News from LSU Engineering
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LSU Researchers Create Low-Cost Method to Recycle Plastic
LSU researchers have created a new, low-cost way to break down plastic, a potential breakthrough that could save billions of dollars and eliminate billions of tons of plastic pollution.
CEE's Mohammad Appointed to Editorship of ASCE Publication
LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Louay Mohammad has been selected to serve as co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering (JMCE), a publication of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
LSU Construction Management Professor Developing Occupant-Centric Energy Management System
Thermostat wars are not just limited to the home; they are also common in office environments and can result in negative outcomes like adversely affecting worker productivity and driving up energy costs unnecessarily.
LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Develops Software to Protect Offshore Windfarms
In July 2023, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that it would hold the first-ever offshore wind energy lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. Since then, renewable energy companies have expressed interest in wind farming, with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management finalizing four Wind Energy Areas that could produce enough clean, renewable energy to power more than 3 million homes. However, with this rapid growth comes challenges, such as protecting these wind farms from hurricanes.
Wei Named Chair of Division of Electrical and Computer Engineering
The College of Engineering has named Shuangqing Wei as the new chair of the Division of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). Wei currently holds the Michel B. Voorhies Distinguished Professorship in the division.
National Academy of Inventors Selects Gartia as Fellow
Associate Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Manas Ranjan Gartia has been Manas Ranjan Gartiaelected a fellow to the National Academy of Inventors, or NAI. He is one of 170 newly elected fellows.
LSU Computer Science Honors Alumnus Mohit 'Mo' Vij
The LSU Division of Computer Science and Engineering recently honored alumnus Mohit "Mo" Vij with its 2024 Hall of Distinction Eye of the Tiger Innovator Award for his "visionary leadership, groundbreaking innovation, and enduring contributions to the field of computer science and engineering." It was also noted that his achievements embody the "strength, resilience, and excellence of LSU's Tiger Spirit."
Forest's Paper on Process Safety Still the Best 10 Years Later
In 2015, LSU Chemical Engineering Adjunct Lecturer Jerry Forest's paper on conduct of operations, "Walk the Line," was published in peer-reviewed journal Process Safety Progress. That same year, it won Best Paper at the Process Plant Safety Symposium (PPSS) of the Global Congress on Process Safety (GCPS). Both of these honors came on the heels of "Walk the Line" winning the American Chemistry Council's Responsible Care Initiative of the Year honor in 2014.
LSU Industrial Engineering Junior Interns With Textron Systems
LSU Industrial Engineering junior Abby Lobell enjoys analyzing the bigger picture--how systems, people, and processes interact--and finding innovative ways to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. In fact, she enjoys it so much that she spent her summer gaining experience in these areas as part of an internship with Textron Systems in New Orleans.
LSU BAE Professor, Team Work to Create Eyedrop for Retinoblastoma Treatment
Retinoblastoma is a rare, malignant tumor in the retina that mostly affects children under the age of 5 and can lead to blindness or even death if not treated. Since many patients are unable to access current treatments that include chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, LSU Biological and Agricultural Engineering Assistant Professor Qi Cai and a team of LSU researchers are creating an eyedrop gel that will be more accessible to retinoblastoma patients, thanks to a $75,000 Provost Award grant.
LSU Civil, Environmental Engineering Professor Assesses Impact of Sulphur Mines Salt Dome Cavern Collapse on Well Water
The Gulf Coast is home to more than 500 salt domes, and at least 200 of those are located in Louisiana. While salt domes and their caverns can be beneficial, such as being used to hold petroleum reserves, they can also be a possible hazard should the caverns collapse. The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (LDENR) currently has its eye on two caverns in Sulphur, La., and have awarded a $156,602 grant to LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Frank Tsai to assess the impact a collapse would have on well water in the area.
Meet the LSU Cybersecurity Student Whose Work CISA Calls “Staggering”
Last week, LSU cybersecurity graduate student George Buras from Baton Rouge received a shoutout from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, for the “Staggering!” impact his work, and the work of other interns, is having on the nation. Here, Buras explains what he’s working on, and why.
LSU, PNNL Research Team Study Microplastics in the Atmosphere
Microplastics are sub-millimeter-sized plastic fragments, similar to or smaller than the thickness of a human hair, that present a relatively new and increasingly prevalent type of environmental pollutant. In fact, they have been widely detected in the air we breathe and at altitudes where clouds form.
LSU Engineering, Chance Maritime Collaborate on Uncrewed Underwater Research
In an old quarry near Lafayette, La., an uncrewed boat is dropping a remote-controlled robot down to the bottom of a lakebed before retrieving it and returning to shore. If a passerby stumbled upon this scene, he or she might think it was something out of a spy movie. Instead, it's a cutting-edge project that shows how advanced robotic systems can help monitor and protect marine environments, as well as inspect and maintain offshore infrastructure.
LSU Computer Science Senior Conquers School, Raising Four Kids
Though Baton Rouge native Malana Fuentes grew up with the cards stacked against her, she has come out on the other side, hoping to inspire younger generations, including her own kids, that they can do it all if they want it badly enough.
LSU Computer Science Division Adds World-Class Faculty
Over the course of the last year, the LSU Division of Computer Science (CS) and Engineering has bolstered its faculty ranks with nearly a dozen talented academics and researchers with a wide breadth of expertise. It's a development indicative of a rapidly-growing major in the College of Engineering and a priority area for the university as a whole.
LSU’s Calcea Johnson Publishes Groundbreaking Research in The American Mathematical Monthly
Calcea Johnson, an LSU environmental engineering sophomore, has achieved a milestone few undergraduates reach: publication in The American Mathematical Monthly, one of the field’s most respected journals.
LSU Researchers Develop Groundbreaking Cancer-Detecting Device
LSU researchers have developed a device capable of detecting cancerous tissues during surgery with unprecedented speed and accuracy. This technology could significantly reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence and improve patient survival rates globally.
The Future of ADHD Treatment? LSU’s VR Research Aims to Help Students Focus and Succeed
Thousands of children in Louisiana struggle with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, which can interfere with their schoolwork and daily lives. Louisiana ranks among the states with the highest number of ADHD diagnoses. For many families, treatment can be expensive, frustrating, and overwhelming for their parents.
LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Bivins, Team Researching Faster Wetland Restoration Methods
It's not news that Louisiana wetlands are disappearing at an astounding rate--nearly 30 square miles annually, per the U.S. Geological Survey. With every acre lost of the three million acres that make up the state's wetland ecosystem, also lost are species and habitats that are unique to the state and provide protection from hurricanes and flooding.
Third Annual GeauxHack: Hackathon to be Held Nov. 1-3
For the third year, the LSU Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) and LSU Computer Science will welcome college and high school students to campus for the annual GeauxHack: Hackathon event. Over the course of three days, from Nov. 1-Nov. 3, participants will engage in programming, pitching, and playing and be tasked with creating an application that addresses a themed prompt.
LSU Chemical Engineering Professor, Team Working to Improve Semiconductor Manufacturing Process
Computer chips are virtually as essential to our daily lives as food, water, and air. They're in everything from automobiles to smartphones, and yet there exists technological and manufacturing bottlenecks that continue to plague their production and improvement.
New LSU Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building Aims to Elevate Louisiana’s Economy
LSU marked the final day of President William F. Tate IV’s statewide bus tour by announcing the vision for a new $107 million Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building and a $15 million leadership gift from Art Favre, founder of Performance Contractors and a graduate of the first LSU construction management class in 1972.
LSU ChE PhD Student's Paper Published on CO2 Reduction
Monsuru Dauda, a third-year Ph.D. student in the LSU Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, has had a very busy 2024. He's co-authored five research conference papers and been lead author on another two, the most recent being published in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society. This latest publication brings his total for the year to seven.
LSU Student Team’s FarmSmart App Helps Farmers Manage Crops, Weeds With AI
LSU students and alumni have created a new, AI-powered tool called FarmSmart that puts decades of LSU AgCenter research right under the green thumbs of Louisiana’s farmers. With a few clicks on their smartphones or computers, farmers and gardeners can quickly access actionable intelligence on how to best manage their crops and get rid of weeds.