Archives: Monthly Archives: October 2024

Drilling Demo Day: Hands-On Learning Experience for CEE Students

November 5th, 2024 | Depot Campus

The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering invites all students to attend the Drilling Demo Day. This will be a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in geotechnical investigation techniques used to inform soil analysis and foundation design.

This event offers participants the chance to observe a Standard Penetration Test (SPT) sample recovery in action, guided by experts in the field. It’s an excellent opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios and develop practical skills essential for future engineers.

Event Details

  • Date: November 5th, 2024
  • Time: Follow this link to sign up for a time slot
  • Location: Depot Campus; shuttle busses available from Castleman to the drill site

Students can sign up for a time slot to participate. Scan the QR code on the event flyer or reach out to Dr. Wei Zhang at wzhang@uconn.edu for more information or any questions.

Acknowledgments

This event is made possible thanks to the funding and technical support from:

  • Randy States and the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers
  • University Facilities
  • College of Engineering

Don’t miss this valuable experience that offers real-world application for all Civil and Environmental Engineering students!

Dr. John Ivan’s Research Receives AASHTO High Value Research Award

The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering is proud to announce that a project led by Dr. John Ivan, Ph.D., has been selected by the AASHTO Research Advisory Council to receive the prestigious High Value Research Award for Region 1 this year.

This project will be featured in a poster session at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in January. More details about the session will be shared as the event approaches. We are honored by this recognition and excited for Dr. Ivan and his team.

The success of this research was made possible by a talented and dedicated project team:

  • Kai Wang, Ph.D.
  • Marisa Auguste
  • Olin Green

A special thanks to Melanie Zimyeski, P.E., from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), who sponsored and nominated this outstanding work.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. John Ivan and his team for this remarkable achievement! We look forward to seeing their research highlighted at the TRB Annual Meeting in January.

UConn Faculty Contribute to NAE Symposium: “Issues at the Intersection of Engineering and Human Rights”

Date: November 18-19, 2024

Engineering influences every facet of human life, and with this power comes a critical responsibility—engineers have the potential to either alleviate or intensify societal challenges. Two UConn professors, Davis Chacón-Hurtado and Shareen Hertel, who co-direct the Engineering for Human Rights Initiative, will lend their expertise to an upcoming symposium focused on these issues. Titled "Issues at the Intersection of Engineering and Human Rights," the event will explore how engineering solutions can align with human rights principles to address global challenges.

The symposium is organized by the National Academy of Engineering’s (NAE) Cultural, Ethical, Social, and Environmental Responsibility in Engineering (CESER) Program, in collaboration with the Committee on Human Rights of the NAS, NAE, and NAM. Attendees will engage in thought-provoking discussions aimed at integrating human rights frameworks into engineering practices.

The two-day event will feature interactive, hands-on sessions in the afternoons, offering participants practical insights into the real-world intersection of engineering and human rights. These activities aim to demonstrate how engineers can drive social progress through ethical and responsible innovation.

Event Details & Registration

Both in-person and online participation options are available. For more details and to register, visit the event page:

NAE Event Registration

Further Reading

For a deeper dive into the topic, check out the forthcoming publication by UConn faculty:

“Engineering for Human Rights: The Theory and Practice of a Human Rights-Based Approach to Engineering”

Authors: Davis Chacon-Hurtado, Kazem Kazerounian, Shareen Hertel, Jonathan Mellor, Jack Barry, and Tulasi Ravindran.

Read the full paper in the Journal of Science, Technology and Human Values

5 CEE Faculty Ranked in Top 2% of Scientists

5 CEE Faculty Ranked in Top 2% of Scientists

Five faculty members from the College of Civil and Environmental Engineering have been recognized among the world’s top 2% of scientists in 2024, according to Stanford/Elsevier’s Top 2% Scientist Rankings. This ranking highlights the most widely cited scholars across a variety of scientific disciplines, underscoring their significant contributions to research and global impact.

The recognized faculty members and their respective fields are:

  • Kay Wille (Rank: 46,973) – Built Environment & Design
    Explore Dr. Wille’s work on developing a risk assessment framework for pyrrhotite-induced concrete deterioration here. You can also read more about its effects on local communities in this article.
  • Guiling Wang (Rank: 93,874) – Earth & Environmental Sciences
    Discover Dr. Wang’s research on the terrestrial hydrological cycle here, or check out her efforts to improve earth system models for more accurate predictions of extreme precipitation in this article.
  • Emmanouil N. Anagnostou (Rank: 104,051) – Earth & Environmental Sciences
    Learn about Dr. Anagnostou’s impact on energy grid resilience here. Or, check out this article on his goals for cleaner energy and industry partnerships.
  • Baikun Li (Rank: 177,226) – Enabling & Strategic Technologies
    Explore Dr. Li’s efforts to reduce carbon monoxide emissions here. Or, take a look at this article highlighting her interdisciplinary work helping local agriculture through hydrogel soil sensors.
  • Jeongho Kim (Rank: 309,421) – Engineering
    Take a look at Dr. Kim’s advanced computing and simulation for manufacturing processes here. Or, learn about how the Connecticut Manufacturing Simulation Center is helping advance the workforce in this article.

The inclusion of these faculty members on this list highlights their exceptional career-long contributions to civil and environmental engineering. Their work not only advances academic knowledge but also provides innovative solutions to pressing global challenges in sustainability, energy, and infrastructure resilience.

These rankings are based on a comprehensive citation score (c-score) calculated from six key metrics, including total citations, the h-index, and authorship roles (single, first, or last author papers). These metrics provide a holistic measure of a scientist’s influence by factoring in both the quantity and quality of their contributions. Scholars who rank in the top 100,000 worldwide based on these metrics or who place within the top 2% in their specific subfields are included in the Stanford Top 2% List. Learn more about the World’s Top 2% Scientists List here.

Congratulations to our esteemed faculty for their remarkable achievements and dedication to excellence in their fields!