Tag Archives: engineering

2017 Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award winner announced

The Penn State University Libraries presented the 2017 Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award to Schreyer Honors College Scholar Alexander Walsh following his public oral presentation May 4. Walsh will receive $1,250 for his thesis, “Effects of Extrusion Temperature and Printer Nozzle Speed on the Tensile Properties of 3D Printed Polylactic Acid.” Walsh received his degree in mechanical engineering this past weekend.

Aviva Doery, a Schreyer Scholar who graduated with degrees in international politics and global and international studies, won $750 for her thesis “The Lives of Lesbian Women in Berlin Before and Beyond the Rise of the Nazis 1933-1945.” Schreyer Scholar Samuel Lapp, a graduating senior who earned his degree in engineering science, was awarded $500 for his thesis “Modeling Intonation in Non-Western Musical Cultures.”

The annual competition included a review of the submitted theses by a faculty jury and a public oral presentation by the three finalists. The Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award provides an opportunity to fully appreciate the academic quality of Penn State students and the depth of their undergraduate research.

The Libraries initiated this award as a way to emphasize the importance of utilizing quality research methods and employing a thorough understanding of the legal and ethical issues related to the use of information — both key components of academic excellence. For Schreyer Scholars, the thesis is the capstone of their honors experience at Penn State. This competition recognizes the discerning inquiry and diligent research undertaken by the scholars in preparation of the completion of each thesis.

This year’s panel of judges was composed of six Penn State faculty: Julian Avery, senior lecturer and research associate of wildlife ecology and conservation, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, College of Agricultural Sciences; Carter Hunt, assistant professor, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, College of Health and Human Development; and from the University Libraries, Larry and Ellen Foster Communications Librarian Jeffrey A. Knapp; Eric N. and Bonnie S. Prystowsky Early Career Science Librarian Robert Olendorf, Instruction and Outreach Archivist Julie Porterfield, and Louis and Virginia Benzak Business Librarian Diane Zabel, the panel’s chair.

The submissions process for the Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award begins in January of each year. Students who have graduated in summer of the previous year or fall or spring of the current academic year are eligible to participate. Details are available at https://libraries.psu.edu/about/student-awards/outstanding-undergraduate-thesis-award.

For more information, contact Wendi Keeler at 814-863-5449 or wak109@psu.edu.

The three finalists selected for the 2017 Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award participated in a public oral presentation on May 4, 2017. University Libraries Associate Dean Anne Langley, Diane Zabel, Louis and Virginia Benzak Business Librarian and jury chair Diane Zabel join Schreyer Honors College Interim Dean Kathleen Bieschke (far right) in presenting the winner Alexander Walsh and finalists Aviva Doery and Samuel Lapp with their prizes.

De-Stress Fest at University Park April 30-May 2

promotional graphic for De-Stress Fest April 30-May at the University Park Library locations.Fun and relaxing activities during “De-Stress Fest” at the University Park campus will help students reduce stress as they study for finals and complete papers and projects. From 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, April 30-May 2, students can stop in the Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, and enjoy free coffee and snacks or stretch their minds with a quick game and mental break.

The first-floor lobbies of Pattee Library and Paterno Library will have bean-bag toss boards, Wii games and puzzles available for students all day throughout finals week. During the De-Stress Fest hours from 3-8 p.m. in the Mann Assembly Room, art therapy and classic games allow students to relieve stress during this busy week. In addition to those study break activities, HealthWorks will offer a De-Stress Zone with brain massage music, biofeedback programs and stress management workbooks from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Branch library locations at University Park also will offer snacks and relaxing activities for students. The Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library will provide origami projects and puzzles all day Tuesday-Thursday, April 25-27, with snacks and drinks offered from 7-9 p.m. The Fletcher L. Byrom Earth and Mineral Sciences Library will offer puzzles and other study-break activities as well as apples and snacks, while supplies last, each day Sunday, April 30, through Thursday, May 4.

Bring your own cup and enjoy snacks and drinks from 6-7 p.m. at the Engineering Library Sunday-Wednesday, April 30-May 3, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday-Wednesday, May 1-3. With newly configured group workspaces, the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library will have snacks and drinks available all day, while supplies last, Monday-Thursday, May 1-4, with puzzles and other activities for study breaks.

An 8.5×11 downloadable PDF for this event is available to print or share with colleagues and organizations.

View the full schedule for De-Stress Fest activities at all University Park library locations:

Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library
(First floor, Stuckeman Family Building)
Tuesday-Thursday, April 25-27

Pattee Library and Paterno Library
3-8 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, April 30-May 2
Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library

  • Free coffee and snacks
  • Art therapy

4-6 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, April 30-May 2
HealthWorks De-Stress Zone

  • Brain massage music, biofeedback programs and stress management workbooks

Paterno Library Lobby

  • Puzzles (all day)

Pattee Library Lobby, Central

  • Wii games and bean bag toss (all day)

Fletcher L. Byrom Earth and Mineral Sciences Library
(first floor, Deike Building)

Sunday-Thursday, April 30-May 4

Engineering Library (third floor, Hammond Building)
Sunday-Wednesday, April 30-May 3 — (all day)

  • Puzzles, coloring, origami and other activities

Sunday, April 30 — 6-7 p.m.

  • Snacks and drinks (please bring your own cup)

Monday-Wednesday, May 1-3 — 10-11 a.m. and 6-7 p.m.

  • Snacks and drinks (please bring your own cup)

Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library (second floor, Davey Lab)
Monday-Thursday, May 1-4

  • Apples and snacks (all day, while supplies last)
  • Puzzles and other activities

For more information about De-Stress Fest or for questions about accommodations for this event, contact Megan Gilpin at 814-867-0069 or mcg13@psu.edu.

Penn State laureate discusses creative problem-solving April 13

Rebecca Strzelec, Penn State laureate and professor of visual arts at Penn State Altoona, will present “Art + Engineering = Creative Problem Solving” at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library. The event is free and open to the campus and local community. Penn State University Libraries employees who are unable to attend in person may enjoy the presentation on Mediasite Live.

A Penn State faculty member since 2002, Strzelec has been using 3D printing technologies in her work since 1999 and will address 3D printing’s trajectory as well as the significant and meaningful advances in many fields, including health care, safety, architecture, and art and design. Strzelec’s presentation will also include her experiences as a co-principal investigator on a four-year, $2 million National Science Foundation grant focusing on multi-field responsive origami structures.

For more information on this event, or for questions about accommodations or the physical access provided, contact Jeff Knapp, Larry and Ellen Foster Communications Librarian, at 814-863-2480 or jak47@psu.edu in advance of the presentation.

The complete Penn State News article may be read online. An 8.5×11 downloadable PDF is available for printing or for sharing with colleagues.

Engineering Library holds “Dog-tor Who” contest

Story and photo by Abby Maxwell

It’s common knowledge among most members of the Penn State community that our school is home to hundreds of clubs and organizations. One club some students may not know about is TARDIS: Penn State’s Doctor Who club. “Doctor Who” fans know that in the context of the television show, TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space) is a time traveling British Police Box. But at Penn State, TARDIS stands for True Aficionados Relating to Doctor Who and Intersecting Subjects.

Penn State TARDIS is a group of students—many of whom happen to be engineering students—who share a common love of “Doctor Who” and all things relating to British television. The club meets weekly to watch episodes, play games and discuss their passion for these various shows. In addition to meetings to celebrate their passion for “Doctor Who,” the club holds fundraising events such as pierogi days and collecting food for underprivileged local families. Bonnie Osif, engineering librarian and faculty adviser for Penn State TARDIS, says, “they are a phenomenal group—a joy to be with.” She shares their love of “Doctor Who” and states that she would love to play a role in an episode, even as a Dalek—simplified for those less familiar with the show as “basically an evil salt shaker that wants to kill you.” Continue reading