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Summer 2008 issue of NCSU, Bio & Ag Alumni News on green engineering for sustainability and a biographical of Larry Sykes. This is a newsletter of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at NCSU.
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BAE Alumni & Friends – 1
WRAL news cameras were rolling whileASABE student club members assembledrain barrels for homeowners.
Summer 2008
In This Issue
Green Engineering forSustainability ........................ 1Faculty News ........................ 2Department Head’sComments ............................. 2Outstanding AlumnusAward .................................... 3Symposium ............................ 4Recruiting Weekend ............. 4In & Around Weaver ............ 5Etheridge ReceivesNFS Fellowship .................... 5Student Awards Banquet ..... 6Baughman is Electric ........... 7Competition Results ............. 8Graduation Listing ............. 12
Visit BAE on the web at:www.bae.ncsu.edu
Fax comments & questions to:BAE News at 919-515-6772
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continued on page 7
Green Engineering for Sustainability
Alumni Drlumni Drlumni Drlumni Drlumni Dr. Marlon Brevé,. Marlon Brevé,. Marlon Brevé,. Marlon Brevé,. Marlon Brevé, currently theMinister of the Department of Educationof Honduras, visited BAE in the Fall. Hewas in the states on business and stop-ped in to see Dr. Skaggs, his formeradvisor, and to meet the new departmenthead, Dr. Evans. In his career, Brevé hasheld distinguished research and ministrypositions in several South Americancountries.
Have you noticed all the talk aboutgoing green? There are articles inmagazines and newspapers and stories onthe web and TV. Industry is promotingearth friendly products and services andscurrying to calculate how green they are.
Our presidential candidates are underthe green microscope traveling thecampaign trail and many of us have takenour eco-footprints. Who hasn’t noticedchanging weather patterns, escalating gasand oil prices, food quality and productsafety scares, expanding populations, urbansprawl, increasing waste problems, andwater and air pollution. These are all veryreal issues needing attention and it’s becoming a reality check for everyone.
Daily events spark headlines, but underlining everything is the world’senvironment and our resource use. The UN has stated that there is “seriousdegradation happening to the world’s ecosystems” (www.unep.org/science/)and that steps need to be taken to correct the imbalance or we invite long-termsocietal costs affecting tomorrow. The issues are getting bigger and the planetmuch smaller. “It’s a small world after all.”
On the forefront are BAE EngineersThe world is discovering what we at BAE have known for 100 years; that
protecting our environment and natural systems are paramount to man’ssurvival; that finding alternative uses for agricultural products and its wasteconserves resources; that good technologies do protect, improve and increasefood production; that strict processing procedures and processes ensurequality food, healthier animals and people who work safer and faster; andthat land, water and air must be protected and managed to assist nature inrenewing itself. As every good engineer knows, it’s all about “balance, timing,and tolerance controls”. However, it also includes eco-centric ethical decisionmaking at all levels by all parties - individuals, industry, and governments tokeep the earth rejuvenated and happy with its inhabitants.
BAE engineers are green thinking engineers... So let’s ride the green
2 – BAE Alumni & Friends
Department Head’s CommentsGreetings from Raleigh! It is a pleasure to introduce our
2008 BAE Alumni and Friends Newsletter. The faculty havebeen working diligently to incorporate a number of recom-mendations resulting from the comprehensive reviewincluding stepping up recruiting efforts to increase enroll-ment. I am pleased to report that our fall 2008 undergraduateenrollment at 159 students (119 BE and 40 AET) will be ourlargest enrollment since BME was split off into a separatedepartment in 2003. Graduate enrollment at 54 will be thehighest ever. During December and May commencements,we graduated 29 undergraduates and 9 graduates.
In just two years, 2010, we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the AgriculturalEngineering degree program at N.C. State University. 2010 will also mark the 70th
anniversary of the Department and commemorate the 40th anniversary of thenaming of D.S. Weaver Labs. We plan to kick off the anniversary celebration witha fund raising campaign later this fall. We hope that all BAE alumni will participatein the anniversary celebrations. Be watching for further announcements.
With mixed feelings, I announce the retirement of Dr. Gerry Baughman. Wecertainly wish Gerry well in his retirement, but he leaves a large void in ourundergraduate instruction. Gerry was a staple in our teaching program, providing a“solid foundation” in several of our core courses for both the engineering andtechnology programs (page 7). Graduates credit Dr. Baughman’s instructionaltechnique utilizing basic theory to solve practical engineering problems to be themost beneficial instruction they received at NCSU in terms of preparing them forthe Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Thanks, Gerry, and best wishes for arelaxing retirement.
Carl Tutor will be retiring this summer after 38 years with the departmentworking in the area of peanut research. Dave Penrose retired May 31st after 32 yearswith the State of North Carolina, the last 4 with the BAE Water Quality Group asan Extension Associate. Congratulations and thanks to Carl and Dave (page 5).
Dr. Larry Sykes was named the 2007 recipient of the Department’s OutstandingAlumnus Award (page3). Dr. Syke’s outstanding career spanned some 33 years withPhilip Morris before he retired in 2004. Larry has been a long-term supporter ofprograms in BAE and CALS. Congratulations, Larry.
I am pleased to announce the addition of two new faculty. Dr. François Birgandjoined us in April (see page 5) to work in the area of Water Resources and Ecologi-cal Engineering. Dr. Praveen Kolar, who will be coming in mid August, willexpand our research efforts to generate bioenergy from waste materials. We areexcited about these two additions to the BAE faculty.
Congratulations are in order to Dr. Greg Jennings who was the recipient of the2007 ASABE Gunlogson Countryside Engineering Award and Dr. Phil Westermanwho was named an ASABE Fellow. I am pleased to announce that Dr. William“Bill” Hunt will receive the ASABE Young Extension Worker Award during theASABE conference later this month. Mr. Dave Penrose received the Order of theLong Leaf Pine, a gubernatorial citation, and Mr. Mike Adcock received the 2007BAE Employee of the Year Award.
Welcome to new Advisory Board member John Arthur, Strategy Manager withJohn Deere Co, Inc. Thanks to Dr. Stanley Brantley, Jr, P.E. and president ofAmadas Industries who is this year’s Chair. Many thanks to retiring member MargeDavenport, Associate Regional Hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
Department Head Dr. Robert EvansWriter/Graphics Carolyn MitkowskiAdvisor Dr. Gregory Jennings
BAE Alumni & Friends is a publication ofthe Biological and Agricultural Engineer-ing Department, North Carolina StateUniversity, Box 7625, Raleigh, NC 27695-7625.
If you would like to contribute to the nextissue of BAE Alumni&Friends, pleasesend your contributions to Dr. Evans atthe address above or email:[email protected] [email protected].
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Faculty NewsASABE Awards
Dr. Philip W. Westerman, P.E.,was named an 2007 ASAE Fellowby the Society of Biological andAgricultural Engineers. Wester-man is internationally recognizedfor his contributions to the under-standing of the principal mecha-nisms important to animal wastemanagement and for his meticu-lous work in determining the basicproperties of waste products andtheir interactions with the envi-ronment.
Dr. Gregory Jennings, ExtensionSpecialist, received the prestigiousASABE Gunlogson CountrysideEngineering Award for his work inwater quality and stream restora-tion. He was also nominated by theNC Association of CountyCcooperative Extension SpecialistsNCACES to receive the“Execptional NC Specialist” award.
Dr. Robert Rubin, EmeritusProfessor, and an expert in the area
continued on page 4
Robert Evans
BAE Alumni & Friends – 3
Dr. Larry Sykes was named the 2007 BAEOutstanding Alumnus. Dr. Sykes, a native ofFranklin County in North Carolina, received threedegrees from the Biological and Agricultural Engi-neering Department at North Carolina StateUniversity: a B.S. in 1966, a M.S. in 1968, and aPh.D. in 1971.
Following the completion of his Ph.D in 1971,Dr. Sykes was employed with Philip Morris inRichmond, VA, where he remained in variouspositions until his retirement in early 2004 he
retired as Director of Agricultural Programs in the Leaf Department. Inthis capacity, he directed and initiated liaisons for Philip Morris with theUnited States tobacco production industry concerning tobacco productiontechnology, tobacco production policy, and public issues. Tobacco produc-tion activities included responsibility for a Philip Morris grants programin support of research, extension and academic programs at seven land-grant universities in the southeastern United States, including NorthCarolina State University. This grants program required communicationswith project leaders, department heads, directors, deans and vice presidentsin administering a program in excess of $1 million annually.
Dr. Sykes has been very instrumental in making Philip Morris, USAthe single largest corporate donor to NC State University contributingmore than $600,000 annually to support the tobacco program at NC State.Awards include Philip Morris Ag Leadership Program for young farmers,the Philip Morris Professorship Endowment supporting outstandingExtension Professors, the Philip Morris Agricultural Institute and Educa-tion Scholarships and the Philip Morris Extension Interns and Fellowsprogram. In 2003, Philip Morris announced a major grant of $18 millionto NC State for a project to map the tobacco genome.
Dr. Larry Sykes has served as President of the North Carolina TobaccoFoundation, Inc., and Chairman of the Investment Committee. He hasalso served as a member of the Board of Directors of the NC State Univer-sity Alumni Association and the CALS Capital Campaign. He was hon-ored with Alumni Membership in Gamma Sigma Delta, the HonorSociety of Agriculture. In 2004 he received a CALS Outstanding AlumnusAward.
Since 1999, Dr. Sykes has served as an Adjunct Professor in the Biologi-cal and Agricultural Engineering Department and has consulted regularlywith faculty within the department concerning research and extensionactivities with particular emphasis on tobacco programs. He has addition-ally made important contributions to this department through a three-yearterm of service on our Advisory Board beginning in 2003. Larry and Ritahave endowed the Larry M. and Rita P. Sykes Scholarship to benefitstudents in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North CarolinaState University with priority given to those applicants from FranklinCounty.
Sykes Outstanding Alumnus 2007○
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Larry Sykes
Etheridge ReceivesNFS Fellowship
Randall Etheridge, a BAEgraduating senior, has beenawarded a prestigious NationalScience Foundation GraduateResearch Fellow-ship. The awardsare made to M.S.and Ph.D stu-dents in the focusareas of science,technology,engineering, andmathematics.This fellowshipis highly competitive. Since 1952,only 8% of applicants havereceived funding. The value ofthe award which includes anannual stipend, tuition, fees,books and travel to conferences is$120,000 distributed over 3 years.
Randall could have taken thisaward to another institution, butchose to continue his educationin our BAE department. He willbe working with Dr. MikeBurchell, most likely in the areaof wetland restoration.
Randall has been an excellentstudent having already receivedthe Oliver G. Haywood andPhillip and Gloria KennettScholarship. He was a universityhonor recipient and a 2008university valedictorian graduat-ing with a perfect 4.0.
Randall working at North River Farmsplanting marsh vegetation.
J. RandallEtheridge
4 – BAE Alumni & Friends
Faculty News SymposiumsFive BAE students participated in
the Graduate Symposium. BarryLineburger: A mobile unit for torrefac-tion of woody biomass residues; DeepakKeshwani: Microwave based pretreat-ment to improve bioethanol productionform switchgrass; William Duvernay:Conversion of industrial sweetpotatoesfor the production of ethanol; Mathew Jones: Effects of urban stormwaterpractices on runoff temperatures in trout sensitive waters; and ToddGuerdat: A large scale evaluation of commercially available biological filtersfor recirculating aquaculture systems.
BAE presented four posters at theUndergraduate Symposium. We arehappy to say our proud tradition ofwinning recognitions at the symposiumhas been upheld again this year. Thedepartment was a co-winner in theEngineering and Technology Area with aposter entitled “Flood Management andStream Restoration in a Cary, NorthCarolina, Subdivision” presented by JamesR. Etheridge, Reid W. Huntley, MichaelG. Smith & Rachel A. Watts. Dr. MikeBurchell served as mentor. Honorablemention went to a BAE poster titled“Design of a Low Impact, Self-propelledSeed Planter for Small Scale Crop Produc-tion in Sustainable and Organic Applica-tions Capable of High Residue FieldConditions” presented by E. Nicole Hill,Brandon D. Batten, Wesley C. Hicks andTristan R. Lasell. Dr. Matt Veal served asmentor.
William Duvernay with his advisor Dr. MariChinn at the Graduate Symposium.
of waste management was asked tobe the keynote speaker at theNovember 2007 InternationalWater Congress in Seville, Spain.He spoke to the internationalcrowd on “Advances in WasteManagement in the U.S.” Theconference focus was on sanitationfor small communities and was aprelude to the 2008 InternationalYear of Sanitation (esa.un.org/iys/getinvolved.shtml).
Dr. David Beasley is servingon the Executive Committee ofEngineering AccreditationCommission of ABET.
Rhonda Sherman, ExtensionSpecialist, earned the university’s2008 Earthwise Award for faculty.Each year on Earth Day, NCSUawards a faculty, staff, and studentwith an "Earthwise Award" foroutstanding achievement inenvironmental stability on campus.
A welcome to Dr.François Birgand whojoined the faculty April1st as an assistantprofessor working inthe area of ecologicalengineering and waterresources. Birgand earned his MSin France at the Ecole NationaleSupérieure Agronomique inRennes, Brittany, France, in 1994.He obtained his Ph.D. in Biologi-cal and Agricultural Engineeringat North Carolina State Universityin 2000 under the direction of R.Wayne Skaggs.
Birgand has worked as aresearch scientist at CemagrefResearch Institute in France for 8years, both in Rennes and in Paris.He is considered a water quality
Recruiting Weekend...Nothing like taking in a game to
recruit new students into the depart-ment. Each year the department plansa weekend and invites potential stu-dents to Raleigh. The weekend activi-ties include: meeting professors andgrad students, a Q&A session, tours ofNCSU, Weaver labs and off-campusresearch sites, taking in the sights ofRaleigh and of course, a game. continued on page 5
Poster can be viewed on the web at: www.bae.ncsu.edu/news/pictures/symposium-08/
Tristan R. Lasell, E. Nicole Hill, BrandonD. Batten & Wesley C. Hicks
Reid W. Huntley, Rachel A. Watts, MichaelG. Smith & J. Randall Etheridge. Etheridgealso received a poster award from Sigma Xifor an individual research poster presented.
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BAE Alumni & Friends – 5
continued on page 8
ASABE and 1/4 Scale Tractor Pull Fund-raising EventsLast year’s spring lawn mower clinic received such rave reviews that
the students decided to do it again this year. The students are establishinga repeat customer base. Students advertise the clinic and anyone can dropoff a small mower for the $25 tune-up fee.
Students also designed a tee-shirt for sale listing 10 good reasons to bein the BAE Department at NCSU. They were sold for $15.
The ASABE club continues to accept donations throughout the year tosupport the 1/4-scale tractor competition. To donate parts, please contactthe department. For monetary donations, give on-line at: www.pack-pullers.com/ or mail a check to NCSU-BAE Student Chapter of ASABEand send to the address on page two.
Penny WarsThe annual Fall Pie Throwing Event is
the official end to Penny Wars and thestudents this year collected enough money toprovide Christmas presents for a local 6 yearold girl going through her second round oflymphoma.
Pie day this year was cold, which wasunfortunate for Dr. Stikeleather, the bigpenny winner, and his counterpart penny-deficient Dr. Shah. It was quitefunny when Dr. Stikeleather tried to avoid his messy fate by cleverly display-ing a pie symbol drawn on a paper plate. NO chance... The event went on asplanned but slowed when they both started to waver over who should throwthe first pie. The polite banter created onlooker tension asthey prolonged the inevitable.
As an extra penny-earning incentive, the ASABE Clubalso raffled off tickets for a chance to choose two addi-tional faculty members to be pied this year. To everyone’ssurprise (and Dr. Chinn’s horror) her name was drawntwice. After having been pied last year and twice this year,everyone thinks Dr. Chinn needs to come wearing hershower cap next year. This event always draws a crowdand lots of laughs...
In & Around Weaver
Dr. Boyette held a ticketthat gave him a chance topie his collegue Dr. Chinn.
specialist in rural watersheds. AtBAE, Birgand will be developingresearch and teaching programs inecological engineering and waterresources. We expect he will bringa little European flare to histeaching efforts.BAE June Retirements
Dr. Gerald Baughman after 38years of teaching in the agricul-tural engineering area (see page 7).
David Penrose, ExtensionAssociate and aquatic biologist. Hehas worked for the state of NC for32 years. Penrose was 28 years withDENR (Dept. of Environmentaland NaturalResources) andhis last 4 yearshave been spentwith BAE in theExtension WaterQuality Group.
Dave washonored by thestate of NorthCarolina withthe prestigious Order of the LongLeaf Pine Citation given by thegovernor’s office. Our best to bothof these exceptional educators.
Staff NewsMike Adcock received the BAEemployee of the year Award.
Carl Tutor, EngineeringResearch Technician, will beretiring with 38 yearsof employment withthe department. Carlhas supported engi-neering projects withhis technical skills for38 years--that’s a lot of projectsunder his belt. Thanks for all thegood work, Carl.
Faculty News
Dr. Stikeleather and Dr. Shaw banterover who should throw the first pie.
Penrose talkingwith high schools students
about waterways.
This fundraiser helpsthe tractor teammembers hone thierengine trouble-shooting skills.
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6 – BAE Alumni & Friends
5
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Student Spring Awards Banquet
Reid Huntley stands with GeorgeBlum to accept the Barbara and
George Blum scholarship. Reid alsoreceived Josephus Daniels, Ed and
Sylvia Scott and S.M.A.R.T awards.
Laura Lord accepting the Eustace O.Beasley Scholarship from emeritusprofessor Bynum Driggers and the JaneP. and Charles W. Suggs scholarshipsfrom Dr. Suggs who is at the podium.
Dr. Mike Boyette anouncesthe COE BAE Senior
Awards going to BrandonBatten/Citizenship and
Service Award , J. RandallEtheridge/Scholarly
Achievement, E. NicoleHill/Leadership, and Reid
Huntley/Humanities.
Graduate Achievements• Zifei Liu—2nd place, 2007 AOCStudent Paper Competition at the ASABEConference• Gabrielle Skipper—Phi Kappa Phi &Tau Beta Pi Inductee• Ying Yang—Phi Kappa Phi & Tau BetaPi Inductee• Matthew Jones—Winner, UGSAOutstanding Teacher Assistant Award
• Amy Byrd—CALS Study AbroadScholarship• Verd Anna Cunningham—Collegeof Engineering Ambassador• J. Randall Etheridge—Winner,NCSU Undergraduate ResearchSymposium, Spring 2008• Natalie Gurkin—College of Ag &Life Sciences Ambassador• E. Nicole Hill—3rd place IBE PosterCompetition, NCSU Energy-RelatedResearch Award, CALS StudyAbroad Scholarship• Laura Lord—College of EngineeringAmbassador• Aaron Thompson—NCSUUndergraduate Research Award• Seth Garrett, Aaron Hughes, AmberNorris, Trapier Marshall—NCSUUndergraduate Research Award• Brandon Batten, Wesley Hicks,Tristan Lasell—NCSU UndergraduateResearch Award• Brandon Batten, Wesley Hicks,Tristan Lasell, E. Nicole Hill—Honorable Mention, NCSUUndergraduate Research Symposium,Spring 2008
Undergraduate Achievements:
Dr. Evans chats with College ofEngineering Dean Louis Martin -Vega.
Graduate Student Mathew Jones
The semiformal banquet was heldon April 24th, 2008 at the Mc KimmonCenter and was attended by 112 people.The banquet provided an opportunityfor the student clubs to recognizeoutstanding club members; for scholar-ship recipients to meet and visit withtheir scholarship donor; and for fac-ulty, staff and graduate students receiv-ing awards earlier in the year to berecognized once again.
At this year’s banquet, fourteen undergradu-ate scholarships recipients were named alongwith seven graduate student fellowships andhonors. BAE’s scholarship donors who were ableto attend this year’s event were Charles Suggs,Ronald Sneed and wife Shelba, Mrs. Dot Beasley,George Blum and wife Barbara, Mrs. DotHowell, Bynum Driggers and wife Kay. Also at-tending this year was the BAE Advisory Boardmembers who asked to have their annual meet-ing coincide with the banquet.
Louis Martin-Vega, Dean of Engineering, wasthe guest speaker for the evening. This was thefirst year the Dean of Engineering attended ourbanquet and the Dean assured us it will not bethe last. The Dean spoke about the importantrole engineers play in solving the problems fac-ing our world today and how this university ismoving into the forefront on many of the impor-tant issues of the day. He said, “We are being no-ticed as is evident from ranking and ratings”.
After the Dean spoke, Mathew Jones of theGraduate Student Association and Nicole Hillof the Student Branch of ASABE recappedevents and highlights of the year.
BAE Alumni & Friends – 7
11
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Baughman is ElectricGreen Engineering for Sustainabilitycontinued from page 1
continued on page 9
wave because it’s hard to sell the public manure irrigation, air quality forchicken housing, verimicomposting of food scraps, regulations for land andwater, or weigh the need between farming large-scale vs organic. These areunusual topics but BAE engineers have alwaysknown they are important ones needing attention.
Riding the green wave in the news this year…Our students and faculty were written about and
on news TV. They have been discussing sustainableissues that directly affect the public.
In May, WRAL evening news broadcast ourASABE student club members assembling waterharvesting cisterns (rain barrels) as a club fund-raiser.The story was again posted on the web and includes avideo segment showing students working on thebarrels (www.wral.com/news/local/story/2491884/). Thebarrels were sold to homeowners to help with thedrought. Sales of the barrels were brisk, outstripping demand and revealingthe need. The news also mentioned software developed by graduate studentMatthew Jones. His software (www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/waterharvesting/) helpscitizens calculate the size of a rain barrel that a yard will need.
Also addressing drought concerns this year were Drs. Bill Hunt, GarryGrabow and Rod Huffman. Dr. Grabow was invited to write an article for theJanuary/February issue of Turfgrass Magazine. The article was entitled “Toolsfor Turfgrass Irrigation Management”. Drs. Grabow and Huffman were bothinterviewed for a WRAL news broadcast and web article entitled “Lawn-watering study could boost proposed restrictions” (www.wral.com/news/local/story/3097728/). The article and newscast were prompted by the continuing droughtin the southeast as people are looking for information about water and ways touse it more efficiently. Dr. Hunt was interviewed by News 14 Carolina inJune. He was discussing rainwater harvesting systems and how to make thiswater drinkable.
In April, Rhonda Sherman, extension specialist working in the wastemanagement area, was on WNCN news. She was invited because of acitywide ban on the use of in-sink garbage disposal units in Raleigh. The banwas due to increasing problems with grease in sewer pipes and left peoplewondering about alternatives. Sherman explained other ways to compost foodwaste and explained how vermicomposting food scraps is a very green alterna-
tive. The segment was then posted to (http://blogs.wncn.info/green/2008/04/15/go-green-with-worms/). A Pennsylvania reporter for thePittsburgh Tribune also interviewedSherman about the increasing interest inworms and composting in their region andnationwide (http://www.pittsburgh live.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_568247.html).
Baughman developedan endearing teachingstyle that of inter-mingling stories andantidotes with theimportant stuff youneed to know.
Dr. Garry Grabow in an issueof Turfgrass Magazine.
Dr. Gerald Baughnman hasbeen electrifying students for 37+years. This May he retired afterigniting a good many minds.
Baughman has always had apassion for teaching which hasnever waned. He has taughtcourses in electricity, animalhousing environments, andservice courses in the Agricul-tural Institute.
Not everyone knows thatBaughman is an industry con-sultant in wood design and anexcellent drafstman havingmeticulously designed manyagricultural farm structures andmore. Many students haveexpressed their gratitude for theuse of “real world” examples inthe classroom resulting from hisconsulting projects. Beloved bystudents, this years class awardedhim the BAE outstanding teacheraward. Our best to you in retire-ment.
8 – BAE Alumni & Friends
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In March, a number of BAEstudents participated in ServiceRaleigh which is an annualcitywide day of public service.Each year, volunteers from theuniversity and surroundingcommunity unite to undertake avariety of projects, each of whichprovides much needed assistanceto local organizations. BAE’erswere put to work cleaning upRocky Branch which is a streamthat runsthroughthe NC StateUniversitycampus.
BAE studentscame dressed forsuccess to take onthe stream work.
Competition Results...The first set of results are in of the 1/4 Scale Tractor Student Design
competition recently attended in Peoria, Illinois. Still pending are resultsfrom the team presentation, design report, and static design judging.
This was the eleventh year ofthe ASABE competition and ourfifth consecutive entrance. Wehad 12 team members and tookeight students to the competi-tion, 5 BAE and 3 AET. TheBAE team finished 18th overall out of 27 schools. It was not our bestyear to finish but the team was very pleased with the significant improve-ments that were made to the vehicle.
The design of this years tractor was a major step-up from previousdesigns. The team went from two engines to four while maintaining 4-wheel drive and made component changes in the drive train. The teamsaid it was challenging meeting the vehicle weight constraint of 900 lbsmaximum (without the driver) but they did it. The entire team wouldlike to acknowledge and thank the research shop for all the work they putinto assisting them with the tractor construction. Without their help eachyear the team would have a difficult time getting to the competition.
A prevalent occurrence at the competition this year were mechanicalbreakdowns. Grant Ellington said, “This was by far the most amount ofbreakdowns I have seen in 5 years from all the schools”. Many of theschools were unable to compete in all the pulls. Our team did participatein all the pulls but concedes to having some mechanical issues during oneof the hooks which resulted in a very short pull distance. Considering themajor changes to the tractor design there were still many unknownsrelated to our performance that we will be working out for next year.
The overall winner was Kansas State again this year but they will notdeter us from another try next year.
BAE students planted trees on afarm in Wendell, N.C. Each yearthe students areinvolved in aPlanting Dayactivity which isin keeping withour greening ofAmerica efforts.
In & Around Weavercontinued from page 5
Service Raleigh
Planting Day
continued on page 10
BAE Alumni & Friends – 9
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Green Engineering for SustainabilityDr. Mike Burchell and BAE students were in the February 2008 issue of
Storm Water Solutions Magazine. The article, “Increasing Population BoostsHazardous Contamination” (www.estormwater.com) discusses increasing coastalbeach populations and specifically the Kure Beach community and thestormwater steps it took towards keeping its beaches clean. BAE designed anunderground stormwater storage and infiltration system to protect beach-front swimming areas. Follow-up indicates that the system works well andmay be suitable for more wide-scale implementation.
The work of Dr. Greg Jennings and the NC State Stream RestorationProgram team (extension personnel, BAE alumni and students) were thefocus of a three-part series in the magazine “Wildlife in North Carolina”(February, March and April 2008 www.ncwildlife.org). The series of articles showcasedstream restoration projects in the Mountain, Piedmont, and Coastal regions.It thoroughly explained the general science behind restoration work andcollectively the series is an extensive look at NC Stream Restoration.
Jason Wright, Extension Associate, working along with BAE students on astormwater wetland project, were highlighted onthe WECT-6 Wilmington News. Our groupwas putting the finishing touches on the StonesThrow stormwater project with the installationof shrubs and plants in the Burnt Mill Creekwatershed when the news team filmed theiractivities. Burnt Mill Creek is one of the mostdegraded creeks in the Wilmington area(www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/agecon/WECO/burntmill/).
Karen Hall, Extension Associate, and ourBAE students were written about in the Fall 2007 issue of Wakeliving Maga-zine (www.wakeliving.com). The article, “Revival on Robeson Creek” explainsRobeson Creek’s ongoing erosion control and water quality projects and howimprovements are addressing problems with streams flowing into the creek.The article gave a description of the specific improvements that Hall andstudents put in place at the Tannery Branch site.
In late March, Drs. Robert Evans and Mike Burchell traveled to Chile asguest lecturers for a course, entitled “Natural and Constructed Wetlands: Basisand Applications” at the Universidad de Concepcion. Their visit waschronicled in the UDEC publication “Panarama” (http://www2.udec.cl /pan-
orama/p621/p18.htm). Drs. Evans andBurchell presented lectures on constructedwetlands, addressing topics of wetlands foragricultural waste, stormwater wetlands,and wetlands restoration. The course waswell received by an enthusiastic group.The hosts were most gracious, concludingthe course with a Chilean style campusBBQ. Dr. Evans additionally met with
Green Engineeringseveral campus administrators tosolidify future collaboration andexchanges between NCSU/BAE, theEnvironmental Sciences CenterEULA at UDEC, and the Agricul-tural Engineering Department atUDEC-Chillan.
As fuel prices escalate, biofuelscontinue to be a hot topic in 2008. InSeptember 2007 the College of Agri-culture and Life Sciences respondedwith its first Biofuels Day, held at theDuplin County Agricultural Exten-sion and Research Center. Universitypersonnel grew several potentialbiofuel feedstock crops for demonstra-tion--industrial sweet potatoes, sweetsorghum, switchgrass, and soybeans.Senator Albertson opened the fieldday with remarks on the importanceof biofuels and agricultural research.Dean Johnny Wynne outlinedCALS’s commitment and vision forthe research and BAE’s Dr. MatthewVeal gave an overview of the scienceand technology involved in biofuelcreation and utilization. There werebiofuel production demonstrations bystudents and faculty which all drewplenty of interest and a good crowd.(www.cals. ncsu.edu/agcomm/difference/biofuels/ and www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/biofuels/).
The energy crisis is on the agendaat home and also abroad. In March,Dr. Jay Cheng was invited to visit TheCatholic University in Quito, Ecua-dor, to present a seminar on Renew-able Energy Production. TheUniversity in Ecuador wishes toexplore research collaboration with uson renewables. A local popularnewspaper El Comercio published anarticle about the seminar entitled“New Renewables are Seeking toDethrone Corn”.
continued in next column
The group of 28 outstanding students wereeager to learn about wetland constructionfrom BAE faculty.
New plants go in between the erosioncontrol matting at Stones Throw.
continued from page 7
10 – BAE Alumni & Friends
continued from page 8
Chili Cook-offThis was the second year the department held a
Chili Cook-off in February. Who wouldn’t want toenjoy a hot bowl of chili on a cold winter day?Although the winter weather was warmer thanusual this year, the day didn’t disappoint. It was a28 degree wake-up call — a perfectly chili(chilly) day. About 30 people gathered to samplefrom 7 pots of chili. Staff members HeatherAustin and Cyrus Yunker were this year’swinners. They are pictured wearing theirprizes--special BAE aprons made for theoccasion. It seems Heather Austin is theBAE’er to beat since this is the second yearshe has won and with a different recipe.
In & Around Weaver○
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○ The guys chowing down on some hot chili.
Student Pot Luck SupperIn November the ASABE Student Chapter held a
holiday potluck supper. Students celebrated the endof the semester and were looking forward to the up-and-coming holiday season. Students shared a variedselection of side dishes which were served along withbarbecue chicken. The chick-ens were donated by a localprocessing plant and thestudents did the cooking. Formore fun, Drs. Chinn and
Boyette used their bioprocessing skills and held a"cooking class" that showed off the chemistryinvolved in making peanut brittle (dessert).
On the Social Scene...Holiday Party
Everyone enjoyed last year’sturkey dinner, so we did it again thisyear. Cracker Barrel did the cateringand the social committee plannedthe rest of the event. There was anarray of raffle gifts placed aroundholiday poinsettias which werearranged into a tree shape. It wasDr. Mike Burchell who was underthe Santa suit this year. He said,“It was a harder job than I wouldhave thought it to be--that suit ishot”. Alumni are always welcomedto join us for this event. Make a callin late November for the date.
Dr. Burchell manuvers hisbeard so he can call out
the ticket winners.
Its always nice tohave emeritus andretired faculty and
staff come to thedinner. This year,quite a few were
able to attend.
Poinsettias are displayedin a tree shape withpackages around it.
On the Social Scene...Easter Egg Hunt
In March, the BAE GraduateStudent Association sponsored aSpring event which included anegg hunt and egg coloringactivity. Events took place onthe lawn outside Weaver Labsand under the pavilion. Big andsmall BAE’ers participated.
Dr. Hunt’s son littleHunt hunts eggs atthe spring egg hunt.
TONGUETWISTER
In & Around Weaver
ASABE ConferenceThe summer Annual Interna-
tional ASABE Meeting is alwaysa time to meet with colleaguesand put our best foot forwardwith papers and poster presenta-tions but that’s not all we expectto do. We have our sights onwinning the Annual Golf tour-nament.
We have won two consecutiveyears and our plan is to do itagain this year with last year’swinning foursome of Drs.Burchell, Skaggs, Chinn andEvans. Wish them luck in RhodeIsland on June29th.
BAE Alumni & Friends – 11
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BAE Job FairThe 2nd Annual Departmental Mini
BAE Job Fair was held March 26th in Room158 Weaver Labs. There were about 15companies exhibiting and their representa-tives were eager to discuss part-time jobssummer internships and full-time opportu-nities with our students. Many of therepresentatives are graduates of our depart-ment and know that BAE students are agood fit for their companies. After browsingthe booths, networking and exchangingresumes, folks also enjoyed a buffet spread.
During Engineering Week held in Febru-ary, students in the ASABE club challengedother NCSU students to think like an engi-neer. They were building awareness of theengineering profession. Outside on thecampus brickyard club members engagedother students stopping them for the chal-lenge. Fellow students were asked to makesomething with only duct tape and alumi-num foil, thus discovering the fun andthought that goes into engineering things.
Companies were eager to catch the earof our graduates. They were hoping tohire them before the NCSU engineering
job fair date arrived.
All it takes is an idea, a touch of creativityand some knowledge of material proper-ties to get a taste of engineering.
Engineering Week
In & Around Weaver
Pre-Professional LeadershipEach year the ASABE Student Club participates in a professional
development program. This year, stu-dent members from our department andVirginia Tech met in Charlotte, N.C. toparticipate in a ropes course at theCharlotte Outdoor Adventure Center(www.coacinc.com). The center special-izes in providing action-learning pro-grams that develop leadership and teamskills. After the course, the groupstoured the Deer-Hitachi machin-ery plant inKernersville, N.C.At this facilitythey build exca-vators in a400,000 ft. planton 61 acres ofland.
In & Around Weaver
Homecoming Parade
Homecoming float in the shop.
State vs Duke
It’s not all homework. Thestudents enjoy some fun.
Students enjoy lunching at the picnic benches.The second table was built by this year’s grad-uate students to accommodate the crowd.
12 – BAE Alumni & Friends
College of Agriculture and Life SciencesDepartment of Biological and Agricultural EngineeringCampus Box 7625Raleigh, NC 27695-7625
NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Raleigh, NCPERMIT No. 2353
Name Curriculum
Spring 2008 Grads
View more graduation pictures at: www.bae.ncsu.edu/news/
Graduating students and alumni have theopportunity to purchase a CALS walkway brick.
To learn more see:www.cals.ncsu.edu/advancement/walk_champions.htm
Balla, Biswa .................................... MSBunn, Heidi .................................... BEByers, Jacob ...................................... BECollins, Kelly .................................. MSHarrell, John ................................... AETLindow, Nicholas ........................... PhDPickett, Carrie ................................. BERivin, Jonathan ............................... PhDSherrod, Ted ................................... MBAETucker, Robert ................................. MSTutor, Jeffrey .................................... AET
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Batten,Brandon ............................... BEBryan Jr.,William ............................ AETDavis, Charles ................................. BEEarl, Alexander ............................... MSEtheridge, James ............................ BEEvans, Erica .................................... BEGarrett, Seth .................................... BEHiatt, Todd ...................................... BEHicks, Wesley .................................. BEHill, Elizabeth ................................ BEHughes, Aaron ................................ BEHumphreys, Nicole ....................... BEHuntley, Reid .................................. BEJohnson, Chad ................................ AETLangager, Robert ............................. BELasell, Tristan .................................. BEMarshall, Trapier ............................ BEMotsinger, AAron ........................... AETNorris, Amber ................................. BERevelle, Shane ................................. AETReynolds, Matthew ......................... BEVasanth, Arjun ................................. MSVelegar, Meghana ............................ MS
Fall 2007 GradsName Curriculum Name Curriculum○
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Watts, Rachel ................................... BEWhitfill, Joshua ............................... AETWilliams, Matthew ......................... AETWiseman, Jacob .............................. BE
