STEM | UW-Platteville News

Joanne Wilson leads the way in STEM

Authored on: Dec 12, 2019, Written by: Jane Halpern

This coming spring, Dr. Joanne Wilson will retire from her role as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Characteristically, however, she will mark the occasion by holding the door open for a new group of women eager to make their way in STEM. The WiSTEM Scholars and Leadership program, a new initiative at the university, will welcome its pilot cohort of students in the fall of 2020. In honor of Wilson, the first cohort will be named the D. Joanne Wilson WiSTEM Scholarship and Leadership Cohort.

Students give back with second annual Holiday Toy Hack

Authored on: Dec 12, 2019, Written by: Alison Parkins; Video by Easton Green

UW-Platteville students recently took part in the second annual Holiday Toy Hack. During the event, students from across campus joined together in Engineering Hall and made adaptations to toys so that they can be used by children with special needs.

Pioneer Spotlight: Mesut Muslu

Authored on: Dec 12, 2019, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

Dr. Mesut Muslu is a professor and interim chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UW-Platteville. He is also a professor of sustainability and renewable energy systems.

UW-Platteville Engineering Partnerships expands opportunities

Authored on: Dec 12, 2019, Written by: Kristine Zaballos, UW-Whitewater

An agreement, signed on Thursday, Dec. 5, will offer UW-Platteville Bachelor of Science degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering to more students in the region through UW-Platteville Engineering Partnerships, and makes UW-Whitewater at Rock County an official UW-PEP Site.

An eye-opening experience: undergraduate research at UW-Platteville

Authored on: Dec 12, 2019, Written by: Jane Halpern

UW-Platteville undergraduates have the opportunity to assist in research almost from the moment they arrive, building key skills and gaining real-world experience which helps them stand apart from the crowd.

Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Holly Attenborough

Authored on: Nov 11, 2019, Written by: Alison Parkins

A chance meeting with a high school math teacher led Dr. Holly Attenborough to pursue the field of mathematics. She joined UW-Platteville in 2013 as assistant professor of mathematics, and has already earned several recognitions, including the 2018 UW-Platteville Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence and the 2017 UW System Wisconsin Teaching Fellow Award.

UW-Platteville and Madison College formalize three agreements

Authored on: Nov 11, 2019, Written by: Bill Bessette, Madison College

In a move that will benefit students from both institutions, Madison College and UW-Platteville signed three partnership agreements today that will provide clear pathways and transfer opportunities in the areas of engineering, biotechnology and veterinary technician.

Education students offer unique Family STEM Night

Authored on: Nov 11, 2019, Written by: Jodean Grunow, Laurie Hamer

In a unique, collaborative effort, 34 UW-Platteville education students teamed with numerous staff members from Highland (Wisconsin) Elementary School to offer Highland Family STEM Night for more than 100 students and their families at the elementary school.

UW-Platteville students develop smart classroom in Neal Wilkins

Authored on: Nov 11, 2019, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

With a click of a button, UW-Platteville Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Xiaoguang Ma and his team of students are transforming a local elementary school classroom into a smart classroom with the latest wireless technologies.

Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Pamela Tas explores bio renewable resources

Authored on: Nov 11, 2019, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

Dr. Pamela Tas is an assistant professor of sustainability and renewable energy systems and the SRES program coordinator. She teaches classes related to the utilization of plant-based hydrocarbons as a more sustainable means to societies’ energy use.

UW-Platteville helps lead statewide advancements in Internet of Things technology

Authored on: Oct 10, 2019, Written by: Alison Parkins

While the Internet of Things continues to expand at a rapid rate, Dr. Molly Gribb, dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, is leading efforts to position UW-Platteville at the forefront of this cutting-edge field. Gribb was recently appointed as a founding board member of the Wisconsin IoT Council, a professional membership-driven organization that promotes Wisconsin and the Midwest as the epicenter for IoT and drives technological advancement in the region.

Civil and Environmental Engineering programs receive GPS equipment

Authored on: Oct 10, 2019, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering received eight new pieces of GPS equipment from Seiler Instrument, a value of $175,000. Seiler Instrument is lending the programs four resource grade GPS units and four survey grade units for the 2019-20 academic year.

Jiang explores innovative bridge safety research

Authored on: Oct 10, 2019, Written by: Jane Halpern

Dr. Hanwan Jiang, assistant professor of civil engineering at UW-Platteville, is using an innovative idea to research bridge safety that uses ultrasound to detect the early-stage damage in a non-destructive way.

Work with the KEEN Network fosters entrepreneurial mindset in engineering students

Authored on: Oct 10, 2019, Written by: Alison Parkins

The College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science is building its relationship with KEEN – a nationwide network of engineering institutions dedicated to advancing engineering education – and the collaboration brings many benefits to students and faculty, according to Dr. Jessica Fick, associate professor of mechanical engineering.

Talk on area surface water quality to be held at UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County

Authored on: Oct 10, 2019, Written by: John Christensen

Professor Stephen Swallen, of UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County, will be joined by Serge Koenig, of the Sauk County Department of Conservation, Planning, and Zoning to discuss their ongoing study of surface water quality in Sauk County at the campus library on Friday, Oct. 18 at 12:30 p.m.

Celik’s research aims to make solar technology more sustainable

Authored on: Oct 10, 2019, Written by: Alison Parkins

In recent years, the United States has witnessed a boom in solar energy use, as trends toward sustainable living grow. But how environmentally-friendly is solar technology when it reaches the end of its life cycle? That is the question Dr. Ilke Celik, assistant professor of sustainability and renewable energy systems, and a team of researchers are hoping to address.

Idea of turning common weeds into aviation fuel takes flight

Authored on: Oct 10, 2019, Written by: Alison Parkins

The next big idea in green energy may stem from a common Midwestern weed called pennycress, and faculty and students at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville are contributing to this cutting-edge research.

Pioneers honored with UW System award

Authored on: Sep 09, 2019, Written by: Garrison Ledbury

Two alumni and one student earned the esteemed Alliant Energy Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Academic Achievement Award. Dan Gnadt, Julian Rodriguez and Luis Balleno Jr. will be honored for their academic achievements and university involvement at UW-Madison on Friday, Oct. 25.

Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Jodi Prosise

Authored on: Sep 09, 2019, Written by: Alison Parkins

Dr. Jodi Prosise recently joined UW-Platteville as the new chair of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. She brings with her a longtime passion and interest in the idea of empowerment through technology, or, improving the lives of individuals with disabilities – specifically in low-income areas – through designing and building assistive technology.

Xiao and students research solutions for more durable concrete

Authored on: Sep 09, 2019, Written by: Jane Halpern

UW-Platteville Civil Engineering Professor Dr. Danny Xiao is interested in all the ways concrete fails. His research focuses on making one of the most important building materials on Earth even better. This summer, Xiao worked on a Wisconsin DOT-funded study to discover the most effective combination of penetrating sealant, application method and application time.

Drazkowski and Wu pictured outside Engineering Hall

Wu and Drazkowski receive best paper award at ASEE Conference

Authored on: Sep 09, 2019, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

This summer, UW-Platteville senior Anna Drazkowski traveled to Tampa, Florida, with Dr. Yan Wu, associate professor of engineering physics to attend the American Society for Engineering Education Conference to present their research. Their work, “Standard Based Grading in Introductory Physics Laboratory Courses” earned the best paper award in the Division of Experimentation and Laboratory-Oriented Studies.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony set for new hydroponics student-managed business

Authored on: Sep 09, 2019, Written by: Alison Parkins

Beginning this year, students will have access to fresh lettuce, grown on campus year-round through a new hydroponics student-managed business. Located in Glenview Commons, the 1,500-square-foot hydroponics space, built and operated solely by students, will supply nearly all lettuce used by UW-Platteville Dining Services.

Pugh receives Innovations in Technology award

Authored on: Aug 08, 2019, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

Dr. Raymond Pugh is one of two UW-Platteville faculty members to receive the Teaching and Technology Center’s 2019 Innovations in Technology for Teaching and Learning Award, providing him funds to purchase a new 3D printer.

Chattopadhyay receives innovations in tech award

Authored on: Aug 08, 2019, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

Dr. Soma Chattopadhyay, University of Wisconsin-Platteville associate professor of chemistry, is introducing her proposal, integrating computational chemistry into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum with the web-based interface program WebMO.

Sargent honored with Woman of the Year Award

Authored on: Aug 08, 2019, Written by: Alison Parkins

Kim Sargent has been supporting women students in the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for about eight years. She is now being honored with the university’s 2019 Carol Sue Butts Woman of the Year Award. Named for the provost emeritus and former interim chancellor who served at UW-Platteville from 1998 until 2010, the award recognizes female employees and students who make a difference in the lives of women.

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