January 31, 2008
Case’s Engineers Without Borders hace una diferencia en el mundo
Translation: Case’s Engineers Without Borders recently traveled to Cruce de Blanco, Dominican Republic for some initial research. After three visits, they have finally collected enough data to begin designing a brand new water system for the rural community of 600 people.
During their nine day trip, four Case students and two professional engineers met with the community to discuss options and studied different water sources that could possibly be utilized. After a semester of designing, students will return to Cruce de Blanco to begin the construction and implementation of miles of pipeline, filtration, storage and other components that will bring clean drinking water from a mountain stream to the village.
Learn more about Engineers Without Borders and read the full article about Case’s chapter here.
Posted by eeg7 at 02:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 28, 2008
Case Spotlight: Esther Erb
Every senior at Case is required to complete a SAGES Capstone project before graduation. This project ties together all of the skills that the student learned in the SAGES program during their undergraduate experience in a final public presentation of scholarship and service.
Not every senior, however, receives funding for that project from Case’s unique SOURCE (Support of Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors) office One student who can boast that honor is Esther Erb, a senior music and cognitive science double major. Her Capstone studied the effect of music on running, a topic that combined both of her majors plus her experience as captain of the varsity track and varsity cross-country teams.
It seems as though Esther is talented in everything she does. She earned All-American status twice (for track and cross-country) and is considered the best female distance runner in Case history, holding nine school records. Musically, Esther plays the cello and sings. She has performed the national anthem twice for Cleveland Indians’ baseball games.
Posted by eeg7 at 04:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 24, 2008
Case Spotlight: Sonia Merritt
Senior biomedical engineering major Sonia Merritt is a prime example of well-roundedness. Besides being involved with research, the National Society of Black Engineers and Biomedical Engineering Society, she is also an active member of the Phi Mu sorority and Undergraduate Student Government. Sonia’s interests also include travelling, basketball and fashion.
Sonia identified the flexibility of Case’s programs and the ability for her to pursue her passions as the key reasons why she chose to attend Case. “At other universities, I might have been admitted into the college of engineering, where a majority of my studies would have taken place; at Case I’m able to participate in the SAGES program [Case’s common curriculum], as well as take several classes in the College of Arts and Sciences.”
Posted by eeg7 at 04:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 17, 2008
Case Spotlight: Sheeba Joseph
Case’s Pre-Professional Scholars Program offers students the unique opportunity of gaining admission to Case’s undergraduate program and, in four years, a guarantee of admission to one of its various professional schools. Of course, with an offer this good, admission is highly competitive and the acceptance rate hovers at around 10%. However, keeping in line with Case culture, even the lucky few who have graduate school security are far from uninvolved in campus life.
Pre-Professional Scholar Sheeba Joseph (junior, pre-medicine biochemistry) spends her off time volunteering at the Free Medical Clinic, doing research, and serving in leadership roles for Students for Organ Donation Awareness, the American Medical Students Association, the Student Turning Point Society, and Undergraduate Student Government.
In addition to her schooling and activities, Sheeba makes sure to participate in the much needed socializing that goes along with being a college student. Sheeba recalls that, “I have so many great memories, ranging from the House of Blues, being an Orientation Leader, retreats at Camp Asbury, meeting new people, visits to the West Side Market, to professors’ anecdotes and much more.”
Posted by eeg7 at 02:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 31, 2007
Looking to learn a foreign language? Join Case researchers in learning the language of dolphins
The departments of cognitive science and philosophy are teaming up to study dolphin vocalizations. By studying hours upon hours of recorded data from California, the team of researchers and students hopes to connect these vocalizations to specific dolphin behaviors. This will help them to determine some common components in meaning systems and language.
Read the article in The Observer, Case’s student-run newspaper here.
Posted by eeg7 at 02:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 24, 2007
Shooting Hoops at Case, Shooting Stars at NASA
At Case, athletes have to do a little more than just make baskets to be considered exceptional.
All-American basketball player Mason Conrad got a chance to show his stuff during the off-season at an internship with NASA. Mason worked on testing the materials on the Crew Exploration Vehicle, which will possibly land on the moon in the future.
Off the court, Mason is a mechanical engineering major with a 3.71 GPA. He is participating in the joint BS/MS program, which will allow him to graduate with his master’s in engineering in only one extra year.
Learn more about Mason here.
Posted by eeg7 at 02:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 29, 2007
Case professors don tights in student-directed dance ensemble
Students instruct the instructors in Mather Dance Collective, a chance for students, faculty, staff, and community members to take the stage together.
With performances twice a year, MaDaCol features both undergraduate and graduate student choreographers, directors, and instructors. Everyone, regardless of prior experience or talent, is encouraged to participate in MaDaCol. This semester, the pieces cover a variety of themes and topics including pain, truth, and perspective.
Carmen Hendricks, a member of the undergraduate admission staff who plans our open house events, is among the dancers who will showcase their talent at this week’s MaDaCol performance. Not only is Carmen a pro at event planning, she’s a very talented modern dancer—and an example of how Case staff, like our students, have many opportunities to pursue all of their interests on campus.
Posted by eeg7 at 10:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 24, 2007
Mandel School for Applied Social Sciences helps undergraduates go international
One week, one class, one new country to explore.
Undergraduate students are invited to participate in MSASS’s award winning international education program every spring. Instead of spending spring break just lounging around, be productive! You can spend the week earning three credit hours while sightseeing in the Netherlands, Kenya, Guatemala, India, El Salvador, Dominican Republic or Greece.
Courses include studying the country’s health policy, social policy, child welfare, women and community development, and government politics.
Posted by eeg7 at 12:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 06, 2007
Team Case’s Dexter Rolls its Way to the Top 20 in the DARPA Urban Challenge
Dexter, Case’s autonomous robotic vehicle, almost made it to the finals of the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge, but wound up in the top 20 instead. Though not selected as one of the 11 finalists in the competition, Dexter received a pretty cool consolation prize: an appearance on the Discovery Channel. Team Case deserves rounds of applause; placing in the top 20 during Case’s first crack at the challenge is an amazing feat.
Learn more about the urban challenge, visit Team Case online.
Posted by sja15 at 12:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 25, 2007
Dexter's Laboratory at Case
Question: How many robots does it take to drive a car?
Answer: One, if the robot is the car and the car’s name is Dexter.
Dexter is an autonomous vehicle originally built by ENSCO Inc., a Virginia engineering firm, for a 2005 robotic-car challenge through the Mojave Desert.
Next up is the 2007 Urban Challenge, and ENSCO recruited Team Case to help get Dexter prepared. In order to do this, over 50 engineering and computer-science students and professors are tinkering with Dexter’s brain to give him the ability to follow every traffic rule in the book. Team Case will compete against over 80 other vehicles later in the year for a shot at $2 million in prize money and a chance to work with the U.S. military to design future autonomous vehicles.
Learn more about Dexter here.
Posted by eeg7 at 11:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 17, 2007
A sweet study
Case remains on the forefront of innovation in the health sciences, from neurotechnology research to…testing the effects of snacking on gummy bears?!
That’s right, except these aren’t your average, store-bought gummy candies.
Associate professor of dental medicine and researcher Suchitra Nelson is directing a new project called Healthy Bears for Healthy Teeth. East Cleveland kindergarten teachers will pass out special gummy bears containing the anti-microbial sugar substitute xylitol three times a day to see if it reduces cavities in the students' first emerging permanent teeth. The project is funded by a four-year, $1 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resource and Services Administration.
You can learn more about this study here.
Related
Interested in research? Check out Case's SOURCE (Support of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors) program, which connects students to research opportunities (and many times, funding).
Posted by tlm42 at 09:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 16, 2007
Case in Kenya
A group of Case undergrads will get plenty of sun in the coming months—though not how you may expect. Jeffrey Zabinski, Krishna Surapaneni, Joshua Hollabaugh and Philip Niles are helping to set up an HIV/AIDS testing clinic in Bungoma, Kenya—a rural part of Africa that has been devastated by a skyrocketing increase in HIV infection.
The team’s efforts are part of an Experiential Learning Fellowship, one of several ways Case students can apply coursework in a real-world setting. The team is also working in conjunction with Volunteer Kenya, a nonprofit organization that educates and empowers individuals to fight the global AIDS pandemic.
The students hope to make a positive impact on the public health and quality of life of citizens of Kenya. Check out their blog to see how they are doing.
Posted by tlm42 at 11:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack