Exciting research into turning corn husks into cement is being conducted by civil engineering Ph.D. student Mark Bediako, who recently received a competitive African research award, the Emerald African Engineering Research Fund Award and John Kevern, UMKC SCE associate professor of civil engineering. Cement is very both expensive and limited in Africa but corn is abundant, especially corn husks which are often burned as trash. Agricultural materials have been shipped from Ghana to Kansas City, where they will be tested for the optimum blend and durability in UMKC’s civil engineering and materials lab and at Ash Grove Cement Company, headquartered in Overland Park. The research could provide millions affordable, durable housing and increase commercial building. For more details, read the complete UMKC Today article, From Corn to Cement.
Category Archives: Feature
Free Enterprise Center at UMKC Gathers Momentum
UMKC Vice Provost & Dean of the School of Computing and Engineering Kevin Truman continues to work toward the day when UMKC becomes home to the Free Enterprise Center. In the July 23, 2014 Kansas City Business Journal article, UMKC enterprise center nabs funds for KC entrepreneurs, he described why various constituents have currently pledged over $7.4 million, about ½ of the center’s estimated cost. “It will be a fantastic entrepreneurial resource for the community,” Truman said. “Even though the center is proposed to be on the UMKC campus, it will handle budding entrepreneurs all the way through the industries here in town and be a resource for our students. It’s a one-stop shop with equipment to build prototypes and explore ideas.” The Free Enterprise Center will include laboratory space, rapid prototyping equipment, digital virtualization/visualization equipment and educational/collaborative space. Business and technology transfer advisors will be available to serve the students, faculty, researchers, local industries, entrepreneurs, artists, and K-12 students that will utilize the center.
SCE Baja Racing Team Places in TOP 10!
It’s been a fantastic year for the UMKC Baja Racing Team, competing in 3 races this year culminating in winning 9th in design and 21st overall (in field of 118 vehicles) at the June 4-7 SAE competition held in Peoria, IL . The Peoria race was the third and fiercest competition of the year as each vehicle entered reflected continual improvements from lessons learned in the earlier two races. The Baja SAE UTEP held April 24-27, 2014 in El Paso, TX found the UMKC Baja vehicle scoring 12th in maneuverability and 38th Overall. The Baja SAE Kansas held May 22-25, 2014 Pittsburg, KS resulted in 6th in sled pull and 7th in sales presentation and 41st Overall. Complete results for all three 2014 races are now posted.
In each race the UMKC Baja Racing Team received the top overall score of Missouri universities competing and was second behind Kansas State for Kansas universities. Congratulations to the team members, officers and advisors participating in the competitions!
2014 SCE Alumni Golf Tournament Raises $8000 for Student Scholarships
The annual SCE Alumni Golf Tournament held at Deer Creek Golf Course on Wednesday, June 4, 2014! Thirteen teams braved the course and, despite threatening rain skies at the start, were rewarded with cool breezes and sunny skies. Proceeds raised at the golf tournament help meet the needs of SCE students through scholarships and programs that directly benefit them. Thanks to participants’ amazing generosity, the SCE Alumni Association will increase funding of its endowed SCE Alumni Association Scholarship by more than $8,000. The tournament would not have been possible without its sponsors and players. SCE thanks all involved for their support and enthusiasm! Sponsors, including Burns & McDonnell as the presenting sponsor of the tournament, included:
- Duane Anstaett, P.E.
- Burns & McDonnell
- Garmin
- Gibbens Drake Scott
- The Golf Doctor
- HDR Inc.
- Olsson Associates
- Siemens
- TREKK Design Group
Thank you!
Congratulations to the Class of 2014
Congratulations to the UMKC School of Computing and Engineering (SCE) class of 2014! We are excited for all of the graduates. On Friday, May 16, 2014, SCE celebrated the graduation of nearly 100 undergraduate and over 70 graduate students.
John Kevern and Mike Kelly are 2014 SCE Good Teaching Award Recipients
Mike Kelly, Teaching Professor in CSEE and John Kevern, Assistant Professor in CME, were recently presented with the 2014 SCE Good Teaching Awards. Annually, the UMKC SCE Good Teaching Award is given to two SCE faculty, one from our Civil and Mechanical Engineering (CME) department and one from our Computer Science Electrical Engineering (CSEE) department. Selected by a vote of the graduating SCE seniors, this award truly reflects SCE students’ appreciation and regard.
The awards were announced in front of their students and peers at the May 2, 2014 Spring Awards Ceremony and Reception held in Pierson Auditorium in the Atterbury Student Success Center. SCE gratefully acknowledges the SCE Alumni Association Board for their support of the Good Teaching Awards. The SCE AA Board established an endowed fund to support the Engineering Good Teaching award and works each year with the dean to review the SCE students’ nominations and ratify recipients.
SCE Hosts MOU Discussions with Delegates of Canik Basari University in Samsun, Turkey
Delegates of the Canik Başari University of Samsun, Turkey, President Yunus Bekdemir and Chair Ferhat Ozturk, visited UMKC on Monday, April 28, to initiate a student and faculty exchange program between our two universities, with the mediation of Dr. Aydin, Executive Director of the Dialogue Institute of the Southwest. They were warmly welcomed by UMKC Vice Provost and SCE Dean, Kevin Truman, and international student affairs officer, Nigyar Dzhafarova.
Baja Racing Team Prepares for 2014 Competition Season
As the semester comes to a close, the UMKC Baja Racing team is getting ready for a grueling competition season. The Baja team recently left for their first event, the Baja SAE UTEP competition, held April 24-27 in El Paso, TX. Continue reading
SCE Undergraduate Student Wins Best Paper Award
SCE Computer Science senior Rebecca “Becca” May recently received the Best Paper award at an international telecommunications conference, an especially unique and prestigious honor for an undergraduate student. Continue reading
SCE students experience engineer’s tour of KCP&L Iatan Power Plant
Fifteen SCE engineering students received a tour of the largest coal-fired generating power plant in Missouri, the KCP&L Iatan Power Plants, consisting of two power stations, Iatan Unit 1 and Iatan Unit 2. Continue reading