 centennial celebration, which it calls GMnext." The automaker "will acknowledge its remarkable past, as it did Saturday when Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner led a parade of more than 100 classic GM vehicles." But in the weeks to come, the Free Press expects "GM to talk more about its growth in China and progress in developing the electric-drive Chevrolet Volt than its 77 years as the world's largest automaker." The car company also "hopes to use its centennial to recapture its once-solid reputation as a global leader in automotive innovation." The Free Press pointed out that the company initially "considered re-creating the historic GM Motorama auto shows of the post-World War II period and even creating a Ferris wheel with real GM cars on it. But early on," according to GM spokesman Bill O'Neill, "strategists decided that the focus needed to be on where GM was going, not where it has been."

South Carolina students participate in PLTW summer engineering academy.

South Carolina's Times and Democrat (8/18) reported that 28 "rising seventh- and eighth-grade students spent the week of July 28 through Aug. 1 testing their skills at constructing gliders, catapults, water rockets and solar cars." According to the Times and Democrat, "[t]hese activities were part of the Gateway Academy held at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College." The academy "is a project-based experience designed to introduce middle school students to the fundamentals of science, technology, engineering and math," and it was "developed by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and Project Lead the Way (PLTW)." Furthermore, the "hands-on program is based on PLTW's Gateway to Technology pre-engineering curriculum." Alvin Fersner, a certified PLTW instructor at Calhoun County High School, was a co-leader of the camp. He said, "The purpose of the camp is to introduce engineering concepts in a way that promotes hands-on learning," which "will give the kids a better idea of what engineering is about so that they can" decide whether to pursue the profession.

Washington students participate in STEM program at naval base.

Washington state's Kitsap Sun (8/18, Friedrich) reported that 27 "aspiring scientists built rockets and saved the world from imaginary nuclear destruction on Monday." The students were participants in the Navy and National School District's "Starbase-Atlantis program at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, which strives to attract kids to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)." According to the Sun, "More than 900 fifth-graders from the Bremerton, Central Kitsap, North Kitsap and Chimacum school districts went through it this year." The Bangor program is one of 54 in the U.S., and the only one in Washington. Mo Yates, a former chemistry and physics teacher in Texas and the program director, said that it "costs the Navy $280 per student." The Sun described the curriculum as "challenging but entertaining." For example, the "students design[ed] space shuttles and camera lenses on a computer-aided design program," they created "robotic hands out of cardboard, hot glue and string," and "[t]hey file[d] a flight plan for a simulator trip," among other things.

Studies suggest certain video games can aid students, surgeons.

The AP (8/19, LeBlanc) reports that "[r]esearchers who gathered in Boston for the American Psychological Association convention detailed a series of studies suggesting video games can be powerful learning tools -- from increasing younger students' problem-solving potential to improving the suturing skills of laparoscopic surgeons." According to the AP, the studies concluded that "[c]ertain types of video games can have benefits beyond the virtual thrills of blowing up demons." For example, a Fordham University study asked "122 students in fifth, sixth and seventh grades...to think out loud for 20 minutes while playing a game they had never seen before. Researchers studied the children's statements to see if playing the game improved cognitive and perceptual skills." Fordham psychologist Fran Blumberg said, "younger kids are focusing more on their planning and problem solving while they are actually playing the game, while adolescents are focusing less on their planning and strategizing and more on the here and now."

        Another study, this one "of surgeons, was conducted by Iowa State University psychologist Dr. Douglas Gentile; Dr. Paul Lynch, associate professor of anesthesiology at the Mayo Clinic; and other researchers," the Boston Herald (8/18, Jordan, Underwood) added. "Laparoscopic surgeons who play video games are 27 percent faster at advanced surgical procedures and made 37 percent fewer errors than non-gamers," the study suggested. "Gentile and Lynch argue that video games are producing a generation of more adept surgeons." And according to Gentile, the games have "become a 'natural learning tool' for younger audiences." However, "he warned that monitoring the content of what kids are playing was instrumental in gleaning gaming benefits."

        The AFP (8/18) noted that "[s]tudies involving high school and college students confirmed previous findings about the social effects of playing violent video games, the Iowa State researchers said." For instance, "[s]tudents who played violent games were more hostile, less forgiving, and more apt to view violence as normal, than peers who played non-violent games." But youths "who played 'prosocial' games got into fewer fights at school and were more helpful to other students, the researchers reported."

        CNet's (8/18, Franklin) Crave blog and Wired's (8/18, Cavalli) Game Life blog also covered the story.

Swedish king expected to visit Michigan to discuss biogas project.

Michigan's Flint Journal (8/18, Mickle, Lawlor) reported that Flint will "be rolling out the red carpet for the king of Sweden" on Sept. 26. King Carl XVI Gustaf "is expected to visit Kettering University (KU)" during a "two-day swing through" Michigan. KU Provost Michael Harris said that "plans are underway for a ceremony that will feature Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) as well as other state and local dignitaries. The Journal pointed out that KU "has been working with state and local officials on plans for Swedish Biogas International of Linkoping to build a plant in Flint." Such a plant "would convert human waste for use as vehicle fuel and generate heat and electricity." According to "Michigan's consulate general to Sweden, Lennart Johansson," the king, although a figurehead, "has a lot of influence and is fascinated by alternative fuels." The Journal noted that "Harris credited Michael Wood -- a Flint native who is now the U.S. ambassador to Sweden and who persuaded Swedish Biogas to build a plant here -- with arranging the king's visit."

        Michigan engineering professor describes bioenergy conference. In a blog for Michigan's Tri-Cities Business Review (8/18), Chris Schilling, the Charles J. Strosacker Chair and professor of engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Saginaw Valley State University, wrote, "Last May, I attended World Bioenergy 2008, a big conference and trade fair in Sweden," which highlighted "new inventions that have started thriving bioenergy businesses." He said that he "saw many new products using wood or grass pellets to heat and electrify homes, farms and big buildings, effectively taking them off grid." Schilling was also "struck by the number of new consultancies providing expert knowledge on biofuel production, distribution, use and markets." Schilling added, "I've attended many international manufacturing and economic development conferences, but I've never seen anything quite like Sweden's World Bioenergy 2008." He argued that "U.S. inventors have some catching up to do."

Boring machine set to create second light-rail tunnel in Pittsburgh.

The AP (8/18) reported that a 500-pound "boring machine that dug a light-rail tunnel under the Allegheny River to downtown Pittsburgh" is ready to turn around "to begin digging a parallel tunnel back to the river's North Shore" for "commuter trains to travel round-trip from downtown" to other neighborhoods. The "light-rail extension is expected to cost Allegheny County's transit agency at least $435 million," the AP added. The new tunnel is scheduled to be done by the end of the year.

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