Engineering News

The Clean Energy Institute was formed last summer when the governor and state legislators gave $6 million to create a research center to develop efficient, cost-effective solar power and better energy storage systems. 

A report released by the Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP) details the growth of e-waste will come from emerging economies instead of from the West for the first time.

University of Buffalo scientists have developed a method to detect bridge corrosion using an electric shock sent through the steel cables of a bridge. The presence of corrosion would be detected immediately by a decrease in the charge strength.

Through funding sponsored by the National Science Foundation, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed graphene-based nano-antennas. Utilizing the unique electronic properties of graphene, they are working to connect these devices powered by small amounts of energy.

Two technology giants have been issued patents that could change your everyday life. Google received a patent for a car that listens to its surroundings and takes control of the car. Microsoft is working to make a few waves of your arm into a way to control everything in your home.

Earlier this week, General Motors announced that current CEO Dan Akerson will retire as CEO in early January 2014. Mary Barra was elected by the Board of Directors as the new CEO – the first female CEO among all major automakers.

Singapore’s Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU was signed today to create a larger partnership in science and technology.

Dr. Howard E. Michel has been selected as the 2014 IEEE President-elect and will begin his one-year term on January 1, 2014. Dr. Michel is an associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UMass-Dartmouth and engineering consultant.

As part of the FCC’s initiative to bring broadband access to rural communities, the Connect America Fund received over $225 million in funding to connect almost 1 million people who lack service.

Data released from the Environmental Agency reported a total of 125,183 tonnes of household and non-household WEEE was collected for recycling for the third quarter in 2013. Total collections for the first nine months of 2013 totaled 365,814 tonnes, equivalent to a 32.78% collection rate.