New Ergonomics Reference Books at Waldo Library

We just today received two volumes of the CRC Occupational Ergonomics Handbook (2nd edition).  Both of these books will be kept in Waldo Library’s Science Reference collection, in the Lower Level of Waldo Library.

The titles and call numbers of the books are as follows.  I’ve linked this information to the Google Books entries, so you can view the tables of contents and preview them.  Both books are edited by William S. Marras and Waldemar Karwowski.

Interventions, Controls, and Applications in Occupational Ergonomics.   Call number TA166 .O25 2006 (Sci.R)

Fundamentals and Assessment Tools for Occupational Ergonomics.  Call number TA166 .O258 2006 (Sci.R)

SPE Online Technical Library

In case you are not aware of this, the Society of Plastics Engineers has an online searchable database to their journals and ANTEC conference proceedings.  The SPE Online Technical Library, which currently allows free searching (full text is available to only subscribers), is located at URL: www.4plasticsresearch.org/.   By the way, Waldo Library has most of the ANTEC conference proceedings in print format from 1983-2004 (missing 2003) in the General Stacks, call number TP 986 .A1 S5725. We also have a set from 2007 in CD-ROM. For other years, please see Dr. Paul Engelmann, Chair of the IME department at CEAS.

WMU Wins National Chainless Challenge

On July 30-31, a WMU team made up of CEAS professors and students won the 3rd National Chainless Challenge, sponsored by Parker Hannifin Corporation.  This competition pits engineering schools against each other in the challenge of designing a bicycle that does not use a chain to transfer a rider’s energy to the wheels.  You can read about the contest itself in a Design News article by Paul Sharke from last year.  In the first year, WMU came in fifth.  In 2006 (second year), WMU came in second.  This year, they are first!

You can read Professor Jerrie Fiala’s CEAS E-newsletter about the challenge here.  Way to go CEAS!!!!!!

WMU Technology Transfer in the News

The Kalamazoo Gazette published an article discussing Western’s new technology transfer office.  The article by Paula M. Davis is entitled “From Lab to Marketplace WMU Focuses on Turning Research into a Money-Maker” and was published in the Monday, November 27, 2006 issue.

The article discusses how more and more professors at WMU are exploring the commercial potential of their discoveries.  This generates patents, and in some cases, dollars for WMU.  The office of technology transfer was started to assist professors with this process.   WMU Engineering professors Massood Atashbar (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Bruce Bejcek (Biological Sciences), and David Meade (Manufacturing Engineering) are mentioned specifically.

Five-step check for nano safety – from BBC News

BBC News reports that a group of five researchers has come up with a list of five challenges to be met by nanotechnology if it is to be considered safe.  The researchers’ commentary has been published in the November 16th issue of the journal Nature (v.444).  If you have institutional access to Nature, you can read their commentary at the link provided, otherwise you can read their points at the BBC news site.

Their commentary discusses the need for nanotechnology researchers to seriously consider the risks inherent in this technology and how to avoid those risks.  The five challenges that nanotechnology needs to “pass” are:

• Develop instruments to assess exposure to engineered nanomaterials in air and water within next 3-10 years
• Create and test ways of evaluating the toxicity of nanomaterials in 5-15 years
• Generate models to predict their possible impact on the environment and human health over the next 10 years
• Develop ways to assess the health and environmental impact of nanomaterials over their entire lifetime, within the next five years
• Organise programmes to enable risk-focused research into nanomaterials, within the next 12 months

Job Posting: Faculty Position Manufacturing Engineering: Western Michigan University

 Please note: this position has been filled!!!!!!

A new faculty position has opened up at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Western Michigan University. To read the job description (in MS Word), go here.

The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting manufacturing education at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

To apply, please submit a resume and five references to Dr. Peter Parker, Chair, Manufacturing Engineering Search Committee, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Mail-Stop 5462, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5462. Fax: 269-276-3501. Email: peter.parker@wmich.edu. Review of applications will being May 1, 2006 and continue until the position is filled.