News

Young engineer’s smart prepaid meter helps remote villages gain access to electricity

12/09/13 dnaindia.com — When Yashraj Khaitan traveled to remote villages in India in 2009 as a member of Engineers without Borders, he came back with the idea for Gram Power, a company that provides remote areas with on-demand, reliable electricity through affordable prepaid purchases modeled on cellphone recharge plans.

David Culler to receive the Okawa Prize, 2013

12/05/13 CITRIS — EECS Department Chair and Director of the CITRIS Energy Initiative David Culler has been selected as a recipient of the 2013 Okawa Prize, which is awarded annually by the Okawa Foundation for Information and Telecommunications.

Stanley Berger, known for his work in blood flow, dies at 79

12/04/13 — Stanley A. Berger, Montford G. Cook professor emeritus of mechanical engineering and bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and a renowned expert in fluid mechanics, died on Nov. 25, 2013. He was 79.

Susan Graham appointed to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Policy

12/02/13 White House Press Office — Susan Graham, professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences, was appointed by President Obama to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).

Educating a maker: The Berkeley perspective

11/27/13 Forbes — Students are busy in the CITRIS Invention Lab, on the bottom floor of Sutardja Dai Hall. The lab, which is co-directed by Bjoern Hartmann and Eric Paulos, both EECS professors, houses new rapid prototyping equipment, such as 3D printers and laser cutters. Hartmann teaches an interactive device design class, while Paulos teaches a class called Critical Making. Both classes emphasize design thinking and hands-on learning.

Kevin Healy named AAAS Fellow

11/26/13 — Kevin Healy, professor of bioengineering, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an honor bestowed upon the association's members by their peers. Healy was cited for his distinguished contributions to the fields of bioengineering and biomaterials science, particularly for the understanding and development of bioinspired materials.

Design education shifts to the fast lane

11/22/13 — Given the rising tide of emerging technologies and global challenges in energy, health and elsewhere, we are re-inventing engineering education here at Berkeley. Our students are graduating not only with technical depth, but also with practice in hands-on problem solving, team leadership and entrepreneurship. As Berkeley students, they bring an extra dimension to their learning-a passion for the greater good. The latest chapter in this educational transformation commenced in June, with the creation of our Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation.

Flying to the edge of darkness

11/22/13 — Adam Wright (B.S'05 ME) is building submarines that fly through water. He started his career at Hawkes Ocean Technologies as an unpaid intern before his freshman year of college. Early this year, he was named the company's president and CEO.

Applying the right pressure

11/22/13 — The leading cause of maternal mortality is entirely preventable. Worldwide, as many as 140,000 women die every year from postpartum hemorrhage, primarily in developing countries. But a life-saving medical device once used to stabilize injured soldiers during the Vietnam War may be poised to cut those numbers dramatically, thanks in part to the work of four Berkeley Engineering undergraduates.

Work out to charge up

11/22/13 — In early November, a retrofitted elliptical machine was installed in the university's Recreational Sports Facility. The specially outfitted machine charges users' cell phones while they work out. Watch a video of the Human-powered Gym in action.

Solar car team works into the night months before next race

11/21/13 Daily Californian — The CalSol team has been hard at work - including nights and football weekends - getting Zephyr, their latest solar-powered car, ready for the July 2014 American Solar Challenge race from Texas to Minnesota.

George Leitmann receives French Legion of Honor

11/19/13 — George Leitmann, professor of the Graduate School and professor emeritus of Engineering Science, has been awarded Knight of the Legion of Honor, France's highest tribute recognizing military and civil service on behalf of the French nation.

College of Engineering opens innovation center in Shanghai

11/15/13 — A new center now open in Shanghai will strengthen the College of Engineering's research and educational partnerships with academic and industry colleagues in China. The Shanghai Zhangjiang Berkeley Engineering Innovation Center, or Z-BEI, was formally launched in a Nov. 15 ceremony presided over by officials from UC Berkeley, Zhangjiang High-Tech Park and the Shanghai-area government.

Berkeley Engineering in Shanghai – FAQ

11/15/13 — Questions and answers on agreement between UC Berkeley College of Engineering and Shanghai Zhangjiang Group Co., Ltd.

Helping dissenters evade foreign eavesdropping

11/05/13 San Francisco Chronicle — Yahel Ben-David, a computer science doctoral student, has been working with other Berkeley Engineering researchers to create an Android application that will allow activists and citizens to communicate anonymously even when oppressive governments try to shut down communications channels.

Jean-Paul Tennant with kids and baby elephants

Off the beaten track

11/01/13 — Meet Jean-Paul Tennant, CFO of the international adventure travel company GeoEx.

Jacobs Institute commitment at Clinton Global Initiative

Dean’s word: A new design for education

11/01/13 — A $20 million gift from Qualcomm executive chairman Paul Jacobs launches a new center for design innovation.

New UCSD dean

11/01/13 — Albert P. Pisano, a distinguished member of the mechanical engineering faculty for 30 years, has been named dean of the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego.

Welcoming new UC president

11/01/13 — The college welcomes the new president of the University of California, Janet Napolitano.

Comments

11/01/13 — Friends, followers and readers: Thanks for your comments. Here is a recent sampling. RE: “Design: The new toolkit for teaching engineering,” Innovations, September 2013 Great offering. I only hope that the design experience includes interaction with those who fund or will benefit from the design—no design is complete until it receives public interaction and input. […]