Sep. 30, 2022

Mizzou Engineer studying augmented reality to bring coursework to life

A student uses augmented reality to study ergonomics, or the study of movements in the workplace. Augmented reality (AR) has the potential to bring coursework to life. Imagine, for instance, learning about supply chains by seeing the various components of an operation laid out in front of you, from the manufacturing plant to the delivery site. Jung Hyup Kim, an associate professor of industrial engineering, is exploring how best to incorporate AR technology into engineering curriculum. He’s the Principal Investigator on a National Science Foundation grant that is allowing him to design and test AR lessons in a…

Sep. 27, 2022

In pursuit of better lithium-ion batteries

MU researchers Matthias J. Young (left) and Xiaoqing He are using a $500,000 grant from NSF to explore a key technical challenge preventing lithium-ion batteries from achieving optimal energy performance. By Eric Stann  |  MU News Bureau From personal electronics to electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are used in many technologies today. Over the last 30 years, scientists have worked to improve the overall safety and performance of these batteries by converting a key component, called electrolytes, from liquid to solid — partly due to an issue of the liquid being flammable. Yet, while solid-state lithium-ion batteries — using solid electrolytes…

Sep. 21, 2022

Mizzou Engineer using machine learning to solve space debris problem

Companies are launching satellites into orbit at a dizzying pace with no plans to clean them up once they’ve completed their missions. That means dead satellites are floating in space with no one controlling them, leaving them vulnerable to collisions. “Space is becoming more and more crowded,” said Ming Xin, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, “and solutions are becoming more and more urgent.” While studies are underway on best practices to remove space debris, right now there’s no good method to know exactly what’s out there. That’s because once a satellite is no longer in use, it…

Sep. 19, 2022

A Passion for Learning

By Mae Bruce | MU Undergraduate Studies All his life, August Hemmerla has loved learning. A homeschooled self-starter, he took many opportunities to broaden his perspectives. When he was 15, he studied in Ecuador where he lived with his adopted sister. Once he returned, he took community college classes. When he turned 18, he landed a scholarship and again studied abroad — this time in China. His travels broadened his scope and enthusiasm for knowledge. His parents, both humanities professors and Mizzou alumni, have always encouraged him to pursue an array of disciplines. It’s why Hemmerla considered majors as varied…

Sep. 15, 2022

UM Curators name Hongbin ‘Bill’ Ma Curators’ Distinguished Professor

Hongbin “Bill” Ma Mizzou Engineering’s Hongbin “Bill” Ma has been named a Curators’ Distinguished Professor, the highest honor bestowed by the University of Missouri System. “I’m so honored,” Ma said. “This is certainly a highlight of my career at Mizzou, and I appreciate my colleagues and students who have supported me and my work from Day One.” Ma is Chair and Glen A. Barton Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Over his career, he has made profound contributions in the field of heat transfer in both fundamental understanding and engineering applications, specially through research of…

Sep. 15, 2022

UM Curators name Kannappan Palaniappan Curators’ Distinguished Professor

Kannappan Palaniappan Mizzou Engineering’s Kannappan Palaniappan has been named a Curators’ Distinguished Professor, the highest honor bestowed by the University of Missouri System. “I feel honored and proud,” Palaniappan said. “I see this as recognition for all of the world class faculty, researchers and incredibly talented students I’ve collaborated with over the years.” Palaniappan is one of two faculty members from Mizzou Engineering to receive the designation. Hongbin “Bill” Ma, chair and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, has also been named a Curators’ Distinguished Professor. Thomas Sewell, an adjunct professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering and a professor…

Sep. 13, 2022

Bowders retires from Mizzou Engineering after 25 years

John Bowders (center) has retired from Mizzou Engineering after 25 years. He is pictured with Praveen Edara (left) and Dean Noah Manring (right). John Bowders, P.E. and professor of civil and environmental engineering, has retired following a 25-year career at Mizzou Engineering. The College celebrated his career during a retirement reception on Sept. 9, drawing in a large crowd that included faculty, students, alumni community members and industry professionals. Many guests praised Bowders’ positive attitude. “It has been such an honor for me to work with John over the past 15 years,” said Praveen Edara, chair of civil and environmental…

Sep. 11, 2022

Mizzou Engineering welcomes 14 new faculty members

Mizzou Engineering welcomed 14 new faculty members, including 11 tenure-track faculty who bring expertise in areas such as pollution remediation, manufacturing and computational material science. “We’re excited to bring in this group of educators and researchers who will make tremendous contributions to the College,” Dean Noah Manring said. “Students will, no doubt, benefit greatly from their teaching and research expertise.” Joining Mizzou Engineering are: Melissa Collins will serve as First Year Engineering coordinator and an assistant teaching professor in biomedical, biological and chemical engineering. Collins has a PhD from Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s from the University…

Sep. 11, 2022

Civil engineering team at Mizzou completes NSF I-Corps, earning Spirit Award

Bill Buttlar A team of Mizzou Engineers recently completed the National Science Foundation I-Corps program, earning a Spirit Award and gaining important insights as the researchers launch a new company. Civil engineering faculty members Bill Buttlar and Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, along with post-doctoral fellow Hamed Majidifard, formed Tiger Eye Engineering, LLC, last year. The company offers transportation departments, cities and counties the service of monitoring road distresses. “We decided to write a grant proposal to the highly competitive National NSF I-Corps program after having a very positive experience with a more regional ‘mini-I-Corps’ program in 2022, which…

Sep. 8, 2022

Team develops new method to determine lifespan of lithium-ion batteries

A Mizzou Engineering team has devised a new way to determine how many times you can recharge a lithium-ion battery before it needs to be replaced. Lithium-ion batteries are common in electronics such as laptops, and they’re a key component to getting electric vehicles on the roads. They can be recharged hundreds of times, but at some point, they’ll run out of charging cycles. That could be bad news if, say, you’re traveling, and your electric vehicle can no longer be recharged. Kangwon Seo “Lithium-ion battery capacity decreases whenever we use it, and at some point in time, we’re…