This project involves a lot of teamwork. We have to use our knowledge from our previous classes to develop the software interface and the code for our system. Our main problem was establishing the connection to the database. With some help of our professor we were able to upload the database onto our network server.

We got to deal with some pretty cool RFID hardware to write our data onto our tags. The software that reads the tags was developed by our professor, Dr. Berisso, and can be downloaded on our IT website. Check it out!

Another group created a supply chain management system to check the quality of parts for a production run they’ll be doing next quarter. Our presentations are on Monday, in front of a couple of our professors and the chair of the IT department. It could be a long Sunday, trying to wrap everything up.

In addition to the four experiments, every individual had their own design project based off of an experiment that was performed in the lab. My design project was based on the continuous distillation experiment. The objective of the design was to properly size and cost a distillation column that can process a specified amount of feed. The feed was at a given composition and the desired composition of the product was also specified. After countless hours in Stocker, my design was complete and I presented it to three of my professors.

Now that Unit Ops I is complete, I am looking forward to Unit Ops II.

As unsettling as this may sound, I am currently in an organizational behavior management class in which I learned about the punctuated equilibrium model. Basically, this model shows how a typical group’s performance over time is small until right before the deadline, and then performance skyrockets. Although I don’t condone this type of group behavior, at least it has been proven that I’m not alone!

The first is a foundation engineering project. In this project a group of 5 students and myself are faced with the task of designing a set of foundations for a proposed building development.

The second is another group project involving the design of a water treatment facility. We are given a test sample of water from our mock source and have the assignment of cleaning the water in order to meet EPA standards.

The final project is one that I have a lot of interest in and is in computer aided structural design. For this project, one other student and myself are given a generic plan for a building. It is then our job to input the structure into software which aids in the actual design of the structural members. This is something that I hope to do once I graduate so the experience I am gaining through this project is priceless.

In my Entrepreneurship class we are creating a big presentation discussing our progress towards a business plan which should be pretty interesting. I also have a project involving quality assurance for one class, and another project that requires my group and I to write a software program that will be used for library management of books, etc. This should be a busy couple of weeks, but I think it’ll be cool to see all of the things that we’ve learned come together in these projects.

Last week I took my last test in Marketing 202 and ISE 432 before the final. While I’m relieved to have those out of the way I still have a ton of work to do. I still have a paper for marketing due and a group project in ISE. Both of these are very important since it is 15% of my grade in class. Even though I do not have a major project due in calculus, the final will be here before I know it and I want to be thoroughly prepared for it.

Physics is probably my hardest subject this quarter. We are given individual and group quizzes every week along with homework that sometimes can be pretty tough. I am going to start looking over equations now, so I will not be overwhelmed when it comes to test day. Overall, it is going to be a very busy three weeks for me. Hopefully everything goes well, wish me luck!

When I study for classes, I utilize Alden library. It’s a great 7 floor library with many computers and desks. It helps me to focus on studying rather than studying at home. Also at the Alden library, we can rent movies, CD’s and even magazines for free.

It was a brutal week but I’m glad that it’s finally over and now I can relax for few days and enjoy the weekend with friends.

At the regional conference, one of the main events is the Chem-E-Car competition. Each team is required to make a shoe box-sized car that runs off of an electrochemical device (OU uses a fuel cell that runs off of hydrogen from ammonia). I am not on the Chem-E-Car team, but I have a lot of experience with this because I took an electrochemical engineering elective last winter and our project was the same task. Our car (shown below) ran off of a copper-zinc battery using a gel electrolyte. Maybe if the team needs a few ideas, I could help them out.

For our first lab experience this quarter, my unit ops team worked on running the distillation column, a three story tall piece of equipment designed to separated methanol from water. A feed stream is divided into two streams, one rich in methanol and the other in water, as the mixture passes through 12 trays. Although it was a little confusing at first, remembering which valves to turn and when to turn on the flow, I learned a lot about a common engineering process.

Yesterday, Dr. Robe, the founder of the Robe Leadership Institute, came and spoke to us about the use of effective questions and how they can lead to making effective decisions. My advice to incoming students is to get involved from day one so that you will have the opportunity to take advantage of these kinds of opportunities.