• August 6, 2019
    Program plants STEM at area schools
    Engineering faculty-created summer initiative gives teachers skills and connections to take their students to the next level
    ​Solar Panels​"This program has changed the way I teach," said Ron Ratkos, an 11-year adjunct professor at Mid Michigan College in Harrison. "It's different from how I was taught when I was growing up," said Natalie Brown, a senior at Central Michigan University pursuing a bachelor's degree in secondary education. The program that brought them together this summer is a unique six-week STEM initiative created by CMU engineering faculty. The focus is to help area teachers — from middle school to community college, and soon-to-be teachers — learn engineering concepts and create fun and interactive lessons for use in their classrooms. It also aligns with the focus on STEM education in Michigan and its leadership role in adopting multistate Next Generation Science Standards. "They are not just designing lesson plans. We are giving them a real hands-on engineering research project," said Kumar Yelamarthi, an electrical and computer engineering faculty member and director-elect of the School of Engineering and Technology. "They are getting firsthand knowledge of what engineers do, what the engineering process is like," said Yelamarthi, who designed the program.

    Read the rest of this story here
  • May 20, 2019
    Seniors put energy into solar
    It’s a win-win situation as companies turn to CMU seniors for engineering support
    ​Solar Panels​How many engineers does it take to save energy? It might sound like the beginning of a joke, but for DTE Energy, the answer is six senior Central Michigan University engineering and technology students. The punchline is that saving energy saves money. The newly graduated seniors from several majors were part of the second yearlong engineering project that faculty member Kumar Yelamarthi has put together with DTE. The students' mission was to accurately measure the efficiency of 200,000 solar panels in the company's park in Lapeer, Michigan. They did so well, DTE has another related challenge for a new group of students, beginning this summer. It's guaranteed to stretch them.

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  • May 16, 2019
    How to turn waste into profits
    Professor’s environmental performance tool gives companies another incentive to be in the green
    ​Goksel Demirer​The world is heading toward a natural resources crisis, the United Nations warns. Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, it said, "the equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles." Goksel Demirer is working to keep that crisis from happening. The Central Michigan University environmental engineering professor has spent more than 20 years on the front lines of international sustainability efforts by showing industries how they can increase their profits while decreasing their environmental impact.

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  • April 4, 2019
    RET project teams up with SAE Baja team to introduct STEM to Middle Schoolers
    ​students working on candy sorter at hackathon About 150 Mount Pleasant Middle School students recently came to Central Michigan University to compete in a “Jet Toy Challenge” as they worked alongside members of Central’s Society of Automotive Engineers Baja team.

    The students learned STEM skills as they built balloon-powered cars and competed against one another.

    The Baja members teamed up with College of Science and Engineering faculty member Kumar Yelamarthi on the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) project. The RET project is sponsored by the National Science Foundation through a grant to help teachers develop STEM experiences in the classroom.

    For this RET project, the Baja team, co-sponsored by the SAE Foundation, helped present engineering challenges to the middle school students. The experience gives CMU students a turn as teachers to promote engineering in the classroom as well as show what the Engineering and Technology projects looks like.
  • February 28, 2019
    Engineering a sweet solution
    CMU's Society of Women Engineers invents a candy sorter in 24-hour challenge
    ​students working on candy sorter at hackathonCardboard, a color sensor, some duct tape and 24 hours: For members of the Society of Women Engineers at Central Michigan University, it was a recipe for technological innovation. In just one day, the group of engineering students created a functional candy sorting machine at the College of Science and Engineering's third annual hackathon. The challenge brought together student organizations and individuals for innovative and collaborative competition. In the SWE team's machine, M&M candies placed into a tube at the top of the machine are read by a color sensor. The machine deposits each candy to a corresponding color dish using code team members wrote.

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  • January 17, 2019
    Engineering a career pipeline
    (An article by Eric Younan, DTE Energy)
    ​CMU students and faculty gathered at D T ECentral Michigan University (CMU) Professor Kumar Yelemarthi wants to establish a pipeline that starts with CMU engineering graduates and ends with rewarding DTE Energy careers because he believes our company is a good place to work. He took the first step toward his goal by collaborating with Major Enterprise Projects (MEP) to arrange a meet-and-greet and tour with 13 students who experienced a day in the life of DTE engineers.

    "I wanted my students to have exposure to the different projects DTE manages, the challenges engineers face, and the solutions applied to solve those challenges," said Yelemarthi. "I also wanted them to see DTE as an excellent place to have an engineering career."

    The group met for a safety briefing and introduction to MEP at our downtown headquarters, followed by tours of Beacon Park, O'Shea Solar Park and the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. A chance meeting between Yelemarthi and Robert Richard, senior vice president, MEP and Customer Service, initiated the tour. Yelemarthi introduced himself to Richard at an event and Richard agreed to help arrange a visit. Richard asked Gina Tate-Johnson, senior project controls specialist, to take the lead in organizing it. The experience was eye-opening for the students. Here's what a few of them had to say:

    "I was impressed with the extra step DTE took at O'Shea Solar Park in helping rehabilitate the surrounding community and not just erecting solar panels. The Gordie Howe Bridge project was also fascinating because I was unware of the amount of work required to safely remove the infrastructure before construction could begin." - Benjamin Strandskov, senior electrical engineering major.

    "Seeing the different projects DTE electrical engineers work on and how they use reverse engineering to find solutions to problems was especially interesting. I was also impressed by Beacon Park and the work DTE does to revitalize communities."-- Julia Reynolds, senior electric engineering major.

    "O'Shea Solar Park's location was interesting because most solar arrays I've seen are out in the middle of nowhere and this was a good use of land. I was also fascinated by the Gordie Howe International Bridge project because I thought the bridge is being built in an abandoned area, but there are houses and roads that have to be removed." - Dru Pikula, senior electrical engineering major.

    "It was interesting to see how far DTE's reach is and how many projects they're involved in. I was also intrigued by the different careers engineers get into after they join DTE." - Leslee Weible, junior electric engineering major.

    Yelemarthi plans to continue the dialogue and build on the relationship between CMU and our company. "Now that I have a better understanding of projects at DTE I can open doors for other faculty on what's happening at DTE and get them involved."
  • January 9, 2019
    Alternative fuel effort heats up
    Engineering and technology team builds machine that derives gas from wood
    ​flame coming out of gasifierYousef Haseli's research into alternative fuel is on fire. The engineering and technology faculty member has taken the next step — building a gasifier — in his effort to investigate methods for producing clean, efficient and renewable energy with wood. While he is researching the method called torrefication, which "toasts" the wood to remove its moisture and makes it a lower-cost substitute for coal, he also is working on transforming wood into a fuel.

    Read the rest of this story here
  • December 4, 2018
    Driving digital disruption at CMU
    Global business software leader looks to CMU to help speed innovation
    ​Faculty and students touring Ford plantInnovation. Digital disruption. To some people, they're little more than business buzzwords. But for faculty and students in a new project that crosses department lines at Central Michigan University, they represent a new mission: to lead thinking for business worldwide. Earlier this year, enterprise resource planning software company SAP selected Central and 10 other universities to serve as a Next-Gen Chapter. Additionally, CMU was designated as a SAP Next-Gen Lab. As an industry leader, SAP's name often is used as a synonym for the ERP software that integrates an organization's accounting, purchasing, production, human resources and other business functions. CMU and other universities use SAP to teach business processes.

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  • November 28, 2018
    CMU Videos shine in competition
    Award-winning productions highlight Baja team, medical simulation center
    ​Screen shot of the award winning videoA video celebrating the College of Science and Engineering's Baja racing team received a platinum award, the highest honor possible, in the international MarCom Awards. A video about CMU's Covenant HealthCare Simulation Center in Saginaw, Michigan, won a MarCom gold award. Earlier this year, a Fire Up campaign kickoff video narrated by the late CMU alum and sportscaster Dick Enberg won a Telly Award as best general fundraising video not for broadcast. The videos are the work of CMU alum Scott Nadeau's Dexter, Michigan, production company Video & Internet Stuff, in collaboration with CMU Advancement.

    Read the rest of this story and view the video here
  • November 5, 2018
    Enginerring student to present at global conference
    ​Dylan Richards at computerAfter spending his freshman year working in Dr. Kumar Yelamarthi’s electrical engineering lab, engineering student Dylan Richards’ research paper entitled “How Does encryption Influence Timing in IoT? has been accepted for presentation at the 2018 IEEE Global Conference of Internet of Things. This marks the first time a CMU freshman engineering student has published his scientific findings at a peer-reviewed international conference.
  • September 18, 2018
    Research for the real world
    CMU's Motion Analysis Center helps one alum test her invention's effectiveness
    ​Sara Moylan viewing motion capture on screenCentral Michigan University alum Sara Moylan knew she had created an amazing product — but she couldn't prove it. Now, thanks to research conducted at CMU's Motion Analysis Center, Moylan has the data she needs to market her masterpiece. After struggling to find a way to comfortably exercise during pregnancy, Moylan developed a fully adjustable bra she called the Shefit Ultimate Sports Bra. The 2002 integrative public relations graduate had invested years developing her product and believed it could outperform major brand-names, but she wanted evidence. "Shefit is a new player in this market. We believed we had the most innovative design and the best technology – we believed we had the best product. But from a marketing perspective, we not only wanted to say it, we wanted to show it," Moylan said. Moylan, an entrepreneur based in Hudsonville, Michigan, reached out to researchers at her alma mater and the Central Michigan University Research Corp., for help.

    Read the rest of this story here
  • August 16, 2018
    A Pinch of Wanderlust
    CMU students fly across the world to study, intern and serve abroad during the summer
    ​Hannah White stands with fellow students in front of a bee homeA fourth-generation college student studying mechanical engineering from Midland, Michigan, Hannah White wanted to take the next step by studying abroad in Iceland for seven weeks. While abroad, she took a course on renewable energy which covered topics such as hydroelectric and geothermal power, sustainable energy and geology. "I'm very passionate about renewable energy," White said. "Ninety percent of Iceland's energy is renewable, so it's definitely the perfect place to be learning about it."

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  • May 31, 2018
    Putting a damper on the vibes
    Engineering, technology team improves overhead pwer line stability, performance
    ​Ourmar Barry demonstrating line dampening systemIn Oumar Barry's academic world, there's no such thing as a good vibe. The Central Michigan University engineering and technology faculty member has devoted much of his professional life trying to eliminate vibrations entirely — from overhead power lines. Barry and his teams of international students are improving power line dampers to suppress wind-induced vibrations, which damage the electricity conductors and the lines themselves. It's the kind of work that often goes unnoticed by the public until there is a power failure. But for power companies, it's a budget concern. For students, it's research that can plug them into a job or propel them to higher education.

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  • April 18, 2018
    Creative Course Finder
    Sharing Projects Across the Pond
    Kumar Yelamarthi and electrical engineering studentsInstitutions: Central Michigan University and the Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland Course: Electrical engineering with a twist: students in two courses -- one at each institution -- will design a circuitry project and then pass their work digitally to students at the other institution, who will interpret the half-finished design and turn it into a working circuit. The two professors (Kumar Yelamarthi at Central Michigan, Frank Walsh at Waterford) will also offer several guest lectures via videoconference to offer an international perspective and broaden the course content.

    Read the rest of this story here (at InsideHigherEd.com)
  • April 3, 2018
    Fired up over alternative fuel
    Engineering and technology faculty member builds a case for 'toasted' woodIan Eickholdt
     When Yousef Haseli takes a walk in the forest, he sees the future of fuel. The Central Michigan University faculty member in the School of Engineering and Technology is researching ways to improve upon or discover new methods to produce clean, efficient and renewable energy. For that, he's looking to the trees.

    Read the rest of this story here
  • March 1, 2018
    Racing to engineering leadership
    Baja race team president is CMU's first winner of statewide SAE honorIan Eickholdt
     Mechanical engineering senior Ian Eickholdt has been chosen as the 2017 Rumbaugh Outstanding Student Leader by the Society of Automotive Engineers — the first Central Michigan University student to receive the award. Eickholdt, from Rochester Hills, Michigan, is president of CMU's Baja racing team and has been an SAE member since his sophomore year. "This is really a prestigious thing, to have a professional engineering society say that an engineer who came out of your program is this year's example of what a university and a department are doing right," said Ben Ritter, a faculty member of the School of Engineering and Technology.

    Read the rest of this story here
  • January 29, 2018
    DeJong named Teacher of the Year
    Michigan Science Teachers Association notes his leadership, passion, role modelingBrian DeJong
    It's good that ice storms can't stop Brian DeJong. In 2007, he drove to Central Michigan University through such a storm to interview for a job as an assistant professor of engineering. When he arrived, he discovered classes were canceled. "There was like me and three professors on campus," he said with a laugh. "I loved the campus, but I went away thinking 'they don't want me.'" But they did, and 11 years later the now-associate professor of engineering will be honored March 2 as the Michigan Science Teachers Association's 2018 College Science Teacher of the Year. He was chosen for modeling best teaching practices, inspiring students, demonstrating innovative teaching strategies, being an excellent role model for students and teachers, demonstrating leadership, and exhibiting a passion for science and teaching..

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  • January 18, 2018
    Fired Up & Focused! From Air Force to CMU
    Seth AllenSeth Allen came to CMU with some valuable experience already under his belt. He was an avionics technician in the United States Air Force and had worked in both the electrical and computer fields. Coming to CMU, he knew he'd have the opportunity for even more hands-on experience to prepare him for a career after college. Allen, who returned to college after attending another school prior to his service in the military, decided to major in computer engineering.

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  • CMU Baja racing team builds on successes
    CMU Baja CarAfter four hours on a mud-covered track in the American Southwest, the off-road vehicle built and driven by Central Michigan University’s Baja racing team looked like it was slapped together with adobe. But the Chippewas came out $750 and a plaque ahead — and even more important, their two semesters of designing, building and testing their own car have given them a jump toward key jobs and internships in the auto industry.

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  • Motivation and mentors drive CMU senior to accomplish goals
    Tyler DemskiThere's more to Tyler Demski's graduation from Central Michigan University than being the first student to complete undergraduate majors in both electrical and mechanical engineering. The Saranac, Michigan, native's CMU experience was more about being surrounded by professors and mentors who supported his ambitious goals. These are the people Demski said helped him inside and outside the classroom to develop the skills he needed to secure his dream job as an electrical engineer at Roush Industries in Livonia.

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  • CMU answers industry demand for engineers
    Student WeldingKatherine Kolar isn’t concerned about finding a job after she graduates May 6. The Central Michigan University electrical engineering major from Brighton has had a position waiting for her at General Motors since completing an internship there last summer. “I know my boss, and I know what I need to study to get ready for my job at GM,” said Kolar, who will work on propulsion in electric and hybrid vehicles. “A main goal in getting a degree is finding a job, so it was nice to know I had the training and skills I needed before I started my senior year.”

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  • MS Engineering student wins Best Master Forum Award
    Ahmed Abdelgawad and Anam MahmudMaster of Science in Engineering student, Anam Mahmud, recently won Best Master Forum at the 2017 IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP 2017) in New Orleans, LA. ICASSP is the world's largest and most comprehensive technical conference focused on signal processing and its applications. The conference not only introduces new developments in the field, but also provides an engaging forum to exchange ideas, and does so both for researchers and developers. The theme of the ICASSP 2017 was "The Internet of Signls" which is the real technology and world behind the Internet of Things. The conference featured world-class international speakers, tutorials, exhibits, lectures and poster sessions from around the world.

  • CMU receives $10,000 grant for Team Chippewa Performance
    Pat Lynch from Haas Foundation, Ian Eickholdt from CMU Baja, and Terry Lerch, School of Engineering DirectorCMU was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation for the CMU Baja Team today. The foundation supports technology and engineering applications of Machining. The grant will be used to help pay for the Baja Team's trip to the Baja SAE California race in April of this year. ​ The team has also been invited to tour the Haas plant to see the machines they make being produced.

    Read more about the Gene Haas Foundation here