J. Iwan Alexander, Ph.D. – Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Case Western Reserve University and Chief Scientist for Fluids at the National Center for Microgravity Research on Fluids and Combustion

Norman C. Tien, Ph.D. – Dean and Nord Professor of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University’s Case School of Engineering

Friday October 12, 2007
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Crawford Hall – Room 9
Inamori Center
Case Western Reserve University

From fuel cells to wind energy, Case Western Reserve University’s faculty has worked on a wide range of energy innovations.  Now the university is creating the Great Lakes Institute for Energy Innovation to advance sustainable energy generation, storage, distribution and utilization, through coordinated research, development, and education.

One of the first new projects for the Institute will be a feasibilty study to develop a new Great Lakes Wind Energy Research Center.  On August 23 the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners authorized this study, with an eye towards developing the first fresh water, offshore wind project in the world.

How can the university contribute to a better energy future?  What are the plans, and what are the prospects?  Dean Tien and Professor Alexander will join us on October 12 to talk about the new Institute.
Please come with questions, ideas, and curiosity.

The remainder of this e-mail reports what we know about the schedule for the rest of the semester. We will be sending out announcements each week. If you would prefer not to receive the announcements, please inform Dr. Andrew Lucker, Associate Director of the Center for Policy Studies, by e-mail (andrew.lucker@case.edu).

About Our Guest

Norman C. Tien is the dean and Nord Professor of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University’s Case School of Engineering. He is also the Ohio Eminent Scholar in Condensed Matter Physics.

Tien joined the Case faculty in January 2006 as the Nord Professor of Engineering and chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). As chair, Tien facilitated the opening of the state-of-the-art, multimillion-dollar Sears Undergraduate Design Laboratory in EECS, which provides electrical engineering students with an environment that promotes and encourages hands-on engineering and design. The $6 million donation from alumni Larry and Sally Zlotnick Sears was the largest outright gift from an individual in the engineering school’s history. In addition, he oversaw the building of new departmental facilities in EECS.

Tien’s research interests are in the area of micro and nanotechnology-including microelectromechanical (MEMS) systems-the fabrication of small structures, tools and instruments for use in wireless communications, biomedical systems and environmental monitoring.

Prior to coming to Case, Tien served as chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California at Davis and held a joint appointment at the University of California at Berkeley. He also served as co-director of the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center. He previously held faculty positions in Cornell University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Tien received his Ph.D. from the University of California at San Diego, his MS from the University of Illinois, and his BS form the University of California at Berkeley.

Iwan Alexander is a professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Case Western Reserve University and is the Chief Scientist for Fluids at the National Center for Microgravity Research on Fluids and Combustion. Dr. Alexander’s research interests cover a number of topics ranging from the physics and mechanics of fluid interfaces, vibrational and g-jitter convection and transport to crystal growth and solidification. This work has produced over a hundred published papers.  Much of his work over the last fifteen years has been associated with theoretical studies, computational simulations and experiments, particularly those processes associated with materials preparation. He has also been involved with 5 space experiments, three involving crystal growth, one liquid diffusion experiment and an acceleration measurement experiment. Dr. Alexander serves on a number of national committees, has chaired two Gordon Research Conferences (Gravitational Effects in Physical-Chemical Systems and Thin Film and Crystal Growth Mechanisms), and is internationall y recognized for his work on microgravity fluid processes. As the NCMR’s chief scientist for fluids, he is directly involved in implementing the center’s vision to become a focal point for microgravity fluids and combustion research that will develop a knowledge base for the design and development of reliable efficient and cost-effective space experiments.

Friday Lunch and Other Public Affairs Upcoming Topics and Speakers:

Oct 19: The Peanut Allergy Puzzles. Dr. Alton Melton, Section Head, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital.

October 26: TBA

November 2: European Terrorism Past and Present. Kenneth Ledford, Ph.D., J.D., Associate Professor of History and Law, Case Western Reserve University

November 9: Journalistic Ethics. Ted Gup, Shirley Wormser Professor of Journalism at Case Western Reserve University and Chris Sherridan, fromer associate editor and award-winning editorial writer and columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and special assistant to CWRU President Barbara Snyder

Other Friday Lunch topics and speakers TBA.

Also coming to campus:

October 25, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m., Ford Auditorium. Theda Skocpol, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology, Harvard University (and Dean of Graduate Studies 2005-2007). A former President of both the American Political Science Association and of the Social Science History Association, among many other contributions, Dr. Skocpol is one of the most distinguished political scientists in the country.

November 12, 4:15 – 5:45 p.m., Ford Auditorium. Thomas Patterson, Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, will speak on “The Invisible Primary: Money, Media and Polls in the 2008 Presidential Race.”

For more information about these and other Center for Policy Studies programs, please see http://policy.case.edu.