OU Engineering

Contact: Lori Johnson LJohnson@anglinpr.com 405-840-4222 University of Oklahoma Oklahoma University College of Engineering hosts International WaTER Conference The WaTER (Water Technologies for Emerging Regions) Center at the University of Oklahoma is bringing together researchers and advocates from around the world to focus on the life-sustaining resource, clean water. The center reports that more children die each year due to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene than AIDS and malaria. This is not due to water scarcity, but rather poverty, inequality and government failures. The center will address both the technical and non-technical water and sanitation issues at the 2011 International WaTER Conference, scheduled for Oct. 24 and 25 at the Oklahoma Center for Continuing Education on the OU Norman campus. The two-day conference includes local and international speakers, breakout sessions, and poster and paper sessions in fields of social entrepreneu

September 22, 2011 Contact: Beth Higdon E-mail: Beth@AstronautScholarship.org Phone: 321.455.7013 NORMAN, OKLA. – Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke will present University of Oklahoma (OU) student Bradley Pirtle with a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) during a public presentation and ceremony, September 28, 2011 at 1 p.m. in room 200 of the ExxonMobil Lawrence G. Rawl Engineering Practice Facility at OU. While there, Duke will share his experiences of walking on the Moon during Apollo 16, in addition to presenting the award. The lecture is free and open to the public. “Bradley is a clear leader in computer engineering at the University of Oklahoma,” said Duke. “He is a prime example of everything an Astronaut Scholar is supposed to be: intelligent, perseverant and destined for greatness. I am honored to have the opportunity to present this award to such a worthy OU student.” Pirtle is a senior majoring in computer engineering. Fascinated with ro

Contact: Karin Schutjer, Deptartment of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences kschutjer@ou.edu (405) 325-1907 NORMAN – Kyle Olson became hooked on Germany during a summer language course in Stuttgart following his freshman year at the University of Oklahoma. In planning his return for a longer stay, he learned of a scholarship opportunity from the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst, or German Academic Exchange Service, the German national agency for the support of international academic cooperation. Olson applied, received the scholarship and was able to return to the University of Stuttgart for a full year with all expenses paid. Now, the civil engineering and economics major with minors in German and international studies is back at OU for his senior year. This year, he has an important new role: as one of 42 student ambassadors across the United States and Canada for the German Academic Exchange Service.

Contact:   Jana Smith, Director Strategic Communications for R&D University of Oklahoma                   405-325-1322; jana.smith@ou.edu Norman, Okla.— A University of Oklahoma environmental science graduate student is the recipient of the 2011 EPA Science to Achieve Results Fellowship for research on safe drinking water with a focus on the Rift Valley area of Ethiopia. Laura Brunson, a doctoral student in the OU School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, will receive up to $42,000 per year for a three-year period to support her demonstrated commitment and on-going research on safe drinking water solutions for developing countries. “This award recognizes Laura’s unique abilities, contributions to date and future potential as an international leader in her field.   We are so fortunate to have her as part of the OU WaTER Center team where she is making significant contributions to improve the lives of those living in poverty in Ethiopia,” states David A.

The Expo will take place in the southwest corner of the LNC parking lot. The Sooner Engineering Expo is an event for the College of Engineering's competitive teams at the University of Oklahoma to showcase their projects by way of dynamic demonstrations. Come see what we've been up to on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the southwest corner of the Lloyd Noble Center parking lot, which will literally be buzzing with race cars, off-road vehicles, human powered vehicles, radio controlled aircraft, concrete canoes (not buzzing hopefully), ChemCars and robots, all designed, built, tested and demonstrated by engineering students. You will see the Sooner Off-Road team with their off-road "baja" vehicle, the Design/Build/Fly team with their radio controlled aircraft, the Sooner Powered Vehicle team with their human powered recumbent bike, the Concrete Canoe team with their canoe, "Wild Mary Sudik" and the Sooner Racing Team with their Formula