With the Federal Highway Trust Fund just two years away from being in the red, many transportation experts agree that significant change is needed in how the U.S. funds transportation projects. A growing population and dwindling federal gas tax coffers (thanks to higher gas prices and gas alternatives like ethanol) demand new strategies to keep the nation's transportation infrastructure running smoothly.

On May 23, Professor Michael Meyer participated in a Comptroller General meeting in Washington D.C. about the challenges facing U.S. transportation funding over the next five years. In addition to recommending more money for ports, stronger land use standards and stronger emission controls, Meyer also discussed the controversial distance-based fuel tax (already in place in the U.K.). The distance-based fuel tax would charge drivers for the distance they've traveled rather than charging a flat tax per gallon of gasoline. The new tax would provide much needed federal transportation funds despite higher mileage vehicles and alternative fuels.

Meyer coordinates the Transportation Systems Engineering program at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and also Director of the Georgia Transportation Institute. More information on Meyer’s extensive work may be found at www.ce.gatech.edu/fac_staff/faculty-listing/research-interests?active_id=mm39.

Engineers, utility managers, policy makers, city planners, and academicians from around the world gathered on campus May 14-16 to share best management practices at the Second Annual Mega City Water Forum. Attendees discussed Mega City water and wastewater challenges, exchanged experiences with old and emerging water and wastewater treatment technologies, fostered peer networks, and formed action plans to help address the United Nations Millennium Development Goals regarding access to safe drinking water and wastewater facilities.

Co-organized by Georgia Tech, Georgia Water Resources Institute (GWRI), CIFAL Atlanta, UNITAR, and The City of Atlanta, the Forum was opened with remarks by Georgia Tech Provost Gary Schuster, GWRI Director Aris Georgakakos, CIFAL Executive Director Alex Mejia and City of Atlanta Commissioner Robert Hunter, all of whom emphasized the urgency to address water challenges through government-industry-academia partnerships.

Forum sessions were attended and facilitated by leaders in the public, private and non profit sectors including, among many others, Cap-Net; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Development Bank of South Africa; Coca-Cola Company, General Electric, and City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management.

Closing this year's Forum, Professor Aris Georgakakos declared the Forum a success and re-affirmed Georgia Tech's commitment to host future events, to facilitate the transfer of technology from research to practice.

Atlanta’s Geotechnical community convened Tuesday, May 15 at Georgia Tech for an evening of scholarly networking at the 2007 Geotechnical Symposium and Tenth-Annual Sowers Lecture. The Georgia Section ASCE Geotechnical Committee and the Geotechnical Society at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) organized the annual event, which is named for former CEE professor George F. Sowers.

University of California-Davis Professor Ross W. Boulanger delivered the State of the Art lecture, “Seismic Design of Pile Foundations for Liquefaction Effects.” Arizona State University Professor Edward Kavazanjian followed with the State of the Practice lecture, “Geotechnics of Landfill Engineering.”

Following student presentations, Georgia Tech Vice Provost J. David Frost welcomed the group and Susan Burns, CEE Associate Professor and alumna, led a remembrance for Mr. Sowers. Burns then recognized the following students and their accomplishments:
- Pierre Ramondenc, 2007 Sowers Distinguished Graduate Student
- Varun, James S. Lai 2007 Distinguished MS Student Award recipient
- Verónica Rebata-Landa, 2007 ASCE Georgia Geotechnical Section Award recipient

To close the evening, Professor Eduardo Alonso of Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, gave the Tenth Annual Sowers Lecture, “Strength of Stiff Clays.”

Georgia Tech Civil Engineering alumnus Mike Turner remembers George F. Sowers as an educator, friend and mentor. In Turner’s role as Chairman of the Georgia Section ASCE Geotechnical Committee, he proposed naming an already-successful lecture series after Sowers when the professor died in 1996. Each year, the event features State of the Art (an academic lecture); State of the Practice (an application lecture); student presentations; reflections and recognition; and culminates with the Sowers Lecture.

Findings of a student survey conducted by the Georgia Tech Office of Assessment revealed the overall quality of undergraduate academic advising for Civil Engineering majors sets a high standard across campus.

Rob Hudgins and Mary George, both veterans of undergraduate advising for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, are credited with the achievement, which essentially speaks to their long-time dedication to flexible, student-focused service.

After more than eight years in her position, Ms. George says the laid-back team atmosphere helps her stay excited about advising. Mr. Hudgins has been advising for 13 years and claims, “working with high quality, very mature and responsible students” in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering makes his job enjoyable. 

Civil Engineering received the highest score among all majors, tying only with Earth and Atmospheric Sciences in the College of Sciences. The study was initiated by the Student Government Association Committee on Academic Advising to address the growing hands-on advising preferences of the millennial generation of students.

Jun Chen has received one of eight 2007 Portland Cement Association (PCA) Education Foundation Fellowships for his research contributions in ultra-accelerated assessment of alkali-reactivity of aggregates. With depleting quality aggregate resources needed to make cement, improved and more rapid screening of aggregates is critical to ensure adequate long-term performance of concrete structures.

The fellowship is in the amount of $20,000 which includes travel funding for a visit to PCA headquarters in Chicago; an invitation to attend the PCA Durability Subcommittee meeting in September 2007; and entrance to the American Concrete Institute (ACI) in Spring 2008.

Chen was nominated for the fellowship by his advisors, Dr. Kim Kurtis and Dr. Larry Jacobs.

To learn more about PCA’s programs to support innovative research in the areas of concrete and cement, visit www.cement.org/research.

John W. Keys, CE ’64, was commended by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for Lifetime Achievement in Government on April 25 as part of ASCE’s Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) awards, regarded among many as the preeminent awards program for civil engineers.

Culminating a career dedicated to improving water infrastructure, ASCE recognized Keys’ solutions-focused leadership of the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation – the nation’s largest wholesale water supplier and the fifth largest electricity utility in the 17 western states. Retiring as the 16th Commissioner of the Bureau, Keys was ultimately selected for the breadth of service throughout his career which led to the enhancement of the health, safety and economy of the U.S. and the world.

While showing appreciation to ASCE during a speech at the OPAL Gala in Washington D.C., Keys accepted the award on behalf of three groups: his family; the Bureau of Reclamation; and the faculty and administration at Georgia Tech. The latter, according to Keys, “took a dumb kid from a farm in Northwest Alabama and gave him the tools for success.” Keys closed his remarks, “Thank you [President] Wayne Clough, [Civil and Environmental Engineering School Chair] Joe Hughes and Georgia Tech.”

Residing in Moab, Utah, Keys is a member of the External Advisory Board for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech. In addition, water may have been his forte as a civil engineer, but Keys has mastered the air as a commercial pilot for organizations such as Angel Flight and the playing field with a 30-year tenure as a noted college football referee.    

Ben Kosbab has been selected to receive the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. A first-year Ph.D. student in the structures program, Kosbab works with Dr. Reggie DesRoches and Dr. Roberto Leon on the seismic performance of container cranes as an integral part of the NEES Grand Challenge project.

“Civil engineering as a profession is not widely understood among the public,” said Kosbab. “In fact, the definition of ‘civil’ – of people – is often overlooked.” One of only 11 selected nationally for the Fellowship, Kosbab’s platform is an important opportunity for civil engineers to address non traditional challenges to increase awareness on the impact of the profession. 

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is designed to provide opportunities for advanced education that prepares students for a broad range of disciplinary and cross-disciplinary careers through its strategic investments in intellectual capital.

Dr. Larry Jacobs, Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering has been appointed to lead a taskforce for undergraduate curriculum reform established by Georgia Tech Provost Gary Schuster. Jacobs will bring more than a decade of proven success to the taskforce, having led the undergraduate program at CEE since 1995.

The Institute-wide committee was established in parallel to another taskforce that will recommend a strategy to advance interdisciplinary programs at Georgia Tech. Named the “Provost’s Taskforces for Excellence,” the faculty-driven groups were created to continue and enhance Georgia Tech’s preeminence in these two important areas.

Jacobs will draw on deep knowledge of the undergraduate academic experience to guide the taskforce in developing recommendations in three areas: enhancing delivery, such as technology, facilities and faculty development; broadening educational options and flexibility; and overall disciplinary fundamentals. The taskforce is themed “Defining the undergraduate technological education for the 21st century,” and is expected to develop recommendations by the end of the Fall '07 semester or early in the Spring '08 semester. 

Jacobs joined the faculty at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1988. His rich history in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and at Georgia Tech includes a joint appointment with the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering; award-winning research in structures and materials; and becoming a clear favorite among the student-body.

J. Edmund Fitzgerald, a leader on Georgia Tech’s campus for nearly two decades holding positions as Director for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and later Associate Dean of Research for the College of Engineering, died Friday, April 13, at his Marietta home.
Dr. Fitzgerald’s research areas included solid rocket propellants and non-linear mechanics. He came to Tech in 1975 and retired in 1994. According to Fitzgerald’s family, his greatest academic joy was in teaching and interacting with young minds in class, particularly the class on Deformable Bodies (Def Bods), which tweaked his academic sinews right back to his Harvard days, where he received his formative training in Structures and Soil Mechanics and related fundamentals of the civil engineering field.  
“His greatest desire was that he wanted to see his CEE Department and the College rise into the top rankings in the nation,” said son-in-law Richard Pool, husband to Fitzgerald’s daughter, Deborah.  “I know he was very proud of the advances made by the College both during his time on the faculty and its continued success as the nationally ranked powerhouse of engineering it is today.”  
Pool continued, “As a specialist in Solid Rocket Propellants, dating back to his days as Project Director at Lockheed, he was a huge fan of the [NASA Space] Shuttle Program and reveled in safe launches and successful returns to Cape Canaveral.  For him, ‘rocket science’ was the norm and he was one of the space pioneers.” Dr. Fitzgerald also enjoyed billiards, was an avid sailor and lifetime member of the Cork Royal Yacht Club of Ireland.

A Fellow of the Royal Institute of Physics and Fellow of the American Physical Society, Dr. Fitzgerald was also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineering. He earned a Doctor of Science from the National University of Ireland and a Masters of Science from Harvard.

Dr. Fitzgerald is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Elaine Fitzgerald of Marietta; two daughters and sons-in-law, Deborah and Richard Wool of Newark, DE, Christine and John Soltis of Salt Lake City, UT; son and daughter-in-law, David and Chris Fitzgerald of Salt Lake City, UT; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his son, John Fitzgerald. He has been laid to rest in Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs.

Dr. Reginald DesRoches, Associate Chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has received the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Awarded annually since July 1946, the ASCE selects only five or fewer recipients for the award each year.
 
After an intense nomination and committee-review process, DesRoches was selected based on his research contributions in the field of seismic design and retrofit of bridges, particularly for the central and southeastern regions of the United States. An area which has received little attention in the past, this body of work benefits the practice of civil engineering, while adding value to the profession. The distinction is considered an achievement in professional development, civil and humanitarian efforts as well as innovation and research. 

The award will be presented on May 17, 2007, by ASCE Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) President Barry Goodno at the SEI Awards Session during Structures Congress 2007 in Long Beach, Calif.

“People are our priority,” says School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Chair Joseph B. Hughes. This guiding principle was clearly reflected at last week’s Faculty and Staff Honors Luncheon, where CEE took top honors in four faculty-related categories.

Dr. Laurence J. Jacobs, Associate Chair, and Dr. Jin-Yeon Kim, Research Scientist II, were among the research team which earned the Sigma Xi Faculty Best Paper Award. The winning series of papers presents a new, more effective method of inspecting metal-based structures and components, making it easier to detect potentially dangerous flaws such as cracks.

Dr. Armistead (Ted) Russell, Georgia Power Professor of Environmental Engineering, was named Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Advisor for his leadership proven by the achievements of his doctoral students who completed all degree requirements within the last five years.

The Outstanding Faculty Research Author Award was given to Dr. Peter J. Webster, Professor. Webster was selected based on the superior quantity and prestige of article publications garnered over the last five years.

In addition, Associate Chair Dr. Reginald DesRoches was awarded the coveted ANAK Award, considered the highest honor the undergraduate student body can bestow on a Georgia Tech faculty member. Awarded since 1942, and annually since 1947, Dr. DesRoches has joined an elite group of leaders in Georgia Tech’s history.

Finally, Dr. Jaehong Kim, Assistant Professor, received the CETL/BP Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, presented by the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL) with support from BP America. Kim was selected for his early dedication to educational innovation; connecting research and teaching; and exemplary Georgia Tech citizenship among other student-focused leadership efforts.

One of Kim’s students stated, "Simply by talking to Dr. Kim, it's easy to ascertain his intensive passion for gathering information in the environmental field and sharing it with his students.  No other professor I've had has shown as much enthusiasm for his students and his subject."

A helluva engineer, educator and leader, each of these performers represent a sample of the exceptional researchers and educators leading the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering into the 21st century. We thank the Institute’s faculty award organizers, Georgia Tech Chapter of Sigma Xi, CETL/BP America and ANAK Society for these honors. Sincere thanks are also due to the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Awards Committee, under the leadership of Dr. Terry Sturm, for its commitment to earning recognition for the extraordinary work of their colleagues.

Maintaining its position in among the most elite graduate programs in the country, the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech captured a coveted top-five position among engineering programs in U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools 2008.” In the report’s specialty rankings, the environmental engineering program leapt two spots from number six in the 2007 rankings; civil engineering held firm with its fourth place position.

The ranking, which is determined scientifically by collecting and analyzing data such as peer assessments and research funds, serves to provide an independent assessment of the academic quality of graduate programs.

Click here to read more about Georgia Tech’s 2008 graduate program rankings.

Congratulations to Mr. Ulas Tezel, a PhD candidate in the Environmental Engineering Program (advisor: S. G. Pavlostathis) who won the Grand Prize and $1,000 for the Best Overall Poster on March 9th, at the Georgia Tech Graduate Student Symposium 2007. The poster title was: Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: Fate, Antibiotic Resistance and Toxicity in Anoxic/Anaerobic Systems.

Ken Whisenhunt, CE 90, has faced uphill battles before but this one he says "is a dream come true."  Whisenhunt was named the head coach of the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals -  a team that hasn't had a winning season in the last nine years.

"I understand the situation here but I don't think you can live in the past" said Whisenhunt, the former offensive coordinator of the Pittsburg Steelers.

The full story on Whisenhunt can be read in the Spring 2007 Tech Topics Online Magazine on page 41.

CEE GRADUATE APPLICANT VISITATION  March 9 & 10, 2007
Come visit CEE at Georgia Tech!
The Applicant Visitation Program represents the best date for applicants to visit the School because of the focused attention given them by the faculty and our current students.

CEE's 2007 Applicant Visitation Program will be held on Friday and Saturday,March 9 & 10.

The program consists of an opening session, followed by a tour of CEE's facilities, lunch with students and faculty, and a chance to meet with individual faculty. Some research areas will continue into Saturday morning with meetings and detailed tours.

Please contact us if you are interested in attending the next program. Although there is no charge to attend, reservations are necessary as space is limited.  Indicate your interest in attending visitation by sending email to graduate_visitation@ce.gatech.edu with a subject of Graduate Visitation Information.

For more information on CEE's graduate programs, visit our Graduate Applicant Information web site:  http://www.gradinfo.ce.gatech.edu/

Congratulations to Ms. Sinem Gökgöz-Kiliç, a PhD student in Multimedia Environmental Simulations Laboratory (MESL) research program for winning the first prize in the 2007 ASCE Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) Technical Paper Contest. The topic of her paper was: “Dynamic Fugacity Application in Modeling Contaminant Fate and Transport in Rivers.” The paper will be presented at the upcoming ASCE World Environmental and Water Resources Congress at Tampa, Florida during May 15-19, 2007.

The Carl E. Kindsvater Environmental and Water Resources Symposium and Distinguished Lecture is named in honor of Professor Carl E. Kindsvater (1913-2002) who had a distinguished career at Georgia Tech in the School of Civil Engineering from 1945-1972.  Professor Kindsvater began his career in the area of hydraulic engineering and then moved into the field of water-resources engineering and planning in a multidisciplinary academic setting. Professor Kindsvater built the hydraulics laboratory in the old CE Building and created the graduate program in hydraulics and water resources at Georgia Tech. In addition, he initiated and led the Georgia Water Resources Institute from its infancy into a viable research entity that continues today according to the principles that he established. He was the winner of numerous ASCE awards including the Collingwood Prize, the Norman Medal (twice), the Rickey Medal, and the Julian Hinds Award. Professor Kindsvater also served as President of the Georgia section of ASCE, and Director of the District 10 ASCE Board.

See flyer for more details

Assistant Professor, Dr. Mulalo Doyoyo has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) in the United Kingdom.  As a fellow of this society, Dr. Doyoyo will be part of a unique and 250 year old organization committed to stimulating innovation and creating a better society .  The mission of its founder, William Shipley, is to embolden enterprise, enlarge science, refine art, improve manufacturers, and extend commerce.  Dr. Doyoyo works on engineered ultralight systems to meet key demands of modern and future societies focusing on energy, environment and health.  His research explores how ultralight topologies connect with mechano thermo electro chemo functions, investigates their cost, durability and manufacturing limits, and assesses their potential in dynamical systems.  Dr. Doyoyo conducts his research at the academia-industry interface leading to concepts that accelerate the commercialization of ultralight technology. 

Dr. Doyoyo will join such notable past RSA fellows as:  Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, Marie Curie, and Michael Faraday to name a few.

More information about Dr. Doyoyo can be found on his Faculty page

CEE graduate student, Jamie Padgett, was selected for an outstanding paper award from the Georgia Tech Student Paper Competition sponsored by the Science Applications International Corporation.  Jamie is a 4th year doctoral student working in the general area of Seismic Mitigation of Bridges, and is advised by Prof. Reginald DesRoches.  Her award was for a paper entitled “Assessment of Retrofitted Bridge Vulnerability for Mitigation of Seismic Risk”.  Jamie plans to pursue a career in academia upon completion of her doctoral studies in summer, 2007.  Jamie will be honored in a ceremony on November 29th.

CEE graduate student, Takao Adachi, was selected for an outstanding paper award from the Georgia Tech Student Paper Competition sponsored by the Science Applications International Corporation.  Takao is a 3rd year doctoral student whose research focuses on seismic risk assessment of interdependent lifeline systems and is advised by Prof. Bruce Ellingwood.  His award winning paper is entitled "Serviceability Assessment of a Municipal Water System under Spatially Correlated Seismic Intensities:  Approximate Closed-Form Bounds".   Takao plans to graduate in Spring 2007, and will work as an earthquake and structural research engineer of nuclear power plants in Japan.

CEE graduate student, Ben Amos, was selected for an outstanding paper award from the Georgia Tech Student Paper Competition sponsored by the Science Applications International Corporation. Ben is a 6th year doctoral student working in environmental microbiology and contaminant bioremediation and is advised by Prof. Frank Löffler.  His award was for a paper entitled “Effect of the Nonionic Surfactant Tween™ 80 on Microbial Reductive Dechlorination of Chlorinated Ethenes.”  Ben plans to pursue a career in academia upon completion of his doctoral studies in May, 2007.

Thinking of going to graduate school?
If you are nearing the end of your undergraduate studies, then you are probably thinking about whether, and which, graduate school is appropriate for you. To help answer these and other questions about graduate school, CEE's Graduate Committee would like to invite you to an informational session on graduate studies opportunities, whether at Georgia Tech or other major schools across the U.S.

The program, with free pizza and drinks, will be:

Thursday, November 9, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
at:
Mason (CE) Building - Room 142

Following a general session for everyone, we will have breakout sessions for you to meet with faculty in our various areas of concentration.

For information on CEE's graduate programs, please visit our Graduate
Applicant Information web site, at: http://www.gradinfo.ce.gatech.edu/

A ceremony held on October 24, 2006 announced the appointment of Dr. Bruce R. Ellingwood as the Raymond Allen Jones Endowed Professor.  The ceremony also recognized Raymond A. Jones, Jr. and his family for their generous gift of this endowed faculty chair.
The Raymond Allen Jones Endowed Chair is awarded to an individual who demonstrates excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship; has a track record of leadership in the profession, and is committed to the highest moral standards. Preference is given to an individual whose past and future contributions and interests are influential to the construction industry... full story

CEE Graduate Students:  To alleviate any situations with delayed monthly stipends and tuition waivers, it is imperative that the Spring Semester Support Form be COMPLETELY filled-out and submitted to the CEE Business Office not later
than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8th. 

Graduate Research Assistants (GRA); please confirm with your Faculty Advisor/Project Director the account number of the research project you will be working on. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA); please include the course
name and number in the source box on the support form. Also, Graduate Assistants (GA) requires approval from the Student Services Graduate Office prior to submitting their support form to the Business Office.  If awarded a
fellowship, remember to completely fill in the fellowship information and submit to the Business Office as well.

All graduate positions require Faculty Advisor's/Project Director's signature for approval of hirer. GTA's however, need signatures from both their Faculty Advisor and Faculty Group Leader for approval.

In addition, if you are a CEE student but currently hold a graduate position within another department and plan on accepting a GRA position with CEE; it is required that you also provide a copy of your (PSF) Personal Services Form from the previous work department in conjunction with the support form.

the link to this document is here.  If anyone is unable to access the form you may stop by the CEE Business Office (room 112 of the Mason Building) to pick up a hard copy.

Dr. Frank Löffler, Principal Investigator leading a research group, was awarded a $1.5 Million grant from the Department of Defense's Strategic and Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). The goal is to develop BioReD technology ("Biomarkers and Tools for Reductive Dechlorination Site Assessment, Monitoring, and Management") for enhanced bioremediation applications. Bioremediation relies on the activity of naturally occurring bacteria to restore contaminated subsurface environments, protect drinking water reservoirs and to safeguard ecosystem health. BioRed technology will provide the prognostic site assessment and diagnostic process monitoring tools needed for the cost-efficient and productive implementation of bioremediation approaches in environments impacted with chlorinated pollutants. The BioReD team includes Dr. Kirsti Ritalahti, a Research Scientist in CEE, Dr. Elizabeth Edwards from the University of Toronto, and Dr. Natuschka Lee from the Technical University Munich. Dr. Löffler is an Associate Professor in CEE and Biology (by courtesy), and holds the Carlton Wilder Professorship in Environmental Engineering.

Dr. Löffler is Co-Principal Investigator in an effort to evaluate factors influencing quantification and interpretation of nucleic acid biomarkers in groundwater samples. The objective is to develop standard procedures for the application of nucleic acid-based tools for surveying microbial activity in subsurface systems. Following a comprehensive analysis and the integration of the information from sample materials of diverse origins, the outcome will be a standard guidance document for nucleic acid-based groundwater analysis. The team of investigators includes scientists and engineers from the U.S. EPA, GeoSyntec Consultants, SiREM, the University of Toronto and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Carmen Lebrón from the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, Port Hueneme, CA, coordinates this effort, which is supported by a $1.1 Million award from the Department of Defense's Strategic and Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP).

The George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) has elected CEE Professor, Dr. Roberto T. Leon, to become the second president of the NEES Consortium. As President, Dr. Leon will be leading a transformation in the practice of earthquake engineering through the NEES Program. ...full story

A joint proposal submitted by the Schools of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering has resulted in a $52,900 equipment gift from Sun Microsystems’ Academic Excellence Grant Program that will provide critical, backup infrastructure for both schools. This initiative provides equipment to eligible organizations that have developed creative projects that address the company’s investment priorities and create partnerships for success.

“Sun is extremely excited to have been invited to participate in this joint project between CEE and ECE,” said Mike Martin of the Academic and Research Computing Group of Sun Microsystems. “These two groups are known for excellence in both research and academics, and we are proud to play a role in supporting their efforts which will benefit us all.”

This gift will support the research and academic missions in CEE and ECE, which each generate more than 20 TB of data that must be maintained and securely stored.   Didier Contis, the IT Manager for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering stated, “Sun Microsystems has been a long time supporter of our School and we are delighted they have renewed again their confidence in our academic and research leadership through this donation. Such equipment will allow us to further protect the ever growing amount of data generated by our various research groups and show their sponsors how serious we are in protecting their investment”.

Some of the supported centers and projects that this gift will impact the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, include:

• Commute Atlanta, a joint value pricing initiative sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and Georgia Department of Transportation;

• the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Program of the National Science Foundation, which mitigates seismic risks of the nation’s seaports;

• large scale atmospheric simulations of air pollutants to identify cost and environmentally effective strategies to improve air quality;

• large scale finite element/ finite difference simulations of viscoelastic and nonlinear problems in geotechnical earthquake engineering;

• strong motion seismology and geophysics; and

• water distribution system modeling and finite element modeling of watersheds.

Specifically, some of the activities and major initiatives in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering include:

• Educational and research needs for over 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students and 109 academic faculty members who are involved in 10 technical interest areas and more than 20 research centers. In FY 06, ECE faculty members accumulated more than $58 million dollars in research grants and contracts.

• The University Center of Excellence for Photovoltaics Research and Education: This center is one of only two U.S. Department of Energy-supported centers in the nation engaged in research and development in advanced photovoltaic materials and devices aimed at accelerating the development of cost-effective solar energy.

• The Georgia Electronic Design Center: The GEDC fosters growth in the broadband telecommunications industry and aims to establish Georgia as a world leader in the design of broadband communication systems, devices, and chips.

• The National Electric Energy Testing Research and Applications Center is a membership-centered organization engaged in pre-competitive research and development and testing for the electric energy industry. NEETRAC’s member companies account for more than 50 percent of all energy provided to U.S. electric utility customers.

“Sun Microsystems has been a long time supporter of our School and we are delighted they have renewed again their confidence in our academic and research leadership through this donation,” David S. Webb, head of the ECE Computer Support Group, stated. “Such equipment will allow us to further protect the ever growing amount of data generated by our various research groups and show their sponsors how serious we are in protecting their investment.”

Dr. Adjo Amekudzi leads the effort to create a new Guidebook to assist communities plan for pedestrians. 
Read more

Georgia Tech Emeritus Professor Stephen L. Dickerson and his wife, Jane, have provided $1.5 million to create the first endowed chair to reside in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) pending final approval from the Board of Regents, named the Frederick R. Dickerson Chair in honor of his late father.
Full Story

Robert Dell-Ross, a PhD student in the transportation program of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), recently won a one-year Eisenhower Graduate Fellowship sponsored by the National Highway Institute (NHI).  Rob is pursuing research in pedestrian modeling within the framework of the dynamic data driven application simulations (DDDAS) project under his advisor Dr. Randy Guensler.  More...

John Crocker, a Ph.D. candidate in the Transportation group in CEE, recently completed a William J. Fulbright Grant in the European Union. As a Fulbright Scholar, John spent nine months in Brussels, Belgium, researching how EU Transport Policies support the development of a multi-modal Trans-European Transport Network that would integrate European transport systems across nations. Read full story

Mshadoni Smith, PhD student in the Transportation group in Civil and Environmental Engineering recently won a one year Eisenhower Graduate fellowship sponsored by The National Highway Institute.

Ms. Smith is also a 2006 Eno Fellow, sponsored by the ENO Transportation Foundation. ...Read full story

Dr. Laurie Garrow, Assistant Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, received an Honorable Mention in the 2004 Eric Pas Dissertation Prize competition sponsored by the International Association of Travel Behavior Research (IATBR). The 2004 Pas Prize was the largest on record, with 17 dissertations nominated in four languages (English, French, German and Spanish) from eight countries. The award recognizes Dr. Garrow's dissertation research which developed models to predict airline passengers' no show and standby behavior. Dr. Garrow received her Ph.D. from Northwestern University under the guidance of Dr. Frank Koppelman.

The IATBR is an international association of researchers who are interested in research that advances the state-of-the-understanding of the link among the activity, information exchange and travel behavior of individuals. The association was established in the early 1970’s to facilitate the exchange of information among researchers around the world with a board reflecting the international balance of interests in travel behavior research. More on the IATBR and their activities can be found at: http://www.eng.usf.edu/~pendyala/iatbr/iatbr_index.htm

Congratulations to Jamie Padgett on being selected as the 2006-2007 recipient of the EERI/FEMA NEHRP Graduate Fellowship.  Jamie was chosen from a group of extremely well-qualified doctoral candidates from throughout the US.  The award is given to annually to a top student in the field of earthquake hazard mitigation.    Jamie’s research focuses on assessing the seismic vulnerability of retrofitted bridges and mitigating the seismic risk to transportation networks.  Jamie is a past recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, and plans to complete her doctoral studies in the summer of 2007.

B.S. in Environmental Engineering approved by the Board of Regents.

Please note that this degree was approved by the Board of Regents and will be available for students in the Fall semester 2006. We will be presenting more specific information over the summer of 2006, and this document contains preliminary information on the degree, and is subject to change. Please note that we intend to seek ABET accreditation for the B.S.Env.E. in 2008.

PDF of full announcement

Glenn Rix and Reginald DesRoches, faculty in Georgia Tech's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, lead a team of researchers in a new project, Seismic Risk Mitigation for Port Systems, aimed at developing strategies to help safeguard ports from earthquake damage.

The project team includes experts from Georgia Tech; University of California, Davis; Decision Research Inc.; Drexel University; University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Seismic Systems & Engineering Consultants Inc.; University of Southern California; University of Texas at Austin; and University of Washington.

Georgia Tech press release of this project.

To learn more about this project visit the Seismic Risk Mitigation for Port Systems website.

Joseph Hughes chairs the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech and serves on the EPA's environmental engineering advisory committee.  He toured the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast with President Wayne Clough in November, spoke to former Alumni Association trustees in January and recently sat down with the ALUMNI MAGAZINE.  Hughes now is helping coordinate a conference that will address the future of New Orleans.

Read full online article from GT Alumni magazine website here

PDF of article.

The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering is pleased to
congratulate all CEE students that were honored at the Student Honors
Program on April 19, 2006.  The following students received awards:

Marcus Millard received the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Undergraduate Student Award
Katie Newton received the Chi Epsilon Award
Richard Kmack received the School Chair's Outstanding Senior Award
Jessica Baker received the Buck Stith Outstanding Junior Award
Jennifer Weizenecker received the Outstanding Sophomore Award
Stephanie Lucero received the Outstanding Master's Student in Environmental Engineering Award
Benjamin Amos received the Outstanding Ph.D. Student in Environmental Engineering Award
Photo album of event

The demand for Civil and Environmental Engineers is rising as needs both in Georgia and around the globe are explored in the "Connecting The Dots"article that appears in the April 2006 issue of Georgia Trend Magazine.  Dr.Joseph B. Hughes, Chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech is prominently featured in the article.

As part of an innovative collaborative project, Profs. R. Leon and R. DesRosches are co-principal investigators on a project aimed at improving the design of braced frames subjected to large cyclic loadings (video).  The project was featured in Engineering News Record recently as an example of the type of collaboration possible under the new NSF Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES).

The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering is pleased to congratulate two faculty and one staff person in the school for receiving the institute's top awards in each of their respective categories at the annual Faculty and Staff Awards luncheon on April 12, 2006.  The recipients were:

Mr. C. Robert Hudgins, Academic Advisor II for the Outstanding Staff Performance Award

Dr. J. David Frost, Director, Academic Services, Georgia Tech Savannah for the Outstanding Service Award

Dr. Paul W. Mayne, Professor for the Outstanding Professional Education Award

The 2006 CEE awards Ceremony was held on March 28th, 2006 in the Bill Moore Student Success Center.

The full list of award recipients can be seen here

Professor Don White has been selected by the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute to receive the 2006 Shortridge Hardesty Award.  Dr. White was selected for this award for his leadership and groundbreaking research on advanced frame stability concepts and practical design formulations, along with enhanced stability design criteria for steel and composite flexural members for buildings and bridges. This award was instituted in 1987 by the firm of Hardesty & Hanover to honor the contributions of Shortridge Hardesty as first chairman of the Column Research Council (Structural Stability Research Council since 1976). The award is given annually to a member (or members if recommended) of the Society who has contributed substantially in applying fundamental results of research to the solution of practical engineering problems in the field of structural stability.

Professor Don White has been selected, along with Mr. Michael Grubb of Bridge Software Development International Ltd. and Dr. Bill Wright of FHWA, to receive the 2006 George S. Richardson Medal.  The Richardson Medal is awarded by the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania International Bridge Conference for a single, recent outstanding achievement in bridge engineering. Fields of endeavor may include design, construction, research or education.  The 2006 Award is granted for outstanding achievement in the formulation and implementation of new and improved criteria for the design of steel I- and box-girder bridges in the AASHTO 3rd Edition LRFD Specifications.

Dr. Michael Meyer has been selected as the 2006 recipient of the Wilbur S. Smith Distinguished Transportation Educator Award!  His distinguished career and long time commitment to the transportation engineering profession and to his students make him a most worthy recipient.

Dr. Meyer joins a most impressive list of past Wilbur S. Smith Transportation Education Award recipients including Harold L. Michael, 1994; James I. Taylor, 1995; C. Michael Walton, 1996; Wolfgang S. Homburger, 1997; Adolf D. May, Jr., 1998; Louis J. Pignataro, 1999; Daniel B. Fambro, 2000; Lester A. Hoel, 2001; Kumares C. Sinha, 2002; Joseph L. Schofer in 2003, Jodi L. Carson, 2004 and Alan M. Clayton, 2005.

The Wilbur S. Smith Award is given annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the transportation profession by relating academic studies to the actual practice of transportation.  The award recognizes transportation educators who help their students advance their professional development and enhance their opportunities to come into contract with practicing transportation professionals and to become active participants in the profession. Nominations are solicited every year from a wide range of professions including academics.

THE 2006 GEORGIA TECH ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SYMPOSIUM
Organized by the Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists will be held on April 7th in the Ford Environmental Science and Technology Building located at 311 Ferst Drive.

AGENDA

10:00-11:00am
Sponsor Registration (L1 atrium) and Set-up

11:00 -1:30pm
Student Poster Presentations and Sponsor Displays
Lunch Provided

1:30 – 3:00pm
Welcome (auditorium #L1205)
AEES Presentation
GAWP Presentation by Peter Johns
Graduate Student Awards Ceremony

Keynote Address:
Michael A. McGeehin Director, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects National Center for Environmental Health, CDC

3:00 – 5:00pm
Interviews (optional; to be arranged on site)

Georgia Power will be holding an open house for CEE students, faculty and staff on Thursday April 6th.  The particulars for this open house are below.

Where:
Georgia Resource Center
75 Fifth Street NW
Suite 150
Atlanta, GA 30308

Agenda includes:
Reception, Leading Edged Advancements in Georgia's Economic Development Technology, Environmental Challenges and Career opportunities.

RSVP
Jenny Mann
(404) 506-7063 or email: wfwillia@southernco.com
See Flyer

Professor Bruce Ellingwood has been selected to receive the 2006 Nathan M. Newmark Medal.  Dr. Ellingwood was selected by the Structural Engineering Insitute and the Engineering Mechanics Division of the ASCE to receive this citation, which will read, "For outstanding contributions to enhancing and incorporating probabilistic mechanics and structural reliability tools in code development and engineering practice. 

Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Mason 142 5:30pm

Come hear about great opportunities at our company, meet upper-level engineers and young engineers (Tech alumni!), and learn about our award-winning work at Atlantic Station from Project Manager Suzanne Johnson, P.E.
NOW HIRING!

FREE FOOD!  DOOR PRIZES! 

The Mitchell Lecture was established by TC 16 of the International Society on Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering (www.issmge.org) to honor Emeritus Professor James K. Mitchell who held positions at the University of California-Berkeley (1958-1993) and Virginia Tech (1993-2000), producing some 72 PhD graduates in geotechnical engineering. Professor  Mitchell provided major contributions in the area of in-situ testing related to the cone penetrometer, as well as significant advancements in environmental geotechnics, ground improvement, and soil behavior.  His book on the Fundamentals of Soil Behavior was just re-issued in its 3rd edition by John Wiley & Sons (2005). The 2006 Mitchell Lecture by Professor Mayne is entitled “Stress-Strain-Strength Response of Soils from In-Situ Penetration Tests” and will be given during GeoShanghai in June 2006, as detailed here

Professor Bruce Elllingwood of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering was presented with the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Steel Construction at its recent national convention in San Antonio, TX.  Dr. Ellingwood was cited for his research and for sustained professional contributions to the development and implementation of probability-based codified structural design for steel buildings and other structures. 

JJG Welcomes Georgia Tech Students, Faculty and Staff to explore the many exciting career opportunites at JJG. Please see the  flyer for more details.

When: Thursday, March 9th.
Time: 3-5 pm
Location: 6801 Governers Parkway
Building 200
Norcross, GA 30071

Itinerary

3:00 Arrival/Check-in

3:15 Welcome - Ed Clark (Chairman of the Board) & Don Allen (CEO/President)

3:30 Office Tour

4:30 Questions & Answers with Pizza

Please RSVP Shelita Parker 678-333-0323 or sparker@jjg.com

PBS&J will be holding an open house for Georgia Tech Students, Faculty and Staff.  Please see the flyer for more details.

When: Thursday, February 23rd
Time: 3-5 pm
Location:  5665 New Northside Drive, Suite 400
Atlanta, GA  30328

Itinerary

3:00 Arrival / Check-in

3:15 Introduction: Doug Hooker, District Director & Wade Kelly, Office Leader.

3:30 Office Tour: Transportation Planning, Transportation Design, Structural Environmental, Site Civil, Planning & Landscape Architecture, Risk & Emergency Management, Construction Management, Aviation & Surveying

4:30 Refreshments, Questions & Answers.

Please RSVP to:
Jane Nelson
770-933-0280 X 2597
vjnelson@pbsj.com

Professor Peter J. Webster, who holds joint appointments in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences has garnered Discover's top story of 2005 and the number 8 paper in Science with his paper entitled "Changes in Tropical Cyclone Number, Duration, and Intensity in a Warming Environment ". 

Professor Peter J. Webster, who holds joint appointments in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences has garnered Discover's top story of 2005 and the number 8 paper in Science with his paper entitled "Changes in Tropical Cyclone Number, Duration, and Intensity in a Warming Environment ".

Spring 2006 classes begin on January 9th, 2006.

The deadline to apply to the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering's graduate program is December 30, for Fall 2006 admission.

This is the date to submit the Institute's online application form.  All supporting materials should be received by the end of January to insure full consideration.

For information on CEE's graduate programs, visit our Graduate Applicant Information web site: http://www.gradinfo.ce.gatech.edu/  You will find a great deal of material on the School, our programs, and the graduate admission process at this site.  This is also where you can access the online application system.

Contact CEE's Graduate Office with questions, at gradinfo@ce.gatech.edu

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Policy on Overloads and Permits and Prerequisites:

CEE courses

All overloads, permits, and prerequisites are requested through the course registration system.

The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering does not allow permits for its courses for non-civil engineering majors in the early phases of registration. Due to rising enrollments in civil engineering, priority is given to CEE students. If there are spaces at the end of late registration, some accommodation may be made at the discretion of the School. An open course section does not imply that access will be granted.

Students should be aware that CEE has an undergraduate program at the Georgia Tech Regional campuses in Savannah and Statesboro. RCC, RPK, and RPY course sections denote off-campus courses which are not available for Atlanta-campus students.

COE

All requests for overloads, permits, and prerequisites should be requested through the course registration system.

Overloads for COE 2001 and COE 3001 will not be granted until late registration starting January 3rd.

Major restrictions on COE 2001 will be removed at the start of late registration, January 3rd.

Atlanta (November 9, 2005) — The massive impact of Hurricane Katrina and her cousin Rita this past summer captured the nation’s attention and compelled many to respond.

At the Georgia Institute of Technology, experts across campus responded with research, training and service projects. Among their goals are better infrastructure design, configuration of port operations to reduce down time, protection of cleanup and construction workers and accessibility to services and housing for hurricane victims with disabilities.

CEE Professor Reginald DesRoches led a team of consultants, bridge engineers, and graduate students from Georgia Tech and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to assess the damage to bridges resulting from hurricane Katrina for the American Society of Civil Engineers technical committee on Lifelines. The team members met with state officials from Louisiana and Mississippi, visited sites of bridge damage, and reviewed plans for repair and rebuilding of the damaged bridges.  Full Story

The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering is pleased to announce
the Development Consultants Group Outstanding Student Award

Since 1985, Development Consultants Group, Inc. (DCG) has been providing civil engineering, land planning, and land surveying expertise to real estate developers and others in the metro Atlanta area, as well as throughout the state of Georgia.  The company attributes much of its success during the last 20 years to the hiring of only proven “achievers” – individuals who are well above average in intelligence, in their willingness to work hard, and in their ability to meet goals.
 
In an effort to assist in the development of exceptional individuals pursuing a civil engineering education, DCG has developed the Development Consultants Group Outstanding Student Award within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech.  The award will be given to as many as four juniors or seniors majoring
in Civil and Environmental Engineering who are planning to pursue a career in land development engineering upon graduation.  Each award recipient will receive $1,250 for use during the spring 2006 semester. 

Additionally, DCG is interested in providing a workplace experience and mentoring opportunity to a student who wishes to pursue a career in civil engineering.  Toward that end, DCG may extend a summer internship opportunity to one of the award recipients. 
 
To apply for this award, an application, copy of transcript and resume must be submitted to Ms. Andrea Bé in Mason 128 by 3pm on December 1, 2005.   Final selection will be made in January 2006 and award recipients will be notified.

Application in PDF

Application in Word

Laurie Somerville has been named director of Development for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She will be responsible for the design and implementation of a comprehensive program to include private sector, corporate and foundation support for the school.

Full Story

"Energy Resources for a Sustainable Future"

Monday, November 14 @ 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm
ES&T room L1255

Hosted by the GT Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AEES) of The School of Civil & Environmental Engineering.

Speakers and topics include:
- Dr. Allison Bailes, founder of ab3Energy: oil demand and peak extraction.
- Dr. Sam Shelton, Mechanical Engineering Professor & Director of the GT Strategic Energy Initiative: recent alternative and renewable energy technologies.
- Dan Geller, engineering outreach services at UGA:  biodiesel & biofuel applications.
- Jennifer DuBose, researcher at GTRI's Sustainable Facilities & Infrastructures: sustainable tools and developments for energy conservation.

Each speaker will give a 10 minute lecture, and their talks will be followed by a mediated dialogue where you can ask questions.  Afterwards AEES is hosting a reception where you can continue to get to know our speakers.

Thinking of going to graduate school?

If you are nearing the end of your undergraduate studies, then you are probably thinking about whether, and which, graduate school is appropriate for you. To help answer these and other questions about graduate school, CEE's Graduate Committee would like to invite you to an informational session on graduate studies opportunities, whether at Georgia Tech or other major schools across the U.S.

The program, with free pizza and refreshments, will be:

Wednesday, October 26, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
at:
Mason (CE) Building - Room 142

Following a general session for everyone, we will have breakout sessions for you to meet with faculty in our various areas of concentration.

For information on CEE's graduate programs, please visit our Graduate Applicant Information web site, at: http://www.gradinfo.ce.gatech.edu/

While most college students spent their summer vacation lounging on a sun-drenched beach or hanging out by the pool, a group of Georgia Tech engineering students walked the sweltering streets of a community in Honduras in search of a good path for a water pipeline.

Though it might not have been a relaxing week, the students realized that even the basic engineering skills they had learned in their studies so far could help transform a community in a developing country.

Full story

Dr. F. Michael Saunders has been selected as the 2005 recipient of the Water Environment Federation's Gordon Maskew Fair Medal for Outstanding Service in Engineering Education. Dr. Saunders is being commended for his contributions to the education and development of undergraduate, masters, and PhD engineering students. Dr. Saunders will receive his award in an awards ceremony in November in Washington, D.C.

Dr. David Scott, Assistant Professor, at the Georgia Tech- Savannah campus will be awarded the Best Basic Research Paper by the ASCE and the Journal of Composites for Construction.  His work on the paper entitled,"Flexural Strengthening Reinforced Concrete Beams by Mechanically Attaching Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Strips" was published in the journal in 2004. 

Lisha Li is the new Information Consultant (Liaison) for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Before coming to GA Tech, Lisha worked as a Technical Librarian at Argonne National Laboratory as well as the EPA Library. She has an undergraduate degree in Electronic Engineering and a graduate degree in Library and Information Science. You may contact her at: 404-385-7185 or lisha.li@library.gatech.edu

Friday, September 16, 2005 4:00PM
Mason Building Lobby

Families of Civil and Environmental Engineering Students are invited to meet and greet faculty, staff and students in the Mason Building Lobby for a brief introduction to CEE and reception of light hors d'oeuvres.

Dr. Mustafa M. Aral, Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering was recently awarded the U.S. Public Health Service 11th Annual Engineering Literacy Award for his paper entitled "Analytical Contaminant Transport Analysis System (ACTS) Multimedia Environmental Fate and Transport. 

Jordan Smith, CEE 03, a former member of the Georgia Tech crew, won a place on the U.S. rowing team that will compete in August in the world championships in Gifu, Japan.
Smith, who has been training at the Penn AC rowing club in Philadelphia since graduation, and his teammates, Micah Boyd and coxswain Chase Phillips from the University of Wisconsin, needed to win two races and equal a qualifying time in the men's pair with coxswain finals at the national testing regatta at Lake Murray, N.J., July 24.

The International Plan designator will be available on the BSCE degree starting in Fall semester 2005. The International Plan is a challenging and coherent academic program for undergraduates that develops global competence within the context of a student's major. It is a degree-long program that integrates international studies and experiences into any participating major at Georgia Tech. It helps to prepare Georgia Tech graduates professionally and personally for successful lives in the twenty-first century. A sample BSCE degree program on the International Plan is available here: http://www.registrar.gatech.edu/degreq/degreq0506/cee-int0506.php

The GEOCONGRESS 2006 Conference will be held in Atlanta, GA February 26 - March 1, 2006.  The deadline for submitting paper manuscripts for this conference is August 19, 2005.

For more information on the key dates of this event Click here

Hermann Fritz, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Georgia Tech-Savannah, was part of an international survey team that collected data following the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami last December.

Dr. Donald W. White was honored, by the American Institute of Steel Construction, "for his leadership role in formulating new as well as improved design criteria for beams and girders."   Dr. White's work focuses on the strength and ductility of bridge plate girders made from high-performance steels. He was also cited for his work on joint, connection, and slab analysis in steel structures. 

Students sponsored by the National Science Foundation's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) grant will be spending their summer on SkIO's campus conducting a series of interdisciplinary experiments focused on aspects of the role of chemical signaling in affecting biotic interactions in aquatic systems.
Professor Mark Hay, the Harry and Linda Teasley Chair of Environmental Biology at Georgia Tech, directs the IGERT project in collaboration with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and SkIO.

According to Dr. Hay, chemical signaling in aquatic systems is inadequately studied today. There is also a shortage of scientists sufficiently trained in cross-disciplinary fields such as ecology, chemistry, sensory biology, microbiology, physiology, and small-scale hydrodynamics to conduct the numerous investigations needed to make advances in the field.

Future researchers produced through the IGERT project will fill an important role in scientific investigations that examine the ways in which aquatic ecosystems function and how human activities may cause cascades of direct and indirect effects.

So far, the IGERT program at Georgia Tech has supported close to 32 graduate students and 6 additional students are expected to participate in the program this fall. Of the anticipated 30+ doctorates supported by this program, 3 have completed their studies and 5 more are expected to graduate in coming months.

This summer the IGERT students have formed small groups to research the following projects.

How chemical interactions influence microbial diversity in salt marsh plants

Chemical signaling -- effects of the presence of predators on the behavior of prey

How estrogen impacts zooplankton food webs/Settling of oyster reef organisms in response to chemical cues

Dawn Reinhold, Ph.D. Candidate in Environmental Engineering won the First Place Award at the International Phytotechnologies Conference held here in Atlanta in May, 2005.

Her paper entitiled, "Uptake of Halogenated Phenols by Lemna minor " was co-authored by Drs Jackie Tront and Mike Saunders.

Reclamation Commissioner John Keys Honored by ASCE


The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has awarded one of its highest honors, the Civil Government Award, to Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys. The award, presented at ASCE's Annual Conference held in Nashville, Tenn., recognizes Keys for "his ability, as Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, to combine technical expertise with interpersonal skills to find innovative ways to balance competing interests, substantially raising the profile of the engineering profession."

Commenting on Keys nomination as Commissioner more than two years ago, Robert Bein, then ASCE president, recognized Keys' "outstanding reputation for integrity and for being able to develop coalitions and mutually satisfying solutions to water challenges." As commissioner, Keys oversees the operation and maintenance of Reclamation's water storage, water distribution, and electric power generation facilities in the 17 Western States.

Dr. Jorge A. Vanegas, Fred and Teresa Estrada Young Professor and Associate Professor, is the 2005 recipient of the Burdells Best Award for Outstanding Faculty Advisor.  Dr. Vanegas was nominated by the Engineering Students without Borders (ESWB) Georgia Tech chapter for his outstanding service in providing faculty advisement to the newly formed student organization.  The nature of ESWB requires that it have a solid managerial structure in order to ensure maximum efficiency, productivity and longevity. The level of expertise that Dr. Vanegas possesses has helped the organization build a strong foundation. Dr. Vanegas has worked with organization leaders to plan and implement adequate project management techniques to ensure that projects are completed successfully. Our advisors philosophy is that he is there to help guide the group in a positive direction and will propose ideas that the Executive Board can either choose to accept or decline. Dr. Vanegas challenges members to actively participate in developing good strategies for the success of the chapter.

Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize.

Dr. Joseph B. Hughes, professor and chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is the recipient of the 2005 Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize. The Prize is awarded to ASCE members for notable achievements in civil engineering research, with preference given to young members whose early accomplishments indicate future fruitful careers. In October of 1964, Alberta Reed Huber endowed this prize in honor of her husband, Walter L. Huber, a former ASCE president. Dr. Hughes received a B.A. in Chemistry from Cornell College and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Iowa. A member of the U.S. EPA’s Standing Science Advisory Committee on Environmental Engineering, Dr. Hughes is the associate director for research of the EPA’s South and Southwest Regions’ Hazardous Substances Research Center and is the chair of the Science Advisory Board of the EPA’s West Coast Hazardous Substances Research Center. A recipient of Rice University’s Charles Duncan Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, Dr. Hughes is a member of Chi Epsilon and has twice received the Rice University ASCE Outstanding Professor Award.

Two CEE students have received the prestigious Sigma Xi awards. Dr. Liang Ge received the best PhD dissertation award. Dr. Ge received his PhD in December 2004 working under the direction of Dr. Fotis Sotiropoulos. Robert Hurt received the best undergraduate research award working under the direction of Dr. Leonid Germanovich.

Brad Penar recently received the Uzun and Case Fellowship for the 2004-2005 academic year. He is an MS student in Structures performing his research under the direction of Dr. Reginald DesRoches.

Dr. Glenn Rix, Associate Professor in Geosystems Engineering was the recipient of the of the Georgia Engineer’s Week, Engineer of the Year in Education Award.  The award recognizes outstanding teaching and education accomplishments in engineering within the State of Georgia.    During his 15-year career at Georgia Tech, Dr. Rix has taught more than 1,600 Undergraduate and Graduate students and frequently offers continuing education courses for engineering practitioners.  He maintains an active research program that focuses on soil dynamics and geotechnical earthquake engineering, and is the author of more than 75 papers in leading journals and international conference proceedings.  Dr. Rix is an active member in numerous professional societies and has served as President of the ASCE Georgia Section and the Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society.

Charles Kennan Crane was the recipient of the 2005 Georgia Engineer’s Week, Engineering Student of the Year Award.  This award recognizes outstanding undergraduate engineering students in the State of Georgia.  Kennan is a senior in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a focus on Structural Engineering.  His work experiences include a Research Assistantship and conducting research at Los Alamos National Laboratory.    In 2004, he helped to lead his team to an eighth place finish at the National Student Steel Bridge Competition in Golden, Colorado.  He plans on continuing his education at Georgia Tech by pursuing a Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering.  Kennan currently serves as the president of the student chapter of ASCE at Georgia Tech.

Dr. Frank Löffler from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology won the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) Project of the Year 2004 award. The Department of Defense (DoD) recognized Dr. Löffler's contributions to innovative cleanup strategies for chlorinated solvents, which have become the single largest cost driver in the DoD groundwater cleanup program. The research team led by Dr. Löffler discovered new microbes and applied bioremediation processes that will generate significant cost savings at DoD sites across the country. The award was presented by Mr. Alex Beehler, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Environment, Safety and Occupational Health in Washington D.C. on November 30th. 2004.

"Murderball," a documentary film that followed the U.S. quad rugby team captained by Mark Zupan, CE 99, to the 2004 Athens Paralympics, won high praise at the Sundance Film Festival. Read film critic Roger Ebert's review.