Mechanical Engineering Department---UPRM

UTC Donates $20K to the Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Design Center!!!

On October 3, 2002 Ivelisse Muñoz, from UTC Fuel Cells, ’92 alumna of our ME Department, and member of our Industrial Advisory Board, presented a check for $20K to the Department for the development of the Mechatronics Design Center. The newly created Center provides support to undergraduate as well as graduate students including laboratory activities for the courses INME 4009 and INME 4031. In addition, the center will host summer camps for high school students and will provide other services to the community.

UTC Fuel Cells, a unit of United Technologies Corporation, is the world leader in fuel cell production and development for commercial, transportation, residential and space applications. One of the largest companies in the world solely devoted to fuel cell technology, UTC Fuel Cells has more than 40 years’ experience in the fuel cell business. Since 1966, all of the more than 100 U.S. manned space flights have operated with UTC Fuel Cells-supplied power plants. UTC Fuel Cells power plants provide efficient, reliable electrical power -- as well as drinking water for astronauts -- and have logged more than 90,000 hours in space. For more information on this company check out their website: http://www.utc.com.

Boeing Company awards $25K in scholarship to 10 College of Engineering students!!!

As part of its on going relationship with the College of Engineering, The Boeing Company awarded $25K in scholarships to 10 engineering students. In addition, the Boeing Company donated $15K to the Electrical and Computer Engineering and $10K to the ME Mechatronics Design Center.

The student scholarships were officially presented during a formal dinner held on September 29, 2002 at the Mayagüez Resort and Casino. Proud parents joined faculty, administrators, and Boeing representatives to congratulate the students in receiving the competitive awards. From our Department, Néstor M. Martínez and Mariam Rodríguez were the winners. Congratulations!!!

In a surprising announcement, José Font from Boeing presented an additional donation to be distributed among the College of Engineering Student Organizations. Some of them are: ASME, SAE, SHPE, SWE, Tau Beta Pi, Golden Key, IEEE, IEEE Communications, among others.

The Boeing Company is the world's leading aerospace company, with its heritage mirroring the history of flight. It is the largest manufacturer of satellites, commercial jetliners, and military aircraft. The company is also a global market leader in missile defense, human space flight, and launch services. In terms of sales, Boeing is the largest U.S. exporter. Total company revenues for 2001 were $58 billion. For more about Boeing, see their website: www.boeing.com.

The Institute of Mechanical Engineers Initiates 80 Students!!!

In this academic year 2002-2003, the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IIM) continues to work for the social and professional development of mechanical engineering students at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. On September 26, 2002 the IIM celebrated its annual initiation at the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico (Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores de Puerto Rico). This year, more than 80 students joined the association. Click here to see the president’s message at the Initiation Ceremony.

The IIM have scheduled a number of activities for this year that will serve to foster the professional development of the members and to promote the profession among future engineers--ages 5 years and up! Some of the upcoming IIM activities are: seminar series, Olympic Games, an Open House for K-12 students, and informal Get-Togethers. Activities will be announced on this web site. The Institute of Mechanical Engineers invites all ME students to participate in its exciting activities. For more information, send an e-mail to: iim_rum@yahoo.com

Our major sponsor of the Mechanical Engineering’s Mechatronics Design Center

The Department of Mechanical Engineering received a donation of $119,654 over 3 years from the company Procter & Gamble for the development of the Mechatronics Design Center (MDC). The center will train our engineering students in the multidisciplinary field of information-driven machinery. The establishment of the MDC responds to an increasing need to prepare engineers in the fundaments of computer-controlled systems and processes as well as to provide continuous education in the growing field of mechatronics to practicing engineers and technicians.

The term mechatronics refers to a methodology for the optimal design of computer-controlled systems and processes. It involves the combination of four fundamental disciplines—mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and information technology. Through the efficient use of the available 1,740 square feet of space, the Center focuses on four main activities, 1) Course development, 2) Industry training, 3) Research and Development and 4) working with future scientist and engineers by sponsoring summer camps for high school students. Procter & Gamble was established in 1837, and began as a small, family operated soap and candle company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Today, Procter & Gamble markets more than 250 products to more than five billion consumers in 130 countries. Procter & Gamble has being working with the School of Engineering for over 20 years and has a long record of commitment to excellence in engineering education. This donation is an example of Procter & Gamble’s commitment to the quality of out graduates. Alex Albacarys and Maite Iraolagoitia, two of our graduates have being coming to out campus for many years to recruit our graduates and to team up with faculty and staff to help assure the quality of our engineering education. Maite Iraolagoitia, (mechanical engineer, class of ‘92) is Proctor & Gamble’s focus (liaison) person for the Mechanical Engineering Department. She reported that many of Procter & Gamble’s engineers graduated from UPRM. The consistently high quality of our graduates keeps companies like Procter & Gamble coming back to UPRM to satisfy their need for the best of the best. The faculty, staff and students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering are very grateful to Procter & Gamble for this sizable donation.

ASME fellow awarded Dr. Fernando E. Plá Barby

The President of ASME International, Ms. Susan Skemp, awarded ASME Fellow to Dr. Fernando E. Plá Barby. An awards activity was held Saturday October 12, 2002 in the new Colegio Ingenierios y Agrimesores building in Mayagüez to honor Dr. Plá Barby. Dr. Plá Barby is the fourth ASME Fellow from Puerto Rico.

ME Department's personnel request nominations for the 2001-2002 ME department's distinguished professor award!!!

The ME Department Personnel Committee requests nominations from:
- ME Department Faculty members
- Students (10 or more students can nominate a professor)
- Representatives from Student Chapters of Professional Organizations: ASME, SAE, IME, and other organizations recognized by the department.
- Self nomination
- Personnel Committee

All nominations must be in writing. Please submit nominations no later than March 11, 2003.
Submit nominations to Dr. Nellore Venkataraman, Chairman, Personnel Committee