Volume III Issue 2
February 2007 |
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 Vitamin
C is Good For Plastics Too
 A
new breakthrough that relies on common vitamin C is poised to
dramatically improve how plastics are made by assembling molecular
chains with less waste.
Manufacturers tailor smaller molecules to meet specific needs by gluing
them together into long, potentially complex polymers, or plastics. For
some plastics, the small building-block molecules do not always stick
together, so researchers have devised creative ways to coax certain
chemicals into chains -- although with certain costs, such as added
catalysts that become unwanted waste.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, have
discovered that adding vitamin C, glucose, or other electron-absorbing
agents to a powerful plastic manufacturing method can reduce the needed
copper catalyst by 1000 times. Because the catalyst has to be removed
from the end products, less of the metal means far less waste and
drastically reduced costs.
The underlying production method is called "atom transfer radical
polymerization" and allows manufacturers to join chemical building
blocks that normally would repel each other. Mass manufacturing could
become more affordable for a range of items such as advanced sensors,
drug delivery systems, paint coatings, and video displays.
Find out
more...
Real-Time
Traffic Routing
 Engineers
have developed a system for taking anonymous cell-phone location
information and turning it into an illuminated traffic map that
identifies congestion in real time. The system takes advantage of the
steady stream of positioning cues -- untraced signals all cell phones
produce, whether in use or not, as they seek towers with the strongest
signals. It is the first traffic-solution technology that monitors
patterns on rural roads and city streets as easily as on highways.
Developed by IntelliOne, the
TrafficAid system could not only help guide drivers around tie-ups, but
also tell emergency responders where accidents are or how effectively an
evacuation is unfolding by pinpointing clusters of cell phones. Creation
and development of TrafficAid was supported in part by a grant from the
National Science Foundation's Small Business Innovation Research
program, which directly supports businesses and their partners in
academia. Find out more about
careers in engineering.
Universities
Compete in Solar Decathlon
 The
Solar Decathlon is a university competition in which engineering and
architectural teams from participating schools design, construct,
transport and erect completely sustainable solar homes and display them
on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Each entry is judged on ten
criteria including style, innovation, and efficiency. Participating
students strive to innovate, using high-tech materials and design
elements in ingenious ways. Along the way, the students learn how to
raise funds and communicate about team activities.
Sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Energy, the Solar Decathlon is also an event to which the
public is invited to observe the powerful combination of solar energy,
energy efficiency, and the best in home design. The 20 teams selected
for the competition will be awarded $100,000 over two years to support
the Solar Decathlon's research goal of reducing the cost of
solar-powered homes and advancing solar technology. Teams are judged in
ten different categories, seven of which focus on energy efficiency;
others include design and comfort of the house. The team with the most
points -- the most energy-efficient and innovatively designed house --
wins.
Find
out more...
Degree
Profile: Engineering Technology
 Engineering
technologists use the principles and theories of science, engineering,
and mathematics to solve technical problems in research and development,
manufacturing, sales, construction, inspection, and maintenance.
Their work is more limited in scope and more practically oriented than
that of scientists and engineers. Many engineering technologists assist
engineers and scientists, especially in research and development. Others
work in quality control -- inspecting products and processes, conducting
tests, or collecting data. In manufacturing, they may assist in product
design, development, or production.
 Engineering
technologists who work in research and development build or set up
equipment, prepare and conduct experiments, collect data, calculate or
record results, and help engineers or scientists in other ways, such as
making prototype versions of newly designed equipment. They also assist
in design work, often using computer-aided design (CAD) equipment.
Most engineering technologists specialize in certain areas, learning
skills and working in the same disciplines as engineers.
Career options are broad for engineering technologists. After initial
on the job experience, an engineering technologist might choose to move
away from more technical responsibilities and become more involved in
management, sales, marketing, or other support areas.
Find out more about careers in
engineering technology.
Public
University Tuition Increases Slow
 The
College Board has
announced that at four-year public colleges the increase in average
tuition and fees slowed for the third year in a row, but prices are
still up 35 percent from 5 years ago, after adjusting for inflation. The
increase in average tuition and fees for two-year public colleges in
2006-07 was just slightly above the inflation rate. At all institutions,
the net price -- the average price students pay after grants and tax
benefits are considered -- is significantly lower than the published
price. Total student aid increased
by 3.7 percent to $134.8 billion in 2005-06, but total federal grant aid
failed to keep pace with inflation. Even without factoring in inflation,
the average Pell Grant per recipient fell by $120.
Published tuition and fee
charges at four-year public colleges average $5,836 in 2006-07. There
was a $344 increase over last year, which represents 6.3 percent, or 2.4
percent after adjusting for inflation. The average total tuition, fee,
and room and board charges for in-state students at public institutions
are $12,796. After grant aid and tax benefits are considered, full-time
students enrolled in public four-year colleges and universities pay on
average about $2,700 in net tuition and fees. After declining or just
keeping pace with inflation each year between 1996-97 and 2002-03, the
average net price students pay at public four-year colleges has
increased even more rapidly than published prices for the past four
years because grant aid has not kept pace.
Published tuition and fee
charges at four-year private colleges average $22,218 in 2006-07. The
$1,238 increase over 2005-06 represents an increase of 5.9 percent, or 2
percent after adjusting for inflation. The average total tuition, fee,
room, and board charges at private four-year colleges and universities
are $30,367. Full-time students enrolled in private colleges and
universities pay on average about $13,200 in net tuition and fees after
grant aid and tax benefits.
Find out more...
Internships
= Higher Starting Salaries
 Many
new college graduates who have performed internships find that the
experience pays off in terms of the starting salaries they are offered
for full-time jobs, according to a report published by the National
Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Nearly half of the
employers (46.2 percent) participating in NACE's recent Experiential
Education survey said they offer higher starting salaries to new college
hires who have internship experience. "Employers have told us
consistently that they prize relevant work experience in job candidates.
This demonstrates that many organizations are willing to reward
candidates who make the effort to gain that experience," says Marilyn
Mackes, NACE executive director.
Among those offering higher
starting salaries to candidates with internship experience, more than
half reported that they have a set percentage that they add on top of
their entry-level salaries. On average, they add 6.8 percent more to the
position's entry-level salary.
Others reported that they add a set dollar amount to their entry-level
salaries, or base the extra on the candidate's experience itself or on a
combination of factors.
 Internships
and coops provide students with a great opportunity to gain real-world
experience while still in school. In addition to giving students direct
experience in the field they are considering, interaction with others in
the field can help provide perspective on career path options.
Many universities offer coop or internship programs. When selecting a
university, find out what percentage of students participate in
internships or coops. Ask how many companies participate, and see if you
can talk with current undergraduates about their internship experiences.
Find out more about coops and
internships.
Mathematical
Talent Search
 The
USA Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS)
is a mathematics competition open to all U.S. middle and high school
students. Problems are published on the USAMTS website four times a
year. Problems range in difficulty from being within the reach of most
high school students to challenging the best students in the nation.
Students may use any materials -- books, calculators, and computers --
but all work must be their own. As opposed to most mathematics
competitions, the USAMTS allows students a full month to work out their
solutions. Carefully written justifications are required for each
problem. This year's special topic is "expected value." The USAMTS is
primarily funded by the National Security Agency (NSA), which has funded
the program since 1992. Mathematicians at NSA also generously donate
hundreds of hours to grade student submissions. Participation in the
USAMTS is free.
Find out more about
Careers in Mathematics, or explore other
precollege programs and projects.
Career Cornerstone News is a publication of the
Sloan Career Cornerstone Center. Click here
to subscribe.
This newsletter may be reproduced in other
non-profit publications with credit and links to
the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.
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