Frances Bronet, professor and acting associate dean in the School of Architecture, and Gary Gabriele, vice provost, have been awarded a $315,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a two-year project titled "Design as Creative Model for Technical Education: The Development and Implementation of Interdisciplinary Studio Models-Graduated National Distribution Concept." The project's goal is to create and execute studio models for teaching engineering design in a way that effectively integrates technical, social/cultural, and aesthetic issues. It is based on Rensselaer's NSF-funded interdisciplinary Product Design and Innovation Program and Deep Dive design exercises. 10/7/02

Several Rensselaer researchers will present papers at the 114th annual meeting of the Geological Society of America Oct. 27-30 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Approximately 6,300 geoscientists are expected to attend. Joseph Pyle, a post-doctoral research associate in earth and environmental sciences, along with Frank Spear, professor of earth and environmental sciences, will present "Electron Microprobe Dating of Monazite: Dissection of a Multivariable Analytical Protocol, With Application to 'Triple-Point' Rocks, Northern Picuris Mountains, New Mexico." Lara Storm, graduate student in geology, along with Spear, will present "Taconian and Acadian Rims on Southern Adirondack Monazites: Hydrothermal Fluids From Appalachian Metamorphism." 10/7/02

A team of undergraduate students won first place in the undergraduate category in the 19th American Helicopter Society Student Design Competition, sponsored by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. The team consisted of four aerospace engineering seniors — Nate Gray, Joseph Gillman, Samuel Butler, and Jason Anger — who were asked to redesign the most successful commercial helicopter ever built, the Bell 206. The team successfully modernized the existing design to increase the cruise speed from 115 knots to 150 knots and the range from 374 miles to 510 miles. The design was conducted under the supervision of Nikhil Koratkar, assistant professor of mechanical, aerospace, and nuclear engineering, through the senior-level capstone design course. The winning team is invited to the AHS Annual Forum and Technology Display to present its winning entry. 10/7/02