STEM

Mechanical engineering students turn recycled plastic into respiratory face masks

Authored on: May 05, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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To help combat the shortage of personal protective equipment during this COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Jodi Prosise, chair of the UW-Platteville Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and a team of undergraduate researchers are designing a system to turn recycled plastic into respiratory face masks.

Alumnus finds success in innovation at UW-Platteville, now supports others

Authored on: May 05, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Recent graduate Caleb Dykema is taking the experiences in innovation he found at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and inspiring others to achieve the same through his new podcast, Just the Bulb.

Students to share senior design projects in virtual open house

Authored on: May 05, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Adaptability is perhaps one of the most important skills an engineer must have, and students in the Senior Design Program at UW-Platteville this spring have had a chance to put this skill to the test. The Senior Design Program pairs student groups with an industry partner to solve real problems or create new products. When the COVID-19 pandemic required students to transition to remote learning, they had to make some quick adjustments. On May 20, students will virtually present their final projects to the public during the Senior Design Open House.

Students join global initiative to share resources to research COVID-19

Authored on: May 05, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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A group of UW-Platteville students and one alumnus have found a creative way to team up, while staying at home, to contribute to the fight against COVID-19. They formed a UW-Platteville team to contribute to the Folding@home project – a distributed computing project that relies on people around the world to volunteer their personal computer resources to run simulations of protein dynamics to help scientists find cures for diseases.

UW-Platteville student creates ear guards for Wisconsin hospitals

Authored on: Apr 04, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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After hearing about the growing shortage of personal protective equipment for health care workers, UW-Platteville senior Sam Smith decided he needed to help those battling the COVID-19 crisis. Smith, a computer science major from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, started producing ear guards with his 3D printer. He can create five guards every two hours.

UW-Platteville professor manufactures hand sanitizer for Wisconsin communities

Authored on: Apr 04, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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Dr. James Hamilton, professor of chemistry at UW-Platteville, is working with the state of Wisconsin to produce tens of thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer to help protect communities from COVID-19.

McLanahan creates lab-simulating applications for students

Authored on: Apr 04, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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“We are all sacrificing much for the COVID-19 crisis. I didn't want my students to sacrifice anything more than they had to,” said Dr. A. L. Ranen McLanahan, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UW-Platteville. To help transition his thermal systems lab courses into a new alternative delivery, he created four interactive lab-simulating applications for his students to download, calling the series, “Little Dude in Consulting World.” The apps allow students to control a 2D avatar who explores a 2D lab world from inside the classroom.

Shop staff creates face shields for area health care workers

Authored on: Apr 04, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is partnering with a local hospital to help protect health care workers on the front lines of COVID-19. The College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science shop supervisors are using 3D printers to create face shields for medical professionals at Southwest Health.

UW-Platteville to host big data and AI workshop

Authored on: Mar 03, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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UPDATE: Due to safety and health concerns around COVID-19, this event has been cancelled as a precautionary measure. The UW-Platteville Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering is partnering with OpenPOWER to present the Big Data and AI Workshop on Tuesday, April 7. Attendees will learn about the latest research and development on big data, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

Students research prairie plant genetic diversity

Authored on: Mar 03, 2020, Written by: John Christensen

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Ongoing work, involving students, in analyzing, cataloging, and sharing the DNA profiles of native grasses and other plant life in preserves and open spaces around Sauk County will aid prairie restoration efforts in communities across Wisconsin and in other regions as well. That’s according to research currently performed by University of Wisconsin-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County students Emily Forbush and Brooke Martin, who together are working to understand what grasses and plants make up a thriving prairie in the rocky and all-season conditions found near the campus.

Chemistry students to present research at state, national levels

Authored on: Mar 03, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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Four chemistry students are preparing to present their undergraduate research, learning biochemistry the write way: applying writing-to-learn in STEM, at three different events across the country, including Posters on the Hill in Washington, D.C.

UW-Platteville and Edgewood College Launch New Partnership

Authored on: Mar 03, 2020, Written by: Ed Taylor, Edgewood College

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UW-Platteville and Edgewood College are pleased to announce the Engineering Dual Degree, that will allow students to complete two degrees simultaneously. Students will earn a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Physics from Edgewood College, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in either Electrical or Mechanical Engineering at UW-Platteville. The two institutions celebrated the agreement at a signing ceremony held today.

Students take first place and innovation award for cutting-edge technique at casting competition

Authored on: Mar 03, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Students in the American Foundry Society Club at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently topped their previous successes in a regional casting competition by not only taking a first-place finish, but also earning the competition’s Imagination in Metalcasting Award – a first in the competition’s history.

Students to present disaster response applications at Research in the Rotunda

Authored on: Mar 03, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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Natural disasters are inevitable, but a group of students are researching how an application can assist with disaster response. Several students are collaborating with Electrical and Computer Engineering Assistant Professor Dr. Mehdi Roopaei on their research topic, device analytics for disaster response applications.

Golden’s research aims to advance transistor technology

Authored on: Mar 03, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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The race to create faster, smarter and smaller electronic devices has consumed the tech industry for decades, but is there a physical limit to just how small they can go? It is a question being explored in UW-Platteville's Material Fabrication and Nano Characterization Lab. Kayla Golden, a senior electrical engineering major, will present her research on nanoscale vacuum-channel field emission transistors at the annual UW System Research in the Rotunda event in Madison, Wisconsin.

Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Fang Yang

Authored on: Feb 02, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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As an associate professor of electrical engineering, Dr. Fang Yang specializes in power engineering – an interest she developed during a summer camp in middle school, where she had a chance to visit power plants. Now she teaches these concepts to a unique group of students on the UW Oshkosh Fox Cities campus through the UW-Platteville Engineering Partnership.

Frayer to receive Distinguished Teaching Award from the Wisconsin Section of the Mathematical Association of America

Authored on: Feb 02, 2020, Written by: Mathematical Association of America – Wisconsin Section

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University of Wisconsin-Platteville Professor of Mathematics Dr. Chris Frayer will receive the 2020 Distinguished Teaching Award from the Wisconsin Section of the Mathematical Association of America.

Students hope research brings awareness about emerging disease in snakes

Authored on: Feb 02, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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For the past several years, UW-Platteville students, led by Dr. John Peterson, associate professor of biology, have been researching an emerging snake fungal disease that threatens to disrupt the balance of ecosystems across the country, including in Wisconsin.

A thousand tiny things: Dr. Ilke Celik’s students save energy one choice at a time

Authored on: Feb 02, 2020, Written by: Jane Halpern

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Anyone who has touched a light switch in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Ottensman Hall recently may have noticed a small green placard near the plate urging people to turn the lights off when they leave the room. That placard is the work of Dr.

EMS students showcase their ‘Kiln Rats’ pottery in Nohr Gallery

Authored on: Feb 02, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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Two students from the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science are using a creative outlet to enhance their education. Brady Zink and Sam Horsnell share a passion of science and ceramics, which has led their collection of pottery — titled Kiln Rats — to be showcased in the Harry and Laura Nohr Gallery until March 3.

Something That You Love Doing: The David Murphy and Virginia Bowar Scholarship

Authored on: Feb 02, 2020, Written by: Jane Halpern

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When you ask Dave Murphy to describe the goals of the UW-Platteville scholarship that bears his name, the recently-retired president of MSA Professional Services is typically modest. “I really hope that I made it easier on the students’ parents, on the families who are supporting them,” he said. “And I hope it makes a difference to the students.”

Strand Associates’ impactful gift to support College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science students

Authored on: Feb 02, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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A longtime partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Strand Associates was recently reaffirmed with a $200,000 commitment from the engineering firm, located in Madison, Wisconsin.

Selent and students prepare for battle

Authored on: Feb 02, 2020, Written by: Jane Halpern

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Somewhere, right now, on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s idyllic rural campus, a battle is brewing. Dr. Doug Selent’s students are feverishly perfecting their programmed pets for Pokemon-style virtual combat, in a game tournament the software engineering assistant professor calls “Battle Pets.”

Boebel Hall renovations set to begin

Authored on: Jan 01, 2020, Written by: Paul Erickson

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The $23.7 million Boebel Hall renovations are set to begin in the upcoming weeks. The project will renovate existing laboratory and classroom space to become instructional laboratories, preparation and support space, research and undergraduate research space and a general assignment classroom while adding stunning new looks.

UW-Platteville faculty, students help defend the Great Lakes

Authored on: Jan 01, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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It is no secret that Wisconsin has great fishing opportunities, however, many are unaware of a threat posed to the state’s fishing industry by invasive fish, such as bighead carp and silver carp. Dr. Thomas Zolper, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UW-Platteville, and his students, have spent the past several years collaborating with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to combat this threat.