student organizations, Page 5

NSBE Walk for Education Fall 2020

Mizzou NSBE Wins Most Outstanding Chapter for Sixth Straight Year

The Mizzou National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) student organization was awarded the “Most Outstanding Chapter” of Region Five – Missouri Zone during the virtual 2020 NSBE Regional Fall Conference. Mizzou NSBE has won this award for six consecutive years.
A highly renowned researcher took a few minutes out of his busy schedule this week to address graduate students in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department. Satish S Nair is an EECS professor, director of the Neural Engineering Lab and one of the first researchers to begin using engineering principles to better understand the complex circuits of the brain. During a monthly EECS Graduate Student Association (GSA) virtual meeting, Nair gave an overview of his work, then provided students with some tips to boost their own productivity. Participating in the EECS organization is a good first start, he said, as it develops leadership and other practical skills. Nair also recommended minimizing distractions while working or even relaxing. “Distractors disrupt processes in the brain,” he said. “If you have 10 programs running, how can you focus on any one? If you think about that in terms of your laptop, if you open a lot of stuff, it crashes. That translates to your own brain.” Taking walks, enjoying hobbies and avoiding upsetting media are also keys to living a happy, productive life, he said. “We don’t talk about that enough, and we don’t value it enough.” Lightening Talk Nair was the featured “Lightening Talk” guest at this month’s EECS GSA meeting. Modeled after popular TED Talks, these presentations give faculty, students and invited guests an opportunity to share interesting research, projects or hobbies, said Lia Howe, outgoing president of EECS GSA. Nair Following his formal presentation, attendees had the opportunity to tap into Nair’s brain and discuss his work in the context of their own projects. For instance one student wanted to know how studying brain models compares to his research around the autonomous systems that power drones. The brain is more complex, but researchers are getting closer to starting to understand its hardware and its operating system, Nair said. He is currently working on a project analyzing data from a collaborator who inserts high-density neural probes  into rodent brains to solve the mystery. The probes’ sensors can monitor close to 300 neurons and records the spikes each neuron emits. Similar to radar technology, researchers are using those signals to get more information about what actually happens in the brain when, say, a rodent is deciding whether to risk potential danger in exchange for the reward of a food pellet. “Psychology says based on a behavior, we believe something is going on, but now we are able to get data,” he said. “But what language are neurons talking? What is their hardware? How are they configured? We’re in the beginning stages of understanding that.” In the meantime, he encouraged engineering students to continue to look to psychologists and psychology books for answers, and potential interdisciplinary projects in the area. 'GEECS' The EECS Graduate Student Association—informally known as the “GEECS”— helps foster professional and social relationships among those pursuing master’s and PhD degrees. Meetings are held monthly. Prior to social distancing restrictions, the group also held special events such as trivia nights and fundraisers. This semester, the organization improvised and offered game nights virtually, Howe said. This week was Howe’s last meeting as president. She’s graduating this month with a Master of Science in Computer Engineering. Trevor Bajkowski, who is working on a PhD in computer science, will transition from serving as vice president to president this coming semester. Howe encourages all EECS graduate students to get involved in the organization. “EECS GSA, or GEECS, is a great group to connect with other graduate students and faculty,” she said. “It is a low-commitment organization, where we want everyone to have fun. GEECS loves to meet new students.” Interested in studying neural engineering? Consider earning an undergraduate certificate in Neural Engineering-Signals or Neural Engineering-Systems or a graduate certificate in Neural Engineering-Signals, Systems & Machine Learning.

Professor Shares Insights into Neural Engineering

A highly renowned researcher took a few minutes out of his busy schedule this week to address graduate students in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department. Satish S Nair is an EECS professor, director of the Neural Engineering Lab and one of the first researchers to begin using engineering principles to better understand the…
graphic of Mizzou Engineering Involvement Night

Mizzou Engineers Come Together for Involvement Night

In place of the traditional New Student BBQ, Mizzou Engineering Student Council hosted a virtual Involvement Night to showcase student organizations and services for incoming Mizzou Engineers.
A graphic showing a lock over coding. Students in the Cybersecurity Club will have opportunities to explore the field.

Cybersecurity Club Will Provide New Opportunities

A new Cybersecurity Club will give Mizzou Engineering students the opportunity to hone their technical skills, compete in regional and national events and meet industry professionals.
Mizzou NSBE Executive Board

Mizzou NSBE Chapter Wins Chancellor’s Excellence Award

The Mizzou chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) was honored with the “Most Outstanding Large Organization Award” at MU as part of the 2020 Chancellor’s Excellence Awards announcement on Wednesday, April 29.
MCAA students in in front of the U.S. Capitol.

MCAA Mizzou Student Chapter Recognized as Finalists for National Competition

The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) recently recognized the Mizzou student chapter as one of its four finalists for the organization’s 2020 Student Chapter Competition.
Dome of Jesse Hall lit green for E-Week

2020 St. Pat’s Court

Jason Pae and Caroline Langley are the 2020 St. Pat's Court King and Queen.
Mizzou students show off their gold race car to attendees at a science event.

Students showcase work at Science Center Day, held in early March

Les Burke, a student in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Carbondale, IL, took his love of racecars to St. Louis on March 7 as part of a group of 26 Mizzou Engineering students who showcased their work and research at the University of Missouri Science Center Day, held at the Saint Louis Science Center.
Justin Yarbrough and Ola Babalola

St. Pat’s Board: Working Hard to Have Fun

Mizzou engineering students, staff and faculty are gearing up for all of the fun events and activities slated for Engineers’ Week March 6 – 14, the culmination of more than six months of research and planning by members of the Engineers’ Club-St. Pat’s Board.
MU NSBE chapter

NSBE Honored with Coretta Scott King Organization of the Year Award

MU’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers won its first Coretta Scott King Organization of the Year Award at the MU NAACP Image Awards.