SEAS Colonial Cable

Message from Dean David Dolling

Your input is particularly important. Nobody knows more about a SEAS education than you, and nobody better understands where it can lead and the success it can bring. You are uniquely qualified to offer advice, and uniquely positioned to help. There is a “Meet the Dean” event on September 26th, during Alumni Reunion Weekend, and I hope to meet many of you there. The event is from 5:00 – 6:30 pm in Room 405 of the Marvin Center. If you are unable to attend, however, and want to share your views, offer input, or suggest directions, I invite you to write me at dolling@gwu.edu.

Sincerely,

David S. Dolling, Ph.D.
Dean

News & Events

• Michael Plesniak Joins MAE as Department Chair
• National Public Radio Interviews Prof. Mittal
• Prof. Manzari Receives an NSF Grant
• Prof. Mittal Receives an NSF Grant
• Call for alumni volunteers
• New York Event: Dinner and Conversation with Daniel Libeskind on September 24, 2008
• Alumni Reunion Weekend: September 25-28, 2008
• Meet Dean Dolling Over Alumni Reunion Weekend
• GW Entrepreneurial Roundtable Event: October 6, 2008
• Passing of John Manning, SEAS BS '57, LAW JD '61

Michael Plesniak Joins MAE as Department Chair

Dr. Michael W. Plesniak joins GW ’s School of Engineering and Applied Science as professor and chairman of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, and B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Plesniak was formerly a professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University, the Eugene Kleiner Professor for Innovation in Mechanical Engineering at Polytechnic University of New York, and the director of the Fluid Dynamics and Hydraulics Program at the National Science Foundation (NSF).

He received the 2006 NSF Director’s Award for Collaborative Integration for his contributions to NSF’s cyberinfrastructure initiative. Plesniak has made significant contributions to education and research in the discipline of fluid dynamics. His specific contributions are in the field of turbulent flow physics for applications ranging from gas turbine cooling to biological flows. Current research interests include: bio fluid mechanics, turbulence transport and mixing enhancement, cavitation, three-dimensional boundary layers, gas turbine cooling, environmentally-benign consumer aerosol sprays, and entrainment control.

Plesniak is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, an Associate Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a member of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society.

National Public Radio Interviews Prof. Mittal

During its All Things Considered radio program aired on August 13th, National Public Radio interviewed Professor Rajat Mittal of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering about the fluid dynamics behind Olympic swimmers' kicks. In light of US swimmer Michael Phelps' quest during the Olympics for a record-breaking eight gold medals, National Public Radio was interested to find out more about what makes Phelps such a phenomenal swimmer. So, they contacted Mittal to learn more. Listen to the audio or read the transcript at National Public Radio.

Mittal was also interviewed for recent online articles in Popular Mechanics and Popular Science.

Prof. Manzari Receives an NSF Grant

Professor Majid Manzari of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has received a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation to support a research project, entitled "Multiscale Meshfree Analysis of Failure in Geostructures Founded on or Containing Liquefiable Soils."

The project aims at developing theoretical and computational methods that enable engineers to evaluate the seismic response and stability of civil infrastructure systems such as offshore structures, earthdams, and retaining structures that are founded on or contain liquefiable soils.

The award, which grants Professor Manzari nearly $235,000, is effective August 1, 2008.

Prof. Mittal Receives an NSF Grant

Professor Rajat Mittal of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has been awarded a three-year, $240,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to analyze the flight of butterflies in GW's Center for Biomimetics and Bioinspired Engineering (COBRE) lab. Ryan Vallance, an associate professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, is the co-principal investigator on the grant. The proposed research will involve a small team of senior researchers, graduate students and undergraduate students and will leverage the Insect Flight Analysis Laboratory of COBRE. The research plan involves a detailed investigation of the flight characteristics, wing design and aerodynamics of butterflies.

Why study insects? Mittal explains, "Insects are the undisputed champions of the micro-aerial world. Whereas insects such as dragonflies are extremely fast and agile, other insects such as butterflies are superb long distance travelers. For instance, the Painted Lady butterfly migrates over a distance of about 3,000 miles from Africa to England, and the Monarch butterfly is known to fly non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico. Furthermore, all insects are able to fly and maneuver with ease in highly gusty environments. So, whether it is scale-invariant design, flight agility, structural robustness, or energy efficiency, insects have much to teach us regarding the design of micro-aerial vehicle."

Call for Alumni Volunteers

There are many ways for SEAS alumni to get involved at GW. The Office of Alumni Relations provides a number of opportunities for lifelong engagement with the university, including volunteering for Engineering Alumni Association events and programming, Alumni Weekend, the Admissions and Parents Program, and the Career Advisor Network. If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact Erin Pitts at (202) 994-2355 or at epitts@gwu.edu.

Passing of John Manning, SEAS BS '57, LAW JD '61

John R. Manning, SEAS BS '57, LAW JD '61, a retired NASA employee, GW Alumni Association board member, and GW Trustee Emeritus, passed away on Saturday, August 16. Manning was a very active volunteer leader, serving on a number of advisory boards at GW, including GW’s Engineer Alumni Association, the GW Alumni Association (president 1984-1988), and the University’s Board of Trustees. He also volunteered at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., and the Boy Scouts of America, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. John Manning will be missed by his friends here at SEAS and GW.

Upcoming SEAS Events

GW's Real Estate Alliance Dinner and Conversation with Daniel Libeskind

The Luther Rice Society's GW Real Estate Alliance invites you to dinner and a conversation with Daniel Libeskind, architect behind the re-design of the World Trade Center. An international figure in architectural practice and urban design, Libeskind won the World Trade Center design competition in February 2003 and was appointed as master plan architect for the site. The Memory Foundations is now under construction.

This event is targeted towards members of the real estate, construction and design industries. Members of the Luther Rice Society* are invited to receive two complimentary tickets to this event. Space is limited and advanced registration is required.

GW Real Estate Alliance (GWREA) is a network of alumni and friends in the real estate industry and related fields. It provides professional development and networking opportunities for its membership and serves as a vital link between the university, students, and the vast field of real estate.

*Luther Rice Society Members include alumni and friends of the university who make annual gifts of $1,000 or more ($250 or more for graduates within the last 5 years and $500 or more for alumni 6-9 years after graduation). Benefits include exclusive access to your alma mater, specialized networking technology and entry to select events that bring you face to face with university leaders and fellow prominent alumni. For more information about the Luther Rice Society, or to join, please visit www.lutherrice.gwu.edu or e-mail LRS@gwu.edu.

Please click here for more information or to register.

Alumni Reunion Weekend: September 25-28, 2008

Registration is now live!

Alumni Weekend 2008 is full of events - over 80 events, in fact! Here are some highlights:

• Class Reunion Celebrations
• Peter Yarrow Concert
• F Street Soiree
• Conversation with actress Kerry Washington, BA '98
• Back to Thurston! Back to HOVA!
• The Kalb Report
• Gender and the Presidential Primary: A Panel Discussion
• Mediterranean Wine Tasting
• Family Barbeque and Carnival
• Screening of The Matador
• Sustainability and Climate Change Panel Discussion
• Orioles vs. Blue Jays Baseball Game
• "Sunday Morning Show" Election Brunch
• Greek Reunion

Check out all of the events on the Alumni Weekend registration page or the Alumni Weekend website!

Please contact Stephanie Medwid, associate director of classes and reunions, at reunion@gwu.edu or 1-800-ALUMNI-7, with questions.

Meet the Dean: A Reception to Welcome David Dolling, the New Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science

Please join your fellow alumni and friends for a cocktails and hors d’oeuvres reception in honor of the new dean of SEAS, David S. Dolling, PhD.

Dr. Dolling comes to GW from the University of Texas, Austin, which is ranked fifth among public university engineering schools and 11th overall by U.S. News & World Report, where he was the associate dean for academic affairs, Joe C. Walter, Jr. Chair in Engineering, and professor of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics at the Cockrell School of Engineering. He is a fellow of both the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the United Kingdom's Royal Aeronautical Society. Additionally, he is currently the principal investigator on a five-year, $5-million program sponsored by the U.S. Air Force on scramjet propulsion technologies. Earlier in his career, he developed the high-speed wind tunnel laboratory at Pickle Research Center at the University of Texas and built an internationally recognized research program in experimental gas dynamics.

Dr. Dolling graduated from London University with an undergraduate degree in aeronautical engineering in 1971. He received a NATO scholarship and spent three years at the Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics in Brussels, Belgium. In 1977, Dr. Dolling earned his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from London University. He was invited to join the University of Texas faculty in 1983 after six years at Princeton University as a researcher and lecturer.

This event is free and open to all alumni, faculty and friends of GW. Click here for more information and to RSVP your attendance.

Second Annual GW Entrepreneurs Roundtable and Award for Distinguished Entrepreneurial Achievement

You are cordially invited to an event that will celebrate entrepreneurship at GW and honor Asghar Mostafa, B.S. ’81, M.S. ’82, with the 2nd annual Award for Distinguished Entrepreneurial Achievement.

The celebration will also include an address from President Knapp on his vision of entrepreneurship and research at GW, an address from Mr. Mostafa, and a panel of GW Entrepreneurs sharing their experiences.

AGENDA

3:30               Registration opens
4:00               Welcome from the deans
4:15               Panel of Alumni Entrepreneurs, followed by Q & A
5:30               President Knapp presents Entrepreneurship Award
                       Acceptance and reflections on being an entrepreneur by Ashgar Mostafa
6:00-7:00     Closing and Networking Reception

Please click here for more information or to register.

This event is sponsored by The George Washington Entrepreneurs Round Table (GWERT), the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the GW School of Business.

Archives: SEAS Colonial Cable

SEAS Colonial Cables from the 2007-2008 Academic Year

SEAS Colonial Cables from the 2006-2007 Academic Year

SEAS Colonial Cables from the 2005-2006 Academic Year

• August 2008