Author Archives: brianmattmiller

Science Olympiad Rocks Madison

Posted on May 27, 2011 by brianmattmiller

More than 6,000 future scientists and engineers soaked up the UW-Madison experience last weekend during National Science Olympiad. The four-day odyssey included scores of specialized science workshops, a Wisconsin Showcase at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, a root-beer and brat bash on the Terrace, a UW Marching Band gig at the Kohl Center, and a midnight party at Union South. Oh, yeah … also a ton of competitive science on the engineering campus. The above video was produced by videographer David Nevala, with music from the Youngblood Brass Band.

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Company Support Strengthens Steel Bridge Team

Posted on April 15, 2011 by brianmattmiller

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zyNv3SyNr0]

It takes many hours of work to be ready to put together a bridge in minutes. The UW-Madison Steel Bridge Team designs, fabricates and tests a small bridge that members then assemble at a competition every spring. Waunakee-based Endres Manufacturing has helped them make it happen for the past 10 years.

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National Science Olympiad Comes to Madison

Posted on March 8, 2011 by brianmattmiller


More than 6,000 students, educators and parents from around the country will visit the University of Wisconsin-Madison May 18-21, 2011, for the 27th annual Science Olympiad National Tournament, one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious competitions of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The UW-Madison Engineering Campus will be in center stage for the tournament, as well as the two latest campus jewels: the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery and the new Union South.

Please consider getting involved in this landmark event, either by attending or volunteering. More than a dozen spectator events will be part of the 2011 competition, including a new “Sumo Bots” robotics exhibition. Science Olympiad is a great opportunity to introduce children to the diversity of science and engineering. Read the full story here.

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Three Engineering Alums Named to WAA’s ‘Forward Under 40′

Posted on March 7, 2011 by brianmattmiller

Three of the 13 UW-Madison alumni recognized in the 2011 “Forward Under 40″ awards, which recognize early-career achievement, are Badger engineers. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, “Forward Under 40” shines a light on alumni who are making a difference both professionally and in the lives of others. Included in this year’s winners are 1997 Chemical and Biological Engineering alumnus Dalia Mogahed, a Senior Analyst and Executive Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies; 1996 Mechanical Engineering alumnus Anthony Eggert, the Deputy Secretary for Energy Policy at the California EPA; and 2009 Master of Engineering Professional Practice alumnus Rudy Quiles, a Civilian Affairs Officer with the United States Marine Corps.

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Field Reports: Eyleen Chou’s Calling to Haiti

Posted on February 21, 2011 by brianmattmiller

Eyleen Chou with a friend in Haiti, January 2010

As 2009-10 president of the UW-Madison chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Eyleen Chou knew the importance of tackling projects that bring lasting and sustainable impact to developing countries. It turns out that EWB’s “lasting impact” extends to her own career. The 2010 mechanical engineering graduate is back to work in Haiti, the country of focus for her EWB efforts, as a graduate fellow in the program Meds & Foods for Kids. Her work is bringing life-saving help to malnourished children in a country still reeling from the 2010 earthquake. (more…)

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Medical, Aviation Ideas Triumph at 2011 Innovation Days

Posted on February 11, 2011 by brianmattmiller

From more effective life-saving stents to more efficient controls for small aircraft, UW-Madison engineering students put their ingenuity on display at the 2011 Innovation Days, which just concluded with the announcement of winners of more than $27,000 in prizes. An idea for an electronically controlled arterial stent that can be deployed more precisely by surgeons won the $10,000 Schoofs Prize for Creativity. An idea for a flight training instrument that better simulates airplane balance and control for pilots won the $2,500 Tong Prototype Prize. Read more about all of today’s winners.

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Field Reports: Mark Scheuer on Engineering an American Dream

Posted on February 10, 2011 by brianmattmiller

Mark Scheuer, CEO of PS Engineering in Knoxville, Tenn.

Mark Scheuer, a 1982 graduate of electrical and computer engineering, has turned a lifelong fascination with electronics into a dream company building audio control systems for the aerospace industry. Yet it was hardly a straight path from tinkering in a basement workshop to a degree in electrical engineering. Scheuer is sharing his story of overcoming academic challenges in the hopes it will push young people in similar circumstances to follow their dreams. (more…)

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Field Reports: Matt Younkle of murfie.com in Madison

Posted on January 31, 2011 by brianmattmiller

TurboTap Founder Matt Younkle

With 2011 Innovation Days right around the corner, we decided to catch up with one of the early champions of the competition: Matt Younkle (ECE, ‘97). Younkle parlayed his success in the 1996 Schoofs Prize into the highly successful TurboTap, a fast-pouring beer dispenser used in sports stadiums across the globe. Today, he’s launching a new venture called murfie.com. Younkle is writing the first installment of Field Reports, which will feature first-person accounts from UW-Madison engineering alums. (more…)

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President Obama Honors Professor Doug Henderson

Posted on January 25, 2011 by brianmattmiller

President Barack Obama has recognized UW-Madison engineering physics professor Douglass Henderson as one of 15 recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, Engineering Mentoring, the highest federal award for mentoring in the country. Henderson is being honored for his significant contributions to mentoring pre-college, undergraduate and graduate students and young faculty—particularly underrepresented minorities—in engineering and the sciences. Henderson will join President Obama at a White House ceremony this Thursday.

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Clean Vehicle Researchers Get New Wheels: A Ford F150

Posted on January 11, 2011 by brianmattmiller

A Monroe steel manufacturer is helping UW-Madison advance clean vehicle technology with a new Ford F-150 pickup truck that will be transformed into an experimental electric vehicle.

Engineers at Orchid International in Monroe will work with a team of graduate students and professors in electrical and computer engineering to convert the truck.

Read the full story by the Wisconsin State Journal and our original news release.

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