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July, 2011

Professor Sarkar featured in National Geographic article on new generation of robots

Jul. 28, 2011—Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering is featured in an article “Us. And them. Robots are being created that can think, act, and relate to humans. Are we ready?” that appeared in the August 2011 issue of National Geographic. [Other robots are making tentative forays into the treacherous terrain of human mental states and emotions. Nilanjan...

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International experts to attend Vanderbilt engineering conference on advances in cement-based materials

Jul. 21, 2011—The School of Engineering and the civil and environmental engineering department are hosts of the second annual conference of American Ceramic Society’s Cements Division and Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials July 24-26 at Vanderbilt University. Sponsors of the conference – Advances in Cement-Based Materials:  Characterization, Processing, Modeling and Sensing – include Vanderbilt’s Consortium for Risk...

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Adams joins editorial board of cognitive engineering journal

Jul. 18, 2011—Julie A. Adams, associate professor of computer science and computer engineering, has been invited to join the editorial board of the Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making, a publication of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. The editorial board sets the strategy, scope and direction for the journal. The Journal of Cognitive Engineering and...

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Steve Vilt Thesis Defense

Jul. 12, 2011—Graduate student Steve Vilt will defend his Ph.D thesis on August 2nd 2011 at 10 am in 135 Olin Hall.   Investigation of Interfacial Composition, Structure, and Topography on Tribometric Friction Future innovations in a wide range of fields, from telecommunications to biomedical devices, will further push the boundaries of miniaturization and create a greater...

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Vice Provost Dennis Hall: Space shuttle is costly but beneficial

Jul. 11, 2011—  “When our students choose to study science and engineering, the nation benefits, no matter whether they apply what they learn to the space program or to other interests that attract them along the way,” says Dennis G. Hall, vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School, professor of physics and professor of...

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Nashville airport’s main terminal named to honor engineering alum

Jul. 11, 2011—The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority on July 12 will celebrate the completion of the terminal’s phase II renovation and name the main terminal building in memory of Robert C. H. Mathews Jr., the former chairman of the MNAA Board of Commissioners. Mathews, who graduated from the Vanderbilt School of Engineering in 1951 with a degree...

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Biomedical engineer: Glowing parathyroid gland can reduce endocrine surgery risk

Jul. 1, 2011—The parathyroid glands – four small organs the size of grains of rice located at the back of the throat – glow with a natural fluorescence in the near infrared region of the spectrum. This unique fluorescent signature was discovered by a team of biomedical engineers and endocrine surgeons at Vanderbilt University, who have used...

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