Highlights

Airport Technology Outreach Program

The COE for Airport Technology is again being awarded a grant to support a summer outreach program to recruit undergraduate minority students to participate in paid research opportunities as COE interns at the University of Illinois - Urbana/Champagn. Through the FAA COE Minority Internship Program, up to six minority students will pursue studies relevant to airport technologies, such as pavement and wildlife, within the Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the UIUC campus. Summer course offerings facilitate an understanding of the manner of instruction and the standards to which students will be held should they go on to graduate studies at UIUC. Students maintain a 40-hour work week, complete at least one 3-credit course, and attend several in-house seminars to enhance their professional development.

Managed under Dr. Satish Agrawal by Dr. David Brill, this COE summer outreach program has been successfully recruiting minority students into graduate level studies at UIUC since the inception of the program in 2001. Students have been recruited from a variety of undergraduate academic institutions including North Carolina A&T, Penn State, the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez, and various universities in the City of Chicago.

One of the major objectives of FAA Centers of Excellence is to educate and train students for aviation/airport related engineering positions within the public and private sectors. In addition to their studies, students conduct research, write reports, and go on site visits to various research and airfield pavement constructions sites throughout the state of Illinois. The strong affiliation of this COE with the O'Hare Modernization Program has created opportunities to assume internship assignments at affiliated private engineering companies. Students are housed in university dormitories and each one is teamed with a graduate student who serves as his/her peer mentor, and is further advised and supported by a senior faculty member. At the conclusion of the summer program, students will have an opportunity to attend the ASCE Airfield Pavement Specialty Conference in Chicago.

ACER: Auburn University's Outreach Resources for K-12 Stem Partnerships
Webpage

Brochure

ACER Meeting Presentations
Limited to ACER Partners only
Presentations

Proceedings of the 4th COE Joint Meeting
March 14-16, 2005
University of Central Florida,
Orlando, FL
Meeting Page

ACER Dedication at Boise State University
November 16, 2005
Idaho Statesman Article published Nov 17, 2005
BSU professor will help with airplane safety.
Sin Ming Loo gets grant to design air-quality monitor
Article
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Public Radio's Marketplace Features COE Affiliate, August 29, 2005
The business program Marketplace (http://marketplace.publicradio.org) which is broadcast nationwide on National Public Radio stations recently ran a story on AeroClave, which included participation by ACER.  The story can be heard at: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2005/08/29/PM200508296.html

COE Dedication at Kansas State University, August 23, 2005
On August 23, 2005, a Center of Excellence for Airliner Cabin Environment Research (ACER) (http://www.acer-coe.org) dedication hosted by core team member, Kansas State University (http://www.k-state.edu/), on the KSU campus in Manhattan, Kansas.  This was the second dedication ceremony for an ACER team member.  ACER Administrative Lead Auburn University held their dedication last year.  The Center is sponsored by the Office of Aerospace Medicine. In attendance from FAA Headquarters were Dr. Jon Jordan, the Federal Air Surgeon, Dr. Charles Ruehle, Special Assistant to the Federal Air Surgeon, and Ms. Jean Watson, Scientific Advisor to Dr. Ruehle, and Dr. Patricia Watts, the National Director of the Air Transportation Centers of Excellence Program.  Dr. William Gale, the ACER Executive Director represented the ACER team.  The event was attended by numerous senior administrators from Kansas State University led by KSU President, Jon Wefald.  Numerous dignitaries with connections to Kansas were in attendance.

Meeting at the Orlando International Airport, August 11, 2005
On August 11, 2005, a Center of Excellence for Airliner Cabin Environment Research (ACER) (http://www.acer-coe.org)related meeting, hosted by ACER's industrial partner AeroClave, was held at the Orlando International Airport.  Representatives of local industry and government met to discuss possible involvement with the COE program.  Dr. Pat Watts, COE National Program Director and Dr. Charles Ruehle were among the FAA attendees.  Representatives attended from AeroClave, Steris, AirTran Airways, Orlando International Airport, Orange County Mayor's Office, Orlando Economic Development Council, Orange County Convention Center, Darden Restaurants, Walt Disney World Company, University of Central Florida, Brevard County Sheriff's Office, and Port Canaveral.

The purpose of this event was to discuss participation in ACER’s research activities by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (http://www.orlandoairports.net/goaa/main.htm).  Participation from the FAA included ACER Sponsor Dr. Charles Ruehle from FAA Headquarters and Dr. Patricia Watts Director of the Centers of Excellence Program.  Numerous senior representatives of key corporate and governmental entities in the Orlando area and beyond participated in the meeting. 

COE Accomplishments Report

2002-2004

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