ACE Department Looking for Work Study Student

Are you approved for work study for this spring semester?  Do you have solid computing skills?  We are looking for someone to work 15-19 hours per week supporting both our department and the Health Professions Department.  Check out the job listing on the student job site here: http://www.umt.edu/studentjobsapp/ViewJob.asp?id=9647 and apply through the website or send your resume to beth.shirilla@umontana.edu.

Electronics Technology Students Tour Research Facility

Students from the Electronics Technology program recently completed a tour of the research facilities at the UM Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics.


Highlighted in the tour was the robotics equipment used in the research center. X-ray crystallographers, crystallize proteins and visualize their 3-D structure from diffraction data obtained by exposing these protein crystals to high intensity X-ray beams (Top Figure). The 3-D image of the protein enables understanding of their biological function, and also is used to design new drugs against diseases. The Crystal Gryphon, is a small & fast robot for setting up crystal plates that we use in our lab to crystallize proteins (Bottom Figure). Essentially the robot consists of two arms each capable of x, y and z axis motions. The side arm on the right delivers the protein to the plates and the middle arm dispenses the crystallization solution. The protein arm dips its needle into the protein solution, withdraws the requisite amount, often just a minute drop (in the order of 1/1000 of an ml), and then dispenses them into 96 wells on to the plate below. The second robot that has 96 dispensing needles does the same, but dispensed in one motion. The plates are then set in incubators to obtain protein crystals.




The robotic arm has three degrees of freedoms, horizontal, x,y and vertical z axis, but permits only one motional degree at a time, to ensure precision and accuracy. The arms have sensor that detect liquid levels and also floor levels so that they can draw correct amounts of liquid and not touch the plates. It is equipped with motion sensors that stop the robot if it detects human movement near the needles to ensure no accidents occur. The robot is controlled solely by a computer powered by an i7, 3.4 GHz Strong Arm processor and a 64 bit robotic control software communicates via fiber optics to the robot, ensuring very high operating baud rate. Thus the overall design of the robot accommodates of precise motions with minimal human interference and is rated to perform for at least ten years of continuous use.

Dr. Layton to Give Keynote Presentation at STEM Summit in Bellevue, WA

The second annual STEM Summit (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math):Integrating STEM into Today’s Classroom to Develop Tomorrow’s Leaders will be held on Thursday, February 9th, and Friday, February 10th, 2012 at Bellevue College in Bellevue, WA.

This two-day Summit will introduce you to K-20 best practices in education focusing on innovative teaching and learning in STEM. Attendees will be examining curriculum for incorporation of best practices in STEM teaching and learning.

Dr. Layon's keynote presentation will focus on Energy Technology Education in Efficiency To Engender Energy Independence:Science & Math Lay the Foundation for the Next Generation of Energy Technology Leaders.

 Dr. Layton is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Applied Computing and Electronics at The University of Montana College of Technology.

Dr. Layton received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with concentrations in soft-tissue mechanics and the molecular structure of collagen. His dissertation topic was Remodeling of Heterogeneous Extracellular Matrices of the Diabetic Nerve: Models and Experiments. He received his Masters in Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and his Bachelors in Science in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.

Dr. Layton now serves as the Director of Energy Technology Program at The University of Montana College of Technology. He is currently facilitating the coordination of face-to-face and online learning opportunities and innovations. Dr. Layton also has a research interest in nanoscale biomechanics and has several publications in this field. He has received research funding from The National Science Foundation, NASA, The Keck Foundation, and the United States Department of Agriculture. His current passion is educating his students and the general public about the threats of energy dependence and the opportunities available for adopting sustainable energy technologies.

In his spare time Dr. Layton enjoys bicycling and hiking with his family. As a former member of the United States National Rowing Team, he now very much appreciates the opportunities he has to kayak and actually see where he is going!

For more information on the summit, please see http://www.coeforict.org/events/stemsummit/

REAP Application Process Open

The 2012 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) has been announced in the Federal Register. Applications are now being accepted for the Renewable Energy Systems, Energy Efficiency Program, Feasibility Study and Energy Audit programs.  The 2008 Farm Bill created several energy-related funding programs for USDA Rural Development. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and several other programs are designed to provide access to capital to incentivize the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy practices in rural small businesses and agricultural operations.

The MT allocations are less than last year and are as follows:
Small Grants (<$20,000) - $71,000
Large grants (>$20,000) - $72,000
REAP Guarantees - $469,644

Additional funds are available from the National Office reserve on a first come first served basis for the loan guarantee funds and on a competitive basis for the grant funds. In 2011 Montana funded $113, 414 in small grants, $158,298 in large grants, and $153,232 in Loan Guarantees. We hope to do better in 2012.

Application information can be obtained from any Rural Development Area Office or by visiting our website at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/MT_reap.html

Energy Technology Students Awarded a KRELF Grant

We recently received the news that our KRELF application was recently accepted by the review committee. Funds will be used to purchase solar cells, batteries, a motor and other components to build a vehicle to compete in the 2012 Shell EcoMarathon in Houston. The team of students represents all three University of Montana campuses, with students from Environmental Sciences, Energy Technology and Welding all collaborating to build a competitive vehicle.

REVIT Training - January 16

REVIT is a building information modeling (BIM) software product created by AutoDESK. It has been described as the revolutionary architectural design tool for all new construction. The Computer Aided Design program is sponsoring a week-long REVIT training beginning January 16th. Interest within the community has been high and registration will be limited to the first 20 applicants. Course instruction will be delivered by BIM guru Eugene O'Day. All students entering the class are expected to possess a strong background in CAD as the delivery will be paced for the intermediate/advanced user. For further information contact Krisztian Varsa krisztian.varsa@umontana.edu | 406.243.7920

New Interactive Map Launched for the PV industry

The US Department of Energy recently launched an interactive career map to help those considering entering the field of sustainable energy technology.

The map assists the user in understanding the inter-relatedness of various occupations within the various fields of sustainable energy technology.

Layton Gives talk on Thermoeconomics at ASME International conference in Denver, Monday November 14, 2011

Professor Layton traveled to Denver in mid-November to present his paper, entitled "Application of Game Theory to Thermoeconomics." During the presentation, Layton attempted to impress upon his audience that the rate at which we are currently converting chemical, nuclear, and short-wave radiant energy into thermal energy energy is clearly unsustainable. While the global rate is 200 megajoules per person per day, the average North American's rate is 1200 megajoules per day. By contrast, each person converts only 10 megajoules per day metabolically. He also introduced a relationship between information and entropy that he has been examining for the past few years and postulated that humanity entropicizes its immediate environment at a rate 10²² greater than the background entropy generation rate of the universe and noted that we can no longer escape our own entropy as evidenced by much of the thaw that is occurring in Greenland exacerbating the Fukushima disaster of March 2011, which in turn led to further entropization of the Pacific ocean. Layton was also dismayed by the unwillingness of many of the able-bodied conference participants to boycott the escalators in the conference center.

Layton fielding technical questions at the conclusion of his talk, demonstrates some of the strategies he practices to stay physically fit, keep organic material out of landfills, reduce loads on municipal waste management, and enrich the soil in his own backyard. Photo courtesy of Leila Aboharb.

Biomimicry Design Challenge

Students in the CAD Program are currently competing in the first annual Biomimicry Design Challenge. The Challenge is a global design competition (nearly 40 international teams!) in which students will apply the principles of biomimicry to improve energy efficiency and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In biomimicry, designers are inspired by organisms, systems, or processes of the natural world. For more information, Janine Benyus of the Biomimicry Institute presents Biomimicry In Action.

Over the course of the semester, students enrolled in Technical Drawing and AutoCAD II will generate ideas, draw hand sketches, ,and produce 3D models to prepare for their presentation to the judges at the Biomimicry Institute. This competition is exciting for the College of Technology because the home of the Biomimicry Institute is in Missoula so we consider ourselves the hometown favorite. Recently, Technical Drawing students completed the first round of ideation which resulted in a variety of excellent ideas and designs. The students will pick one design and then hone the project. Cheer us on as we head for the deadline of December 21st!

Janine Benyus describes Biomimicry in the following TED talk:

Energy Technology OSHA Training

Montana Department of Labor and Industry Safety and Health Bureau Chief Bryan Page inspects Energy Technology student Chris Marmorato as he dons a safety harness as Energy Technology student Timothy Cardarelli looks on. On November 3rd and 4th, seventeen Energy Technology students and alums participated in the ten-hour OSHA safety training course.

And here is the happy group of trainees after a well-delivered ten-hour session!

I.T. Students Tour Local Data Center

The Washington Corporation hosted a group of I.T. students on a tour of their newly renovated corporate data center. The data center located here in Missoula centralizes I.T. services for all companies in the Washington Corporation global operations group. Thanks to Tim, Andy, Chris, and Drew at Washington Corporation for providing this great opportunity to our students.

Students Compete in Programming Contest

Students from the Information Technology program competed in the Montana State ACM Programming Contest held Saturday, September 24. Shawn Dennis, Larry Mee, and Ray Naranjo represented the UM-COT campus in this annual event hosted at Montana State University in Bozeman. This group of students competed with Computer Science students from UM , MSU, Montana Tech, & Carroll College. Each team had 5 hours to solve 5 problems. "It was a wonderful opportunity for our students" states Instructor Rhonda Tabish, faculty advisor for the UM COT Programming Team.

Further information can be found on contest website http://www.cs.montana.edu/paxton/contest/

Changes on the Horizon for Montana Two-year Colleges

The Montana University System is undergoing a major transformational change for two-year colleges. This effort, known as College!NOW is funded through the Lumina Foundation for Education and has received national recognition.

Deputy Commissioner John Cech has provided a comprehensive update of the accomplishments of College!NOW since January 1, 2011, and an overview of the five community listening sessions planned for October (Billings, Great Falls, Butte, Helena, and Missoula) focusing on the rebranding and renaming of Montana’s five Colleges of Technology.

Sessions in Missoula will take place on Thursday, Oct 13 from 7:15-8:30am Doubletree-100 Madison-UM Room; 9:00-10:15am-UM Main Campus-32 Campus Dr-University Ctr. Theatre-3rd Floor,5:00–6:15 pm-COT Campus-909 S. Ave. West-HB 11

The first College!NOW newsletter is available at http://www.umt.edu/president/docs/CollegeNOW_enews_FINAL.pdf or on the website: http://mus.edu/2yr/COLLEGEnow/news/CollegeNow_eNews.html

Energy Professor Directs Rowing Instruction

Professor Brad Layton is slated to deliver two session on rowing techniques on the ergometer through UM Campus Recreation Fitness Programs. The sessions are slated for Wednesday, September 21 12:00-1:00pm and 4:30-5:30pm. Brad is a former US Rowing Team member and Rowing National Champion

Student Wins Undergraduate Research Award

Department of Applied Computing & Electronics student Clayton Anderson recently completed a research project involving variable power states in computing labs on the COT East campus. Clayton's research, entitled "Energy Usage Study of Student Computing Facilities at the University of Montana" won the best oral presentation in the category of Physical Sciences at 2011 UM Undergraduate Research Conference. Associate Professor Tom Gallagher was Anderson's faculty mentor. Using power management software, a MS Windows GPO provided by Energy Star, routine schedules, and regular idle periods between classes Anderson's plan applied to the 6 computer labs on the COT East Campus would save the University of Montana approximately 9,684 kWh or 6.82 metric tons of CO2 annually. Clayton and all the other winners were honored at the Mansfield Library undergraduate research exhibition and each received a $100 gift card to the UM Bookstore.

Energy Interns Complete Solar Installation

UM Energy Technology students Ryan Parks and Robert Holter interned with Simple Power’s owner Mark Dickson and crew Brad Stevens, Jona Malo, Lyle Pilon, and Mike McCraken to install the Montana’s largest PV array to this point. The array weighs in at 70KW of output and is located on a private ranch near Choteau Montana. The grid tie array utilizing Sanyo panels and Fronius inverters is not only the largest in the state but it is the first in the area to use the German manufactured Solar Linea (by Conergy) rack system. According to owner Mark Dickerson “the install went very well, the crew worked well together and the installation came together with few problems in the field showing the benefit of having time to think through the design and implementation of project anticipating most all of the problems prior to starting. The system has gone through the final commissioning process and has an output of 105% of the expected rated output, and the new owner is very satisfied stating “I feel like we really have done something here!”

MS Network Administrator Academy

The College of Technology will be hosting a Microsoft Networking Academy beginning June 15. The course is taught by Dianne Burke, a faculty member from the Applied Computing and Electronics Department. The course starting next week is one of a three-part series in MS Windows Server 2008. View the entire schedule and get an application here.

Human Powered Vehicle Challenge

University of Montana students, primarily in the Energy Technology program, competed in the West Division of the Human Powered Vehicle Challenge in Bozeman, MT. This was the first year that UM joined the competition. Captained by Marty Lamb, who graduated from the Energy Technology program the same weekend, the team won the award for sustainablity. Read the whole Missoulian article here.

Addional Sections: ITS 210 & ITS 280

Due to increased enrollment, additional sections of ITS 210 Network O.S. - Desktop and ITS 280 Computer Repair and Maintenance have been added to the Autumn 2011 schedule.

Missoula 2011 Commuter Challenge

The faculty & staff from the Applied Computing and Electronics Department (ACE) will be competing in their first annual Commuter Challenge during the week of May 1st – 7th. In the face of rising gas costs and concerns of global warming, the Missoula community takes to the sustainable streets every May to prove their ability to get out of their cars and into alternative transportation! This year, ACE will help to promote sustainable practices on campus and across the community by biking and carpooling to the College of Technology. Join the Ace Department in our effort to reduce our carbon footprint and increase awareness!