Spring 2013 Meeting of the MAE Visiting Committee (VCMAE)

1. Spring 2013 Meeting of the MAE Visiting Committee (VCMAE) April 12, 2013 Morgantown, West Virginia

2. Departmental News and Announcements • Update on Faculty and Staff Changes: • Welcome to John Christian (has replaced Steve Raque in the 11th hour) • Cheers to John Loth in his last semester before retirement • Congratulations to new Office Administrator: Pat Goldie • Welcome to Kande Brandt as Administrative Secretary Senior • Farewell to Tom Spencer as CAFEE Coordinator • Reductions in CAFEE’s technical staff: Ron Jaredand Chris Beers • Update on Faculty Searches: • Active Search for Tenure-Track Position in Aerospace Engineering • Broad Ad will be posted in January (expansion of earlier UAV searches) • Unanimously approved by the Search Committee (chaired by Perhinschi) • New Searches to Start Soon for Three Tenure Stream Positions as part of WVU’s Shale Gas Utilization Initiative: • At least two positions in MAE and/or ChE at Assistant/Associate Levels • First Statler Chair (out of three) will be hired in MAE or ChE department

3. Faculty/Staff Accomplishments • First NSF CAREER Award: Xueyan Song • Outstanding Researchers in Statler College • Nick Wu • Xueyan Song • Best Student Advisor in the College: Dave Solley • Outstanding Teacher in Statler College: • John Kuhlman • Outstanding Staff Member: Chuck Coleman

4. Project Teams of MAE Students Ranked High in Last Year’s National Competitions • UAV Design/Build/Fly - 9th of 68 teams, ahead of: • MIT • Penn State • Johns Hopkins • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) • Mini-Baja ATV – 23rd out of 100 teams, ahead of: • University of Virginia (UVA) • Georgia Tech • University of Michigan • Clemson University • Human Powered Vehicle - 7th of 52 teams, ahead of: • Purdue University • University of Florida • University of Oklahoma • Temple University

7. Technology Developments to Increase Shale Gas Demand and Utilization in the NEAR Future • Largely Build on End-User Perspectives and Needs to Remove Current Barriers to Widespread Utilization • Focus on Developing and Expanding Commercially Viable Applications for Natural Gas • Mobile Transportation Systems are a Major Area of Need • Stationary Systems for Power Generation • Fuel Cells that Utilize Natural Gas • Hybrid Coal/Gas/Biomass Systems • Critical Enabling Technologies • High-yield/Low-emissions Conversion of Gas To Liquid (GTL) Fuels and Chemicals • Control of Emissions and Environmental Impacts • Control of Combustion Processes to Enhance Efficiency and Reduce Emissions of Harmful Pollutants

8. Focus on Removing Barriers to Rapid, Low-Cost Development of New Markets • Demand-side Research to Break Down Barriers • Limited infrastructure for NG in gaseous state • Safety concerns about leaks and fugitive emissions • Environmental effects of NG production & combustion • Three Pinnacle Areas of Research Excellence • Control of Emissions and Environmental Impacts • Gas To Liquid (GLT) Fuel & Feedstock Conversion of NG • Combustion Modeling &Testing for High Efficiency • Strawman for Planning to Evolve Each Area • Existing and Evolving Areas of Expertise at WVU • Gaps in Critical Areas that Are in Need of Enhancement • Potential for Interdisciplinary Cluster Hire & Cooperation

9. “First Things Come First”(S. Covey) • Main Priorities for 2011-2012 • Complete four self assessment reports for the BOG • Conduct seven national searches for new TT faculty • Main Priorities for 2102-2013 • Research- increase number & success rate of proposals • Undergraduate AE and ME Programs: • Define &secure approval of specialty tracks/certificates, minors • Expand and integrate design projects throughout the programs • Graduate Programs –approval of MS &PhD in MSE • Laboratories – upgrading and sharing of lab facilities • Outreach – broad and sustained connections with alumni