Lichtenberger Engineering Library

From Bits To Atoms And Back-3D Printing

Ann Khan — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:00:25 +0000

http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/news/virtually-real.

Still far from the Star Trek replicator materializing objects and edibles at voice command 3-D printing is becoming more and more accessible to the individual. There are 3-D shops materializing around the country giving access to self doers and professionals that can make anywhere from cups to machines. “This online ‘universe of things’ consists in a repository of mostly open and free digital designs for physical objects, i.e, models that can be downloaded and then materialized using fabrication tools such as 3D printers…As of mid 2011, ‘Thingiverse’ contained over 8000 models ( contributed both by highly skilled designers and beginners, some of which are children and adolescents) and included a bit of everything from kitchenware, toys, and jewelry to machine parts, electronics, architectural models and eye glass frames.” The technology has been mature for quite some time but this democratization of manufacturing started around 2007 with a cultural trend towards Do-It-Yourself (DIY) movement with high tech manufacturing capability.

You might find interesting these articles for further information: The New York Times article 3D Printers May Eclipse Tradition for Designers by Alice Tawsthorn June 9, 2013 and The Rise of Personal Fabrication by Catarina Mota

Wind turbines withstand tornado and power down energy prices

Ann Khan — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:44:04 +0000

Wind turbines withstand tornado with nearly 300-mph winds, June 6, 2013
http://aweablog.org/blog/post/wind-turbines-withstand-tornado-with-nearly-300mph-winds

Wind Energy Industry: Turbines Power Down Energy Prices

September 26, 2012

DES MOINES, Iowa – Home and business energy costs have been falling in the Midwest – and the wind industry is claiming partial credit. While it’s a win for consumers, says Bob Fagen, a senior associate at Synapse Energy Economics, other energy sectors aren’t pleased, and that’s why they’ve begun a campaign to try to derail renewal of the wind-production tax credit, which is pending in Congress. “When the wind is built and is available, it runs. When it runs, that generally means that natural gas-fired or coal-fired plants do not run. So, it puts downward pressure on prices.” Iowa’s wind-power production is at more than 4,500 megawatts – enough for about 1.1 million homes. The production tax credit has been in place for about 20 years, and has seen bipartisan support, although this year it’s being debated on the campaign trail. Fagen says the wind-production tax credit isn’t a loan or a “freebie” because there is no benefit until after production happens – and that means manufacturing jobs. “The real issue is that wind is a clean, inexpensive energy resource – homegrown – and it makes a ton of sense to continue to promote the wind industry.” Exelon Corp. is urging that the credit be discontinued, saying government funding should go to research and not production of components.

Richard Alan, Public News Service – IA From the IWEA News/Updates

Engineering Jobs how to

Ann Khan — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:23:43 +0000

The 1937 resume yearbooks were so successful the entire College of Engineering adopted the scheme the following year. Simply titled Senior Class of 1938, College of Engineering, the small book—it could almost fit into a shirt pocket—began with a brief “Dear Sir” letter from Ralph M. Barnes, Director of Personnel. The purpose of the “plan,” Barnes said, was to “better acquaint employers with our senior students.” The College provided copies to faculty members and graduating seniors, and then forwarded the rest to “those industries and organizations, which we think will be interested.”

http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/news/career-lifelines-engineering-seniors

On June 4th a different type of networking lecture is to be presented:

http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/news/linkedin-evangelist-hill-present-june-4-seminars-building-professional-relationships

Happy Birthday Ellen Ochoa Director Johnson Space Center.

Ann Khan — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:59:54 +0000

Ellen Lauri Ochoa is a former astronaut and current Director of the Johnson Space Center. Ochoa became director of the center upon retirement of the current director, Michael Coats, on December 31, 2012. She was born May 10th, 1958 in Los Angeles and educated at Stanford University. For more in depth information check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Ochoa.

Engineering Library resources on flight: http://ow.ly/kTQ6I

Extended hours, Free Coffee, Interim!

Ann Khan — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:06:18 +0000

Final Week Hours. Open till Midnight! starting Sun, 2:00 pm-Midnight. Mon, May 13- Thurs, May 16 8:30- Midnight. Fri, May 17: 8:30 am-5 pm….Closed May 18th & 19th.

Free Coffee and Hot Chocolate. Mon, May 13-Thurs, May 16th- 8:30 am- Midnight. Fri, May 17: 8:30-5 pm. Until supplies last

Summer Break Hours: May 20-June 10, 2013–Mon-Fri 8:30-noon. 1:00-5:00. Saturday and Sunday Closed. Regular hours resume June 11.

Zipper Day–the mechanical wonder!

Ann Khan — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:15:51 +0000

“It was a long way up for the humble zipper, the mechanical wonder that has kept so much in our lives ‘together.’ On its way up the zipper has passed through the hands of several dedicated inventors, none convinced the general public to accept the zipper as part of everyday costume. The magazine and fashion industry made the novel zipper the popular item it is today, but it happened nearly eighty years after the zipper’s first appearance.” Check out the History of the Zipper at http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa082497.htm. At this website you can check out the pictures of the inventors.

Patents

Ann Khan — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:03:52 +0000

No one has received more U.S. patents than Thomas Edison – 1,093 to be exact. http://ow.ly/kx1Vs

It’s Earth Day!

Ann Khan — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:58:09 +0000

http://www.earthday.org/blog/2013/04/22/its-earth-day

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/earth-day-2013-to-celebrate-google-doodle-puts-the-power-of-nature-at-your-fingertips/2013/04/22/3259c822-ab40-11e2-b6fd-ba6f5f26d70e_blog.html

http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2262944/Earth-Day-2013-Google-Doodle-Control-the-Weather-in-Interactive-Logo

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=BUOQ_yPW_0s

Open Access

Ann Khan — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:15:45 +0000

Open access is an electronic publishing model that allows free and immediate access to research, and also allows authors to retain intellectual property rights to their research. Many open access journals charge authors publication fees, which can be a barrier to publishing in such venues.

To help offset the cost of publishing in open access journals the Office of the Provost and University Libraries have established a small fund to assist with authors’ fees.

Researchers may apply for funding to be applied toward publication fees up to:

- $3,000.00 for publication in full open access journals that allow immediate, free access to all their articles upon publication (check the Directory of Open Access Journals: http://www.doaj.org/ for titles that qualify).- $1,500.00 for publication in “hybrid” open access journals. These are subscription-based journals that allow open access only to articles for which author open access fees have been paid (check Sherpa/RoMEO’s list of Publishers with Paid Open Access Options: http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/PaidOA.html).

Funding is not available to researchers with grant funding that could be used to pay open access fees.

For more information and an application form, go to: http://guides.lib.uiowa.edu/OAfund

Questions about the process may be directed to Mike Wright, Interim Associate University Librarian, Collections and Scholarly Communication (michael-wright@uiowa.edu).

National Library Week

Ann Khan — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:43:43 +0000

Celebrate National Library Week, April 14-20, 2013, with Honorary Chair Caroline Kennedy.

Communities matter @ your library

Every day across the country, libraries open their doors to everyone: students, parents, seniors, teachers, writers, artists, job seekers, entrepreneurs, readers, gamers, movie lovers and travel buffs.

Head to your library during National Library Week to see what’s new and take part in the celebration. Libraries across the country are participating.

Just in time for National Poetry Month and National Library Week: Check out Poetry Beats Studio, an interactive studio designed for students, educators and poetry lovers, where they can explore the rhythm and sound of spoken word. Poetry Beats Studio is in support of Caroline Kennedy’s new book, Poems to Learn by Heart.