| A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR |
|
 This
is an exciting time for ARC and FIU and I am looking forward
to the year ahead! As we continue to build FIU's applied research
base, the Applied Research Center will be assembling the kind
of multidisciplinary partnerships that will best address the
pressing needs of our nation in environment, energy and national
defense. As we evolve and grow, I expect the ARC to bring a
new and substantial level of applied research opportunities
to the students and faculty of FIU, one that will provide a
springboard for our researchers to transform advanced research
concepts into real-world contribution and service.
ARC highlights this past month:
- Delivered two papers to DOE in collaboration
with FIU’s Latin American and Caribbean
Center on the Bolivian Energy Sector. The first paper, titled “Energizing Development” dealt
with the recent election of President Evo Morales and the associated implications
on energy security in Bolivia. The second paper, titled “Dissemination Strategies” dealt
with the next steps in handling many of these issues.
- Co-sponsored,
with Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin,
a DOE Hydrocarbon Workshop, which discussed the development
of opportunities in deep water oil and gas. This workshop
took place on January 23rd in Houston, Texas.
- Welcomed Drs.
Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm, Norman Munroe and Walter Tang,
our three colleagues from the College of Engineering, as
dedicated ARC researchers.
- Welcomed Dwayne McDaniel as a
new Research Engineer for our Defense Technology division.
Dwayne comes to us from Exponent Inc. where he was employed
as a Mechanical Engineer. While there he worked on failure
analysis projects including accident reconstruction, safety
assessments and structural analysis. He will be working on
FAA projects, soil erosion / wind tunnel testing, project
development and proposal generation.
- Welcomed Kim Cole as
Assistant Director of Budgeting. Kim comes to us from Florida
Atlantic University where she worked as the Assistant Controller
in charge of University-wide payables. She will be responsible
for many financial matters including human resources, payroll
clearing accounts and budget transfers.
| IN THE SPOTLIGHT - Dr. Weihua Zhang |
 |
Arsenic Has Met Its Match!
 Arsenic
is widely publicized as one of most widely known and
potent poisons on Earth today. Unfortunately, what isn’t
as widely known is that arsenic contamination in drinking
water has caused significant environmental problems around
the world. In Bangladesh alone, millions of people were
exposed to high levels of arsenic (the largest poisoning
of a population in history) when arsenic contaminated
groundwater sources, and ultimately found its way into
the drinking water. Chronic arsenic exposure will cause
cancers of the lung, bladder and skin.
|
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| BUILDING BLOCK-PARTIES |
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You are invited to attend...
ENGINEERING GALA 2006
The Engineering Gala 2006 is the fifth in a newly created
tradition of community events at the College of Engineering
and Computing. This year the Engineering Gala 2006 will
be held on Friday, February 24, 2006 from 9:30
AM – 2 PM at the Engineering Center on
Flagler Street and SW 107th Avenue.
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| WHAT’S NEW AT FIU |
|
Faculty Research Awards Program
for 2006
FIU announced this week the Faculty Research Awards
Program for 2006. Faculty research is a primary
objective of the University; this year’s program
has been funded at $225,000, through combined resources
from the Provost and the FIU.
For 2006, the Office of the Provost and the FIU Foundation
are coming together to fund research projects submitted
by eligible faculty... |
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| THAT’S A WRAP! |
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ARC’s Hydrocarbons Workshop, a Complete
Success
On January 23rd, 2006 in Houston, TX, the Applied
Research Center (ARC) at Florida International University,
in conjunction with the James A. Baker III Institute
for Public Policy at Rice University and the Center for
Energy Economics in the Bureau of Economic Geology at
the University of Texas - Austin, provided logistical
support for the successful coordination of a workshop
formally titled the “North American Forum of Development
of Opportunities in Deep Water, Oil and Gas.”
The roundtable discussion covered all issues related
to... |
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| WHERE ARE THEY NOW? |
|
 We at ARC strive to be the best, and
those aspirations often lead our students onto successful
and impressive careers. Our very own Eric Shea is a prime
example of how his hard work and determination at our
center has directed his career to many exciting
paths.
During his final three and half years at Florida International
University... |
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