News & Events

04-14-17

James L. Beck, George W. Housner Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, Emeritus, has been selected by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Engineering Mechanics Institute to receive the 2017 George W. Housner Structural Control and Monitoring Medal “For his exceptional and influential scholarship in structural monitoring and control research, and for his leadership in tackling uncertainty and model complexity through probabilistic approaches with emphasis on Bayesian methods.”

Tags: honors MCE CMS James Beck

04-10-17

The course Design for Freedom from Disability (E/ME/MedE 105a) taught by Professor Ken Pickar and Andy Lin, a rehab engineer at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehab Center, has given undergraduate students Stephanie Moon and Lawrence Lee a new view of the power engineers have to benefit others. [Learn more]

Tags: MCE Ken Pickar Andy Lin Stephanie Moon Lawrence Lee

03-30-17

Domniki Asimaki, Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, is a 2017 recipient of the Bodossaki Foundation Award of Scientific Excellence. The award recognizes the creative work of young Greek scientists who are commitment to the advancement of science and the promotion of exemplary paradigms for society. Professor Asimaki is honored for “her work in the field of Applied Science (Solid and Fluid Mechanics, Structural Mechanics, Materials, Geo-technical Systems).” [List of 2017 recipients]

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03-24-17

In celebration of Women’s History Month, a panel discussion was organized to explore the steps taken to date by JPL and Caltech leadership to recruit, retain, and promote a diverse talent pool. The panel was moderated by Cinzia Zuffada, the JPL Associate Chief Scientist.  The panelists were Caltech Professor Melany Hunt, JPL Director for the Office of Safety and Mission Success Jan Chodas, and JPL Deputy Director Larry James. The panelists shared some accomplishments in gender equality over the last decade, and highlighted the next steps. Professor Hunt broadened the topic beyond Caltech to share successful approaches used by MIT, Harvey Mudd, and Boeing. She emphasized the importance of changing the culture and environment to be more accepting and encouraging to women and minorities. For example, training supervisors on ways to effectively mentor under-represented groups and identify their own biases as they sit on evaluation and promotion committees. [Event details]

Tags: MCE KISS Melany Hunt JPL Cinzia Zuffada Larry James Jan Chodas

03-14-17

Students in Professor Hillary Mushkin’s media arts seminar (E/H/Art 89 New Media Arts in the 20th and 21st Centuries) displayed and discussed their projects at a recent campus event. The projects used a variety of approaches to explore cyberspace, gaming, the internet, and privacy. [List of projects]

Tags: EE MCE CMS Hillary Mushkin

03-09-17

Caltech's 32nd Annual Engineering Design Competition (ME 72) featured teams of robots and their handlers battling for the best times navigating a "Robstacle Course." The V15TA team—Yunsang Choi, Mayra Melendez, Allison Penn, Eduardo Plascencia, and William Yu—won first place by having its robots successfully traverse 27 pylons, a seesaw, and a ramp to deliver a ball into a hole at the end of the course. [Slideshow of the event] [Video of the event]

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03-02-17

Caltech has recognized Engineering and Applied Science alumna Regina Dugan (PhD '93 Mechanical Engineering) with the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor regularly bestowed by the Institute. Dr. Dugan is being honored for her sustained record of leadership and innovation in technology and business. [Caltech story]

Tags: honors MCE alumni Regina Dugan

02-02-17

Alumnus Sébastien Candel (PhD '72) has been elected as president of the French Academy of Sciences (Académie des sciences, Institut de France). The Academy, which was created in 1666, is committed to the advancement of science and advises government authorities on scientific issues.  Candel obtained his PhD in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics from Caltech and is a receipient of the Caltech Distinguished Alumni Award for his contributions to aerospace. [Caltech story] [Candel's Marble Lecture]

Tags: GALCIT MCE CMS alumni Sébastien Candel

01-30-17

Chiara Daraio, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics, and colleagues have developed an artificial skin capable of detecting temperature changes using a mechanism similar to the one used by the organ that allows pit vipers to sense their prey. [Caltech story]

Tags: APhMS research highlights Chiara Daraio MCE

01-03-17

Tim Colonius, Frank and Ora Lee Marble Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been elected Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America for his contributions to numerical modeling of cavitation, medical acoustics, and aeroacoustics. [List of fellows]

Tags: honors MCE Tim Colonius