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Document ActionsEngineering News, Vol. 78, No. 8SApril 25, 2008, Vol. 78, No. 8S Afternoon of tinkeringSOLDER IT: Eng. Sci sophomore Jennifer Wong and EECS sophomore Ryan Luecke practice their soldering skills at Tinker Day, a new event for people who like to make things in a casual, low-key environment, sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers. On its inaugural day, participants tinkered with electronics, but projects will vary week by week. Tinker Day takes place every Friday at 2 p.m. in Hesse Hall.
Cover StoryClean and green: CET hosts clean tech competition and awards researchers a total of $20,000INNOVATORS: The first place team accepts its prize from CET director Ikhlaq Sidhu (far left). The team is led by Craig Jacobson (third from left). Peg Skorpinski Photo Clean tech research took the spotlight on April 8 during the Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (CET)’s Clean Technology Innovation Prize Competition, held at Barrows Hall. Four teams walked away with a combined $20,000 in prize money and the coveted attention of venture capitalists and industry executives, who served as judges. The competition seeks to recognize clean technology researchers working on applied projects with commercial potential. The first place team, led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researcher Craig Jacobson, is producing low-cost fuel cells destined for developing countries. The $10 fuel cells will replace inefficient and polluting kerosene lamps and campfires that are now used to light homes lacking their own electricity. About the size of a short pencil, the cells convert kerosene or other hydrocarbon fuels into electricity that will power an LED light. Homes don’t need to be wired. While there are plenty of fuel cells on the market, the lab’s version is different because it’s so inexpensive and durable. The secret, after 10 years of research, is replacing the cell’s expensive and brittle ceramic layer with cheap stainless steel. Contents
What are your summer plans?Nalditya Kusuma EECS junior “I’ll be interning for the whole summer as a software developer in Oakland.” Shaobo Zhu MSE sophomore “I’m trying to find an interesting research project to work on.” Sara Senanian ME junior “I’m taking E 190 and EE 100 this summer so I can graduate on time.” Maribel Pabalan CEE freshman “I’m going to take sociology and maybe math at my local community college in Yuba City.” |
