Conference Session

Recruitment and Retention Matters in Engineering Technology

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gene L. Harding, Purdue University, Statewide Technology; Michael D. Sanders, Purdue University, Statewide Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

AC 2012-4160: PROJECT LEAD THE WAY CONFERENCE FOR RECRUIT-ING: A SMALL-CAMPUS OUTREACH TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STU-DENTSProf. Gene L. Harding, Purdue University, Statewide Technology Gene L. Harding is an Associate Professor of electrical and computer engineering technology at Purdue University, where he has taught for nine years. He has three years of industrial experience with Agilent Technologies and more than 26 years of combined active and reserve service in the U.S. Air Force.Mr. Michael D. Sanders, Purdue University, Statewide Technology Michael D. Sanders’s career in higher education spans nearly 30 years, 22 of which were spent working for Purdue University in various positions. Sanders also served as Assistant

Conference Session

Interdisciplinary Education in Engineering Technology

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Barbara L Christe, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Steven J. Yelton P.E., Cincinnati State Technical and Community College; Roger Bowles, Texas State Technical College, Waco

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

Education, 2012 Healthcare Technology Management: Changing the Name of the Field to Improve AwarenessIntroductionEngineering technology education falls into several discipline-specific areas including electrical,mechanical and construction divisions. In addition to these areas, many institutions offeracademic programs designed to train engineering technicians to work in the clinical setting,supporting the safe and effective use of medical equipment. The title of this specialty varieswidely, including biomedical engineering technology, biomedical equipment technology, clinicalengineering, and bioengineering technology (used by ABET). The lack of a unifying namediminishes career awareness, frustrates educators

Conference Session

Computer and Informtion Technology-related Issues

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Suranjan Panigrahi, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Ken Burbank, Purdue University, Statewide Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

facilities, student life, career placement activities etc.), thatprovides a positive impact for the graduate program.c. Financial aid and the cost of the graduate study: Financial support is an importantfactor for incoming graduate students. Graduate students have a variety of financialneeds. A fresh graduate from Engineering Technology will look for tuition cost andadditional stipend or financial support. For a domestic graduate in EngineeringTechnology with interests in graduate study, but with a job offer in hand, the amountand duration of the financial aid becomes a critical decision making parameter. Many ofthe international students look for tuition aid (at least) and preferably, additional supportbeyond tuition aid. With the current economic

Conference Session

Engineering Technology Curriculum Issues

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mark Henry Clark, Oregon Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

AC 2012-3462: LEGITIMIZING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY EDU-CATION: WINSTON PURVINE, OIT, AND THE ROLE OF THE ASEE,1946-1991.Dr. Mark Henry Clark, Oregon Institute of Technology After receiving a B.S. in mechanical engineering at Rice University in 1984, Mark Henry Clark decided to pursue a career in the history of technology, earning a Ph.D. in the subject at the University of Delaware in 1992. Since 1996, he has been professor of history at the Oregon Institute of Technology. He has also been a visiting faculty member at the University of Aarhus and the Technical University of Denmark. Page 25.888.1

Conference Session

Green Renewable Energy and Engineering Technology

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Saeed D. Foroudastan, Middle Tennessee State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

and 17 years of academic experience as a professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor. Foroudastan’s academic experience includes teaching at Tennessee Technological University and Middle Tennessee State University in the areas of civil engineering, me- chanical engineering, and engineering technology. He has actively advised undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, and minority students in academics and career guidance. Foroudastan has also served as Faculty Advisor for SAE, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Pre-engineering, ASME, Experimental Vehicles Program (EVP), and Tau Alpha Pi Honors Society. In addition to Foroudastan’s teaching experi- ence, he also has performed extensive research and

Conference Session

Robotics and Automation

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yonghui Wang, Prairie View A&M University; Yubin Lan, USDA ARS; Jian-ao Lian, Prairie View A&M University; Suxia Cui, Prairie View A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

skills training, to enable ET students to solve production and systemimplementation problems and help them explain solutions. Therefore, to prepare the students tomeet the industry requirements in the job market, it is urgent to update the educationalcurriculum along with technology trend in the ET program.To better fulfill the departmental primary purpose to prepare students for a successfulprofessional career in diversified technology fields, in the current phase of the project, an specialtopic class is offered to the Engineering Technology students. The course is featured withgeneral introduction of agricultural robotics, theory and technology behind motion robotics, andhands-on experience with motion robotics. This paper introduces the

Conference Session

Innovative Curriculum in Engineering Technology

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Daphene C. Koch Ph.D., Purdue University, West Lafayette; Mary E. Johnson, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

Purdue in 2007, she was an Assistant Professor of industrial engineering at Texas A&M University, Com- merce. From 1990 to 2004, she held positions of increasing responsibility at the Automation & Robotics Research Institute in Fort Worth, Texas, and left as Program Manager. She also has more than five years working in an aerospace company in addition to working on funded projects in aerospace throughout her career at ARRI. Her research interests are process modeling and improvement, emissions testing and analysis for alternative fuels, and increasing the interest of young people in careers in sTEm. She holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in industrial engineering from the University of Texas, Arlington

Conference Session

Engineering Technology Futuristic Planning

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Scott Danielson P.E., Arizona State University, Polytechnic; Thomas Perry P.E., American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Allan T. Kirkpatrick P.E., Colorado State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

areas, skills and abilities needed for mechanical engineering (ME) and mechanical Page 25.210.2engineering technology (MET) graduates to be successful in a global economy, including smalland large companies. Focusing on these key skills, extensive follow-on surveys were developedand conducted in 2009 and 2010 of three key stakeholder groups in ME and MET (departmentheads, industry supervisors, and early career engineers ) to assess the strengths and weaknessesof mechanical engineering education graduates. Responses were received from academic leadersat more than 80 institutions, from more than 1,400 engineering managers, and more than 600early

Conference Session

Factors Affecting Student Performance

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jessica R. McCormick, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Eugenia Fernandez, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Danny King, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

note that not all probationary students begin their college careers with an at-risklabel6. Simon includes that some well-prepared students attain a probationary status, whereassome who have financial, personal and work responsibilities are high achievers7. Even studentswith stellar standardized test scores and high school ranks sometimes end up on academicprobation6.Probation students are at higher risk of academic failure and dismissal from the university.According to Trombley, many factors have been cited as contributing to college students beingplaced on probation such as the need to work, lack of social proficiency, and uncertain goals8.Trombley found that a greater number of probation students reported that they worked comparedto students

Conference Session

Factors Affecting Student Performance

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Karen J. Horton P.E., University of Maine

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

study, “The Engineer of2020,” emphasizes the need for engineers to have professional skills including strongcommunication skills, leadership skills, and the ability to make good decisions, a strong moralcompass, ethics, and cultural awareness. 3Employers of UMaine MET graduates value the same skills. In 2001 the MET programresponded to employer expectations by developing a new course, MET 100 Introduction toMechanical Engineering Technology. This course gives first semester students opportunities tolearn teamwork and professionalism skills they can apply in internships and in their careers. Theprogram also increased the number of individual and team project-based curriculum elementsmimicking professional tasks. For example, students in the

Conference Session

Topics Related to Electrical Engineering Technology

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jay R. Porter, Texas A&M University; Ben Behbood Zoghi, Texas A&M University; Joseph A. Morgan, Texas A&M University; Wei Zhan, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

, and electronics testing.Telecommunications graduates performed similar functions, but specifically for traditionaltelephone service providers. Since then, there has been an evolving shift in the career paths ofElectronics and Telecommunications graduates. Today, even though the graduates take positionsworking for small to large companies that span a broad range of market sectors includingautomotive, medical, oil and gas, quality of life, telecommunications, and semiconductormanufacturing; one can see a common thread in their duties and responsibilities. Most studentsare hired to support one or more aspects of electronic product and system development. To a large degree, this can be attributed to the dramatic change in the faculty

Conference Session

ETD Design II

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John L. Irwin, Michigan Technological University; David Wanless, Michigan Technological University; Paul Sanders, Michigan Technological University; Scott W. Wagner, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

from 2002-2006. He is experienced in industry as well as the teaching profession with a career spanning five years in engineering design, several years part time consulting in industry, and 24 total years of teach- ing first high school, then community college and presently university-level courses in the engineering technology subject area. Irwin has a research focus on evaluation of teaching and learning in the area of computer aided design, analysis, and manufacturing subjects introduced in the STEM related courses in K-16 educational levels. From 2009-2010, Irwin served as PI for a Michigan Department of Educa- tion Title II Improving Teacher Quality grant targeting grade 5-12 physics and chemistry teachers’ use of

Conference Session

Innovative Curriculum in Engineering Technology

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Pamela S. Frinzi, Southern Polytechnic State University; Scott Larisch, Southern Polytechnic College of Engr and Engr Tech

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

and vision totransform the future.SPSU is a place where students are educated for life and for leadership in anincreasingly technological world. We prepare our students for their very first jobafter graduation, with the skills that make them highly marketable and successful.We feel it is just as important that our education also prepares students for the lastjob in their careers. Thus, our courses and programs are structured to enable menand women to adapt, grow, and continue to learn over the years, developing theleadership skills needed to implement the vision of a technological future.Students at SPSU learn skills beyond the essential technological and scientificknowledge that qualifies our graduates to contribute to some of the

Conference Session

Student Learning and Teamwork

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Martin John Wagner, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Barbara L Christe, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Eugenia Fernandez, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

Rapids, Michigan.”(p. v) “The study showed that there was no set of variables that was able to accurately predictacademic success or retention.” (p. 94) This research could suggest the exploration of non-intellective data collection for future evaluation.The research from Kokkelenberg and Sinha7 also suggested the importance of non-intellectivefactors. “There are several issues that remain untested, issues that may be important. Theseinclude the early life experiences of a student, the effect of peers, and the career outlook.” (p.944) Kokkelenberg and Sinha concentrated on students that are successful in STEMundergraduate studies. They “postulate that success in a STEM field, success here defined asdeclaring STEM as a major and graduating from a

Conference Session

Interdisciplinary Education in Engineering Technology

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Huiru Shih P.E., Jackson State University; Gordon W. Skelton, Jackson State University; Pao-Chiang Yuan, Jackson State University; Jessica Buck Ph.D., Jackson State University; Britney M. Williams, Jackson State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

undergraduate tuition/stipend scholarships to be spent over a three-year period. In thewinter of 2010, the EMT program received approval from JSU’s curriculum committee. TheEMT curriculum has been designed to satisfy the general criteria of the Association ofTechnology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE). The Technology Departmentwill continue to track metrics to evaluate program benefits.In September 2011, JSU’s Technology Department received another grant from DHS, through itsScience, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Career Development Grants program. Thisgrant will enable JSU to award scholarships to more undergraduate students who demonstratecareer interest in Homeland Security. The mission of this Career Development program is

Conference Session

Capstone Projects and Experiential Learning

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Wei Zhan, Texas A&M University; Ana Elisa P. Goulart, Texas A&M University; Joseph A. Morgan, Texas A&M University; Matt Allen Bird, Maxim Integrated Products; Stephen Peck

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

potential customers to meet theirdeadline for capstone projects and deadline for the externally funded research. Software,hardware, interface, system integration, and testing all involved other researchers instead of justthe capstone team. This created new challenges in terms of team work, communication,documentation, scheduling, and many other aspects of project management. In a sense, thesekinds of projects resemble larger scale projects in industry.The importance of undergraduate research has been studied by many scholars over the past twodecades6,9,13,16,18,25,29,30,32. The benefits of undergraduate research include its impact on astudents’ decision to pursue a graduate degree and a career in the science, technology,engineering, and mathematics

Conference Session

TAC/ABET-related Outcome-based Assessment Methods and Models

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Clark D. Shaver P.E., Pittsburg State University; James A. Lookadoo P.E., Pittsburg State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

data in this manner, one corrective action would be to add into the curriculumreinforcement activities in upper division courses. The IEEE-SME exam had a better correlationto GPA than did the core exam by a factor of four. The IEEE-SME correlated relatively wellwith both the core exam and with student GPA.One major issue with both exams is response time in implementing corrective actions. Anassessment at the end of a student’s undergraduate career or as in the case presented in thispaper, in the middle and at the end of a colligate career, means that corrections to a course maytake two years or even longer. Reduction of the feedback latency can be accomplished byimplementation of a per-course assessment process where an assessment is made at

Conference Session

Interdisciplinary Education in Engineering Technology

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

William Hutzel, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Mark Shaurette, Purdue University; Brian William Loss J.D., Purdue University; Kevin Rodgers LEED AP, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

Sciences, Agriculture, and Management were crucial to the finalproduct. This diversity became a core strength for the team. One student manger noted that: The main reason I joined the team was to work on an interdisciplinary project and learn from peers with different backgrounds than my own. I wanted to learn to communicate with engineers, architects, etc. and work in a collaborative environment. I treated this project as a job and I feel my peers during the two years did the same. There is no doubt in my mind that it has prepared me for my future career. Broader Societal Impacts Although it wasn’t necessarily obvious at first, everyone on the Solar Decathlon team cameto appreciate the significance of this project in terms of

Conference Session

TAC/ABET-related Outcome-based Assessment Methods and Models

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anca L. Sala, Baker College, Flint; James Riddell, Baker College, Flint

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

evolved into a multi-campusinstitution that is the largest independent college in the state of Michigan, offering degrees fromassociate level up to graduate level. Baker College is accredited by the Higher LearningCommission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The mission of BakerCollege is “to provide quality higher education and training which enable graduates to besuccessful throughout challenging and rewarding careers”. The student population is diverse with Page 25.1208.2non-traditional adult students making up a majority of students. The academic calendar is basedon four 10-week quarters: fall, winter, spring and summer

Conference Session

Graduate Education in ETD

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Enrique Barbieri, University of North Texas; Vassilios Tzouanas, University of Houston, Downtown

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology, Graduate Studies

capableengineering professionals that are readily absorbed by technical industries. Simply consider thefrequent news in 2011 describing the urgent need to curb job outsourcing and the subsequentdecline in national manufacturing capacity; the increased reliance of our society on serviceindustries responsible for over 70% of the monthly paychecks in the U.S.; the shortage ofengineering professionals; the impending reduction in the engineering workforce due to retiringbaby-boomers; and the profound difficulties in attracting the so-called millennial student toSTEM career choices. There continues to be misconception, miscommunication, and confusion regarding ETECand its relation to ENG programs and to engineering as a career. The fact that 2-year

Conference Session

ETD Design I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aurenice Menezes Oliveira, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

severalfields. For instance, students graduating from technology majors such as computer network andsystem administration, electrical engineering technology (EET), computer engineeringtechnology, and audio production must have at least a basic understanding of moderncommunications principles, since they will be working with electronic/computer systems anddevices in their careers. Traditional undergraduate communication courses have focused onanalog transmission systems, which can be coupled with a fairly simple laboratory component.The emergency of modern technologies to support new services in cellular telephony, Internet,and data networks in general, has changed the focus from analog to digital systems, making datacommunications an essential area of

Conference Session

Engineering Technology Futuristic Planning

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter J. Shull, Pennsylvania State University, Altoona

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

students’ understanding islimited to the notion that there are engineers and technicians. Few have knowledge of what liesin between—technologist. This understanding would allow them to make a more informeddecision about their career choice.Our efforts address both of these issues to create a win-win solution for both the students and theprogram viability.Recruitment and Enrollment History 1999 to 2005The start date (1999) for this discussion on recruitment and enrollments represents the graduationof the first class of the EMET program—it began in 1996. Also, during this period, Penn StateAltoona offered two associate degree programs (EET and MET). The EMET 4-year programwas a 2+2 where student first completed an associate degree in either EET or

Conference Session

Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Projects and Applications

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Antonio Francisco Mondragon, Rochester Institute of Technology; Adriana Becker-Gomez, Rochester Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

sites such as IEEE jobs[3], Monster[4] andYahoo! Careers[5] having Arduino or mbed as a skill required. Because of this, we need to trainour students on a platform that will be easy to use, that is widely used in industry and that willallow students to work at all levels of abstraction, from assembly language, going through a highlevel language such as C or C++ all the way to graphical programming and automatic codegeneration.2.1 ChallengesAs mentioned previously, the main challenge is to keep students motivated and engaged.Students want to create complex applications immediately and our job as educators is to keepthem with their feet on the ground by providing guidance through all the steps required toaccomplish the type of applications

Conference Session

TAC/ABET-related Outcome-based Assessment Methods and Models

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael J. Dyrenfurth, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Kathryne Newton, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

efficiencies • Solicit input from colleagues who have also worked to this end.Conceptual OverviewContemporary accreditation procedures have moved far away from imposing an arbitraryset of distant standards and requirements. Currently, they call for a much more tailoredway of looking at how well an institution and/or its programs develop graduates who areeffective in terms of the career path/profession they pursue. Outcomes have becomemuch more important than inputs. Continuous improvement procedures withdocumentation of how their loop has actually been closed are expected. Page 25.1225.4Figure 1 depicts an overview of the way that faculty viewed and

Conference Session

Graduate Education and Undergraduate Research-related Issues

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Vladimir Genis, Drexel University; Jay J. Bhatt, Drexel University; Shawn A. Woodson, Drexel University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

servicesAbstractThe Master of Science in Engineering Technology (MSET) program was developed at DrexelUniversity to provide a graduate level educational opportunity on a full- or part-time basis. Theprogram is designed to be extremely flexible; it permits the student to select a combination ofcourses relevant to individual career goals in technology or to provide the foundation for furtheradvanced study. The multidisciplinary curriculum includes core courses and electives in suchareas as rapid prototyping, programmable devices and systems, modern energy conversiontechnologies, lean manufacturing principles, project management, to name a few. The program iscurrently available entirely online and several of the courses employ web-based laboratoryexercises

Conference Session

ETD Design I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Shekar Viswanathan, National University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

curricula development, research initiatives and possibilities, and so forth;  Review and provide input to SOET annual operating plans;  Participate in the development and adoption of an annual plan for the Advisory Board;  Recommend agenda items and any useful supporting materials prior to board meetings;  Attend board meetings twice per year;  Recommend and/or form committees to address pertinent issues identified by the Advisory Board;  Participate on subcommittees formed to address top SOET priorities;  Represent the school to the community;  Advise the school on occupational and career trends;  Provide mechanism for feedback to administration from students and faculty;  Prepare

Conference Session

Graduate Education and Undergraduate Research-related Issues

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Christopher M Greene, Rochester Institute of Technology (CAST)

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

offer grant funds for research in education. Within many of thesesolicitations there are sections that allow and/or encourage participation and recruitment ofunderrepresented groups. As a faculty member at a college, there is also opportunity for you todevelop programs that involve research and recruitment of underrepresented groups.Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (or LSAMP) seeks to broadenparticipation in research topics within STEM education related to retention and persistence ofstudents from populations underrepresented in STEM majors and careers. There is an aim oftransforming STEM education through innovative recruitment and retention strategies3. LSAMPis

Conference Session

Factors Affecting Student Performance

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Omer Farook, Purdue University, Calumet; Chandra R. Sekhar, Purdue University, Calumet; Jai. P. Agrawal, Purdue University, Calumet; Ashfaq Ahmed, Purdue University, Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

of Technical Project Report writing andproject oral presentation based upon the Team’s Final Project. These classroom practices andlaboratory environment provides a challenging and invigorating environment that preparesthem for a lifelong learning process and career path.ConclusionThe paper has provided to the reader the philosophical framework and turnkey path way forthe subject of Multiprocessing System Design. The subject matter is to be pursued in parallelat dual tiers of hardware and software system design details. The subject matterMultiprocessing System Design provides to the student in class room many of the samerealistic challenges faced by a System Design practitioner. The authors sincerely hope thatmany academicians by offering

Conference Session

Topics Related to Electrical Engineering Technology

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Omer Farook, Purdue University, Calumet; Paul Lapsansky, Purdue University, Calumet; Chandra Sekhar, Purdue University, Calumet; Jai P. Agrawal, Purdue University, Calumet; Ashfaq Ahmed, Purdue University, Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

designed several models of high frequency oscilloscopes and other electronic test and measuring instruments as an entrepreneur. He has delivered invited short courses in Penang, Malaysia and Singapore. He is also the author of a textbook in power electronics, published by Prentice-Hall, Inc. His professional career is equally divided in academia and industry. He has authored several research papers in IEEE journals and conferences. His current research is focused on renewable energy technology, smart energy grid.Prof. Ashfaq Ahmed, Purdue University, Calumet Ashfaq Ahmed is a professor of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Department at Purdue University, Calumet. Ahmed received his bachelor’s of science

Conference Session

Factors Affecting Student Performance

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jai P. Agrawal, Purdue University, Calumet; Omer Farook, Purdue University, Calumet; Abdulhaleem Abdullah Alowaisheer, Fluor Daniel Technologies, Inc.

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

oscilloscopes and other electronic test and measuring instruments as an entrepreneur. He has delivered invited short courses in Penang, Malaysia and Singapore. He is also the author of a textbook in power electronics, published by Prentice-Hall, Inc. His professional career is equally divided in academia and industry. He has authored several research papers in IEEE journals and conferences. His current research is focused on renewable energy technology and smart energy grid.Prof. Omer Farook, Purdue University, Calumet Omer Farook is a member of the faculty of electrical and computer engineering technology at Purdue University, Calumet. Farook received the diploma of licentiate in mechanical engineering and B.S.M.E. in