Asee peer logo
Displaying all 27 results
Conference Session
First-Year Programs Division Poster Session
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Zachary Riggins Del Rosario, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; Riya Aggarwal, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; Caitlin Anna Coffey, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; Arwen Sadler, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; Stephanos Matsumoto, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; Alison Wood , Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; Paul Ruvolo, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; C. Jason Woodard, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #33350Crafting a Virtual Studio: Some Models and ImplementationsDr. Zachary Riggins del Rosario, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering Zachary del Rosario is a visiting assistant professor of engineering at Olin College. His goal is to help scientists and engineers reason under uncertainty. Zach uses a toolkit from data science and uncertainty quantification to address a diverse set of problems, including reliable aircraft design and AI-assisted dis- covery of novel materials.Riya Aggarwal, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering Riya is junior at the Olin College of Engineering studying Engineering with a
Conference Session
First-year Programs: Focus on Student Success 2
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Genaro Zavala, Tecnologico de Monterrey; Universidad Andres Bello; Esmeralda Campos, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico; Carlos Eduardo Martinez-Torteya, Tecnologico de Monterrey
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
] National Research Council, "How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school: Expanded edition," National Academies Press, 2006.[5] T. Martin, S. D. Rivale and K. R. Diller, "Comparison of student learning in challenge-based and traditional instruction in biomedical engineering," Annals of biomedical engineering, vol. 35, no. 8, pp. 1312-1323, 2007.[6] D. L. Schwartz, S. Brophy, X. Lin and J. D. Bransford, "Software for managing complex learning: Examples from an educational psychology course," Educational Technology Research and Development, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 39-59, 1999.[7] PER Group, University of Minnesota, Online Archive of Context-rich Problems, October 2012. Available: https://groups.physics.umn.edu/physed/Research
Conference Session
First-Year Programs Division Poster Session
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Stephen Andrew Wilkerson P.E., York College of Pennsylvania; Inci Ruzybayev, York College of Pennsylvania; Ashley J. Earle, York College of Pennsylvania
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
will help them as they progress into upper level-engineering classes.However, many students initially resist the provided steps for problem solving. At the beginningof the semester, students complain that the strategy is lengthy and 22% of students do not see thebenefit, while 19% of students said that the method helped them avoid making mistakes [14]. Atthe end of the semester, 52% of students reported that the method got easier with time, while thenumber of students who said it helped them avoid mistakes or find mistakes increased to 22% and30%, respectively [14]. Our intervention was designed with two things in mind; 1) If we reinforcedthe problem-solving strategy in more classes, it would help them catch their mistakes in PHY160and 2) if
Conference Session
First-Year Programs: Recruiting and Retention
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Sarah E. French, University of Louisville; Campbell R. Bego, University of Louisville; Jeffrey Lloyd Hieb, University of Louisville; Patricia A. Ralston, University of Louisville
Tagged Topics
Diversity
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
mathematics,” Washington, DC: Office of the President, 2012.[8] N. B. Honken and P. Ralston, “Freshman engineering retention: A holistic look,” J. STEM Educ. Innov. Res., vol. 14, no. 2, 2013.[9] J. S. Eccles and A. Wigfield, “In the mind of the actor: The structure of adolescents’ achievement task values and expectancy-related beliefs,” Personal. Soc. Psychol. Bull., vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 215–225, 1995, doi: 10.1177/0146167295213003.[10] J. L. Meece, A. Wigfield, and J. S. Eccles, “Predictors of math anxiety and its influence on young adolescents’ course enrollment intentions and performance in mathematics,” J. Educ. Psychol., vol. 82, no. 1, p. 60, 1990, doi: 10.1037/0022-0663.82.1.60.[11] T. Perez, J. G
Conference Session
First-Year Programs: Recruiting and Retention
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Joanne Kay Beckwith, University of Michigan; Laura Hirshfield, University of Michigan
Tagged Topics
Diversity
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
boyfriend was [also an] engineer. And I spent a lot of time with them just 'cause they were really close friends of mine. So I felt like you're spending a lot of time with them also like interested me in engineering because I remember why I went, and this was not really little. I went to stay with my cousin and her boyfriend at his college, Purdue. And he was just showing me all this stuff he was working on and it was really interesting. And I remember I was like nine and he described to me, natural selection and it blew my mind. I was blown away. He also explained to me the very basic derivatives. And I was like, "This is so cool." But, even though I didn't know, like really understand it, it just, it was
Conference Session
The Best of First-year Programs Division
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
John Charles Minor, Clemson University; Elizabeth Anne Stephan, Clemson University; Abigail T. Stephan, Clemson University
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
self-directed learning. Since 2017, Abigail has been the graduate assistant for the General Engineering Learning Community (GELC), a program that supports first-year engineering students in their development of self-regulation and time management skills, effective learning strategies, and positive habits of mind. American c Society for Engineering Education, 2021 Implementing an Engineering Math Curriculum Sequence: Preliminary Results and Lessons LearnedThis Complete Evidence-Based Practice paper details an engineering math curriculumsequence for first-year engineering students belonging to the General Engineering LearningCommunity
Conference Session
First-Year Programs Division Poster Session
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Ryan Solnosky P.E., Pennsylvania State University; M. Kevin Parfitt, Pennsylvania State University; Sez Atamturktur Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University; Moses Ling P.E., Pennsylvania State University
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #33853WIP: Enhancing Freshman Seminars With Themes: An ArchitecturalEngineering ApproachDr. Ryan Solnosky P.E., Pennsylvania State University Ryan Solnosky is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Architectural Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park. Dr. Solnosky has taught courses for Architec- tural Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Pre-Major Freshman in Engineering. He received his integrated Bachelor of Architectural Engineering/Master of Architectural Engineering (BAE/MAE), and PhD. de- grees in architectural engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. Dr
Conference Session
First-Year Programs Division Poster Session
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Peter L.L. Walls, Dunwoody College of Technology; Jonathan Aurand P.E., Dunwoody College of Technology
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
theobjective of enabling others to successfully implement the design project in their course.Since its founding, Dunwoody College of Technology has prided itself on ensuring studentslearn in an environment that mirrors industry as closely as possible. With this history in mind, weguide interdisciplinary groups of students consisting of electrical, mechanical, and softwareengineering majors through the engineering design process. The project objective is to research,design, build, calibrate, and test a balance or scale with a digital readout made from simplecomponents. Successful completion requires elements of each engineering discipline representedin the course. The course itself, Introduction to Engineering, is laid out in a manner thatincrementally
Conference Session
First-Year Programs: Focus on Student Success I
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Natalie C.T. Van Tyne P.E., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Lisa D. McNair, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; David Reeping, University of Cincinnati
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
aspercentages of the entire study sample, of the participants from four-year institutions, and of theparticipants from two-year institutions.LimitationsThis study is limited by the size of the sample and its time frame, as well as by the institutionalspace and participants’ frame of mind when completing the survey as a homework assignment.These limitations could be mitigated by the collection and analysis of additional data from asimilar cohort of transfer students, or with data from a cohort of entering engineering students.Responses could also be limited in depth by a lack of effort due to demands from the rest of aparticipant’s workload, or by an overall tendency to write little more than one sentence perresponse. The use of a survey often
Conference Session
First-Year Programs: Cornucopia
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Kelsey Joy Rodgers, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach; Angela Thompson P.E., University of Louisville; Matthew A. Verleger, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach; Farshid Marbouti, San Jose State University; Nishith Shah; Pujan Thaker, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #32797Types of Models Identified by First-Year Engineering StudentsDr. Kelsey Joy Rodgers, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Kelsey Rodgers is an assistant professor in the Engineering Fundamentals Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She teaches a MATLAB programming course to mostly first-year engineering students. She primarily investigates how students develop mathematical models and simulations and ef- fective feedback. She graduated from the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University with a doctorate in engineering education. She previous conducted research in Purdue
Conference Session
First-Year Programs: Virtual Instruction in the First Year III
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Rui Li, New York University; Jack Bringardner, New York University
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #33975Understanding Remote Student Motivation in Hybrid and Remote Engineer-ingLab ModesDr. Rui Li, New York University Dr. Li is a visiting industry assistant professor at Tandon School of Engineering, New York University. He earned his master’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 2009 from the Imperial College of London and his doctoral degree in 2020 from the University of Georgia’s College of Engineering, where his research involved using smartphones, wireless sensors, and 3D printing to create low-cost MRI/CT compatible sur- gical devices. His current research interests are student motivation, active learning
Conference Session
First-Year Programs Division Poster Session
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Jonathan Aurand P.E., Dunwoody College of Technology; David Andrew Adolfson, Dunwoody College of Technology
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
apowerful tool allowing us to solve important engineering questions such as how electrical chargeis stored in a capacitor, strain energy of a deformed material, or how to compute moments ofinertia for non-standard shapes.One instructor has a lesson on “how to integrate a potato” which is entertaining, enlightening,and memorable as it is something the students can visualize and relate to their everyday lives.This visual representation is beneficial to students to help keep the big picture in mind as they gothrough the various mathematical derivations and proofs to unlock these powerful tools. Theapplications are motivation to keep pressing on in their math and science studies.Part of this connection with the mathematical world is made through use of
Conference Session
First-Year Programs Division Poster Session
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Jessica A. Kuczenski, Santa Clara University; Laura Doyle, Santa Clara University
Tagged Topics
Diversity
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
students noted the importance of collaboration, connecting collaboration to a successfullearning environment and for their future as an engineer. Some student quotes in this areaincluded "I think that the concepts we were taught in the growth mindset are good for making mea better person and teammate, which is important in the collaborative environment ofengineering.” and "At a macro level, I understand now the power of teams, collaboration, andfeedback in creating a successful learning environment."Overall, these reflection results illustrate that having assignments related to teamwork keeps theteamwork topic on students’ minds as they progress through their coursework. Althoughteamwork was not specifically requested as a target of this
Conference Session
First-Year Programs: Focus on Student Success I
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Matthew Cavalli, Western Michigan University; Anetra Grice, Western Michigan University
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #34699Self-Efficacy, Mathematical Mindset, and Self-Direction in First-YearEngineering StudentsDr. Matthew Cavalli, Western Michigan University Dr. Cavalli is Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Associate Dean in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. His technical research interests include materials behavior and solid mechanics. His educational interests include distance education and first-year student success. He has previously served as the Chair of the Materials Division of ASEE.Ms. Anetra Grice, Western Michigan University Anetra Grice is has served as the STEP Program Director for
Conference Session
First-Year Programs Division Poster Session
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Goli Nossoni, University of New Haven
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
entitled Introduction to Engineering at the University of NewHaven were surveyed in this study. Students take this course either in the fall or spring of theirfirst year depending on their math placement. The course is project-based and students areexposed to three small projects related to different engineering disciplines and one large termproject that spans over half of the semester. In fall 2019, the three sections of the course weremodified to incorporate use of the makerspace more consciously into the final project. This wasdone with two objectives in mind: (1) to improve the first-year retention of engineering students;and (2) to engage the Gen Z students more with the learning and give them broader experiences.As part of their first
Conference Session
First-year Programs: Virtual Instruction in the First Year 1
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Christopher Dalton, University of Oklahoma; Allison Quiroga P.E., University of Oklahoma; Bobby Reed, University of Oklahoma Libraries
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
are struggling. Feedback canbe solicited from both the teams as well as individual team members; this ensures not only thatprogress is made with their projects, but that each student is contributing effectively as part of theirteam. A structure featuring a preliminary and final design review would align with similaroccurrences in coursework and in industry.It is also recognized that a virtual project of this type could potentially be utilized not only forshort-term programs similar to Summer Bridge, but also for traditional K-12 and undergraduatecourses. With this in mind, a goal has been set to collect more data specifically related to theknowledge acquired from the project, including knowledge of the engineering design process andother
Conference Session
First-Year Programs: Cornucopia
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Joshua Bourne Reed, Rowan University; Scott Duplicate Streiner, Rowan University; Daniel D. Burkey, University of Connecticut; Richard Tyler Cimino, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Jennifer Pascal, University of Connecticut; Michael F. Young, University of Connecticut
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #33866”Mapping” the Landscape of First-Year Engineering Students’Conceptualizations of Ethical Decision MakingJoshua Bourne Reed, Rowan University Josh Reed is an engineering masters student at Rowan University working for the Experiential Engineering Education department. He has graduated with a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from Rowan University. Josh is very passionate about education as well as the social issues in both the engineering and education systems. He hopes to further his understanding in both of these fields.Dr. Scott Streiner, Rowan University Dr. Scott Streiner is an assistant
Conference Session
First-Year Programs Division Poster Session
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Christopher Horne P.E., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; Alexandra Kurepa, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #33237Introducing Simple Harmonic Motion – A Teaching Module in a First-YearEngineering CourseDr. Christopher Horne, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Since 2011, Dr. Horne has been a Lecturer at NC AandT State University and East Carolina University. He currently teaches freshman a course in problem solving using MATLAB. He combines twenty years’ experience in management and engineering with a passion to help students learn STEM-related material. He is a licensed professional engineer and holds masters and Ph.D. from North Carolina State University and North Carolina AandT State
Conference Session
First-Year Programs: Virtual Instruction in the First Year II
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Nina Kamath Telang, University of Texas at Austin; Nisha Abraham, University of Texas at Austin; Mohana Seelan, University of Texas at Austin; Ramakrishna Sai Annaluru, University of Texas at Austin
Tagged Topics
Diversity
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #33249Traditional Lecture Format vs. Active Teaching Format in an OnlineFreshman Engineering CourseDr. Nina Kamath Telang, University of Texas at Austin Dr. Nina Telang is an associate professor of instruction in the ECE department at UT Austin. She has taught a variety of courses in the ECE department at the freshman, sophomore and junior undergraduate levels that include 4 required (core) courses, and 2 elective (tech-area) courses. Her repertoire of courses is from a range of areas such as circuit theory, digital logic design, solid state devices, computing sys- tems, and embedded systems. Her teaching style
Conference Session
First-Year Programs: Recruiting and Retention
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Nisha Abraham, University of Texas at Austin; Nina Kamath Telang, University of Texas at Austin
Tagged Topics
Diversity
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #33450Cohort-Based Supplemental Instruction Sessions as a Holistic RetentionApproach in a First-Year Engineering CourseMiss Nisha Abraham, University of Texas at Austin Nisha coordinates the Supplemental Instruction program. She received her B.S. in cell and molecular biology from The University of Texas at Austin in 2007, her M.S. in biology from Texas A&M University in 2012 and her M.A. in STEM Education from The University of Texas at Austin in 2019. Additionally, she has over five years of combined industry and science research experience, has worked as a senior bioscience associate at UT’s Austin Technology
Conference Session
First-Year Programs Division Poster Session
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Gerald Gallego Tembrevilla, McMaster University; Susan Nesbit P.Eng., University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Peter M Ostafichuk P.Eng., University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Naoko Ellis P.Eng., University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
," Journal of Engineering Education, vol. 109, no. 3, pp. 508-555, 2020, doi: 10.1002/jee.20347.[5] T. Augsburg, "Becoming Transdisciplinary: The Emergence of the Transdisciplinary Individual," World Futures: Transdisciplinarity, vol. 70, no. 3-4, pp. 233-247, 2014, doi: 10.1080/02604027.2014.934639.[6] S. Derry and G. Fischer, "Toward a Model and Theory for Transdisciplinary Graduate Education," presented at the 2005 AERA Annual Meeting, Symposium, “Sociotechnical Design for Lifelong Learning: A Crucial Role for Graduate Education”, Montreal, Canada, April, 2005.[7] S. L. T. McGregor, "Transdisciplinary Pedagogy in Higher Education: Transdisciplinary Learning, Learning Cycles, and Habits of Mind
Conference Session
The Best of First-year Programs Division
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Sydney Anne Morris, Northeastern University; Hannah Boyce, Northeastern University; Caroline Ghio, Northeastern University; Amanda Dee, Northeastern University; Alexis Pathwick-Paszyc, Northeastern University; Paul DiMilla, Northeastern University; Rachelle Reisberg, Northeastern University
Tagged Topics
Diversity
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
there was less live attendance in online SI sessions, and somestudents expressed negative feelings about attending SI online [14]. Keeping these pastexperiences with online SI in mind, we explored the effectiveness of our online SI offerings.Study contextFirst-year engineering students entering Northeastern University in September 2020 encountereda profound change in instructional strategy compared to previous years in which all classes wereoffered in-person: during the Fall 2020 semester classes were offered under a hybrid learningmodel in which a limited number of students could attend each class meeting in-person and theremainder would attend only remotely, based in part on student preferences. This study focusedon assessing consequences of
Conference Session
First-year Programs: Focus on Student Success 2
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Abigail T. Stephan, Clemson University; Jon Harcum, Clemson University; Laurel Whisler, Bristol Community College; Elizabeth Anne Stephan, Clemson University
Tagged Topics
Diversity
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
readiness, and itsultimate goal is increasing retention in this population [1], [2]. In addition to cohorting studentsin STEM courses, the GELC program requires students to co-enroll in a learning strategiescourse. The course is designed to develop self-regulatory, academic, and social-psychologicalcompetence for students through its three primary units: Habits of Professionals, Habits ofLearning, and Habits of Mind. An overarching goal of the course is to support students inbecoming successful STEM students and future engineering professionals. While the course is inits fourth iteration, the Fall 2020 semester marks the first use of the LASSI within the learningstrategies course. Our approach went beyond using the LASSI as a measure of
Conference Session
The Best of First-year Programs Division
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Frank J. Marsik, University of Michigan; Claudia G. Cameratti-Baeza, University of Michigan; Elizabeth Mann Levesque, University of Michigan; Stacie Edington, University of Michigan
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
, mentioned gains from the modules and theopportunities to choose their own path through the course. These gains are expressed in terms ofachieving a deeper understanding of engineering and aligning choices to personal values andinterests. Both groups seem to gain a broad perspective of the different areas and dimensions ofengineering, as well as an understanding of the different Immersed Program opportunitiesavailable in the college. This broad perspective appears to support students who feel certainabout their interest by inspiring them to explore beyond their initial ideas and ‘remainopen-minded.’ The students who mention feeling uncertain, find in the array of modules areas ofengineering that appeal to their interests, skills and values, gaining
Conference Session
First-year Programs: Computation in the First Year
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Jutshi Agarwal, University of Cincinnati; Gregory Warren Bucks, University of Cincinnati; Kathleen A. Ossman, University of Cincinnati; Teri J. Murphy, University of Cincinnati; Cijy Elizabeth Sunny, Baylor University
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #34240Learning a Second Language and Learning a Programming Language: AnExplorationMs. Jutshi Agarwal, University of Cincinnati I am a PhD candidate in Engineering Education with a research focus on professional development for future faculty. Currently, I am the Lead Graduate Teaching Assistant for the first year engineering design course with an enrollment of 1300 students across all engineering majors.Dr. Gregory Warren Bucks, University of Cincinnati Gregory Bucks joined the Department of Engineering Education at the University of Cincinnati in 2012. He received his BSEE from the Pennsylvania State University
Conference Session
First-Year Programs: Student Perceptions and Perspectives
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Nora Honken, University of Cincinnati; Angela Boronyak, University of Cincinnati; James Edward Roethler, Spalding University; Aimee M. Frame, University of Cincinnati; Cedrick Kwuimy, University of Cincinnati
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #34266Students’ Concerns and What They Look Forward to: A Comparison ofCOVID-19 Versus Pre-COVID-19Dr. Nora Honken, University of Cincinnati Nora is an Assistant Professor in the Engineering Education Department at The University of Cincin- nati. She holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development for the University of Louisville, a MS in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University and a BS in Industrial Engineer- ing from Virginia Tech. She also has extensive industrial experience.Angela Boronyak, University of Cincinnati Dr. Angela Boronyak joined the University of Cincinnati in
Conference Session
First-Year Programs: Unique Projects and Pedagogies
Collection
2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Authors
Yanjun Yan, Western Carolina University; Hugh Jack P. Eng. P.E., Western Carolina University; James Coffin
Tagged Topics
Diversity
Tagged Divisions
First-Year Programs
Paper ID #33521Team-Teaching a Project-Based First-Year Seminar in PandemicDr. Yanjun Yan, Western Carolina University Yanjun Yan is an Associate Professor in Engineering and Technology at Western Carolina University. Her research interests include engineering education, swarm robotics, statistical signal processing, and swarm intelligence.Dr. Hugh Jack P. Eng. P.E., Western Carolina University Dr. Jack holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Mechanical En- gineering from the University of Western Ontario. He is currently a Distinguished Professor and Director of the School of