Departments

• Civil, Environmental & Construction
• Electrical & Computer Science
• Engineering Technology
• Industrial & Management Systems
• Mechanical, Materials, & Aerospace

Rainfall Simulator Featured at New UCF Stormwater Lab

Dec 7th, 2007 -- Faculty, students and industry partners donned ponchos and got soaked Wednesday to demonstrate a large, outdoor rainfall simulator that is part of a new UCF Stormwater Management Academy lab.

The colorful simulator dumped the equivalent of 10 inches of rain an hour during the open house, where the Stormwater Management Academy also showed off green roof experiments, pervious pavements and other research designed to fulfill its mission of protecting the state's valuable natural resources. Read more here.

New Master's Degrees in Digital Forensics, Technology and Applied Learning Approved

Nov 28th, 2007 -- The UCF Board of Trustees on Thursday approved the creation of new master's degree programs in Digital Forensics, Technology and Applied Learning and Instruction.

The master's degree in Digital Forensics will prepare students to work in government or private forensics labs or as industry experts in digital evidence. The program will begin in spring 2008 with about 15 students in its first year. UCF hopes eventually to enroll about 125 students in the program. Read more here.

UCF Students' Self-Navigating Car to Compete in DARPA Urban Challenge

Oct 8th, 2007 -- A self-navigating Subaru Outback that UCF engineers designed to adapt to traffic patterns, obstacles and driving conditions will compete next week in the national semifinals of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Urban Challenge.

Thirty-six teams from across the country will compete Oct. 26 to 31 at the former George Air Force Base in Victorville, Calif. The robotic vehicles must operate autonomously, without human intervention, and obey California traffic laws while performing maneuvers such as merging into moving traffic, navigating traffic circles and avoiding moving obstacles. The vehicles will have six hours to traverse a complex road system that will simulate a military supply mission. Read more here.

UCF Hires First National Academy of Engineering Scientist

Sep 7th, 2007 -- The University of Central Florida has hired its first National Academy of Engineering member, a distinction that elevates the academic prestige of the university and may pave the way for additional academy members on campus.

Marwan Simaan, the Bell of PA/Bell Atlantic engineering professor at the University of Pittsburgh, will join UCF in the spring as the Florida Chair and a distinguished professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He brings to the university extensive research strengths in the areas of control and signal processing. Read more here.

CECS Graduate Receives Women's Resource Center Summit Award

Aug 15th, 2007 -- UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science graduate Cristina Dos Santos has been chosen as one of this year's recipients of the Central Florida Women's Resource Center Summit Award. She will be recognized for her outstanding outreach efforts in mentoring young people to pursue further education in engineering and science. Along with Wendy Chioji, Jennie Joseph, Lucille O'Neal and Jan Stratton, Dos Santos will be honored at a gala event on October 2, 2007 at the Rosen Center Hotel, Orlando. Read more here.

UCF Researchers Studying How Virtual Reality Can Influence Fire Policies

Jun 5th, 2007 -- In a year when many Floridians have experienced first-hand the dangers of raging wildfires, University of Central Florida researchers are preparing to study whether interactive, virtual reality simulations of wildfires can make residents more willing to invest in preventing them.

The UCF research team is developing an interactive simulation of a wildfire spreading through Volusia County. Participants will decide how much they want to invest in prescribed burns and insurance, and their decisions will be contrasted with those who only receive written information about the danger of wildfires. Read more here.

UCF COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSOR WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

May 9th, 2007 -- Yan Wang, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Central Florida, will create new modeling and simulation mechanisms for nano-scale materials and systems with a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

Nano-scale materials and systems will help engineers design products with more desirable properties, such as vehicles that are lighter but much stronger and miniature music players with batteries that have extremely long lives. There also may be applications in medicine, business and other fields. Read more here.

UCF ENGINEERING, CHEMISTRY PROFESSORS INDUCTED INTO SPACE TECHNOLOGY HALL OF FAME

May 7th, 2007 -- University of Central Florida professors Christian Clausen, Cherie Geiger and Debra Reinhart have been inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame. Along with two NASA Kennedy Space Center employees, they were honored for their development of technology known as Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron, which reduces groundwater contamination.

Clausen and Geiger are chemistry professors, and Reinhart is a professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Read more here.

UCF RESEARCH TO MAKE SPYPLANES SMARTER, HELP PROTECT TROOPS

Mar 9th, 2007 -- University of Central Florida professors Niels da Vitoria Lobo and Mubarak Shah earned a grant this week to develop a way for small, unmanned spyplanes to "speak" to each other to provide better intelligence to troops on battlefields.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science researchers will work with unmanned aerial vehicles that the military uses to collect intelligence on battlefields. In addition to allowing the planes to communicate with each other, the programming will make the drones smarter so that they can follow targets and hand off tracking to other drones when the targets leave their area.

All this information would be beamed back to a laptop computer on the ground in real-time 3-D images, giving decision-makers valuable and timely information. Read more here.

FLORIDA FIRST REGIONAL ROBOTICS COMPETITION INSPIRES EXCITEMENT IN ENGINEERING

Mar 7th, 2007 -- High school students from throughout Florida, seven other states and Puerto Rico will compete in the action-packed 2007 Florida FIRST Regional Robotics Competition at the University of Central Florida Arena on Friday, March 9, and Saturday, March 10. The competition will be held each day from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Teams from Orlando, Melbourne and Kissimmee are among the Central Florida participants in the competition hosted by NASA Kennedy Space Center and the UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science. Fifty-one teams are scheduled to participate. In this year’s colorful game, “Rack and Roll,” students are designing and building robots that will place inflatable tubes on a three-level rack in the center of the playing surface. Read more here.

BUILDING HOVER CRAFT AND VIRTUAL REALITY PART OF GIRLS' SCIENCE DAY AT UCF

Mar 2nd, 2007 -- About 250 Central Florida middle school students will have a chance this month to create miniature hover crafts, wear virtual reality helmets that will let them roam around a community and see how rehabilitative robotics make the lives of people with physical disabilities a little easier.

Sixth- to eighth-grade students will have a chance to enjoy those activities and many more at an "Expanding Your Horizons" event at the University of Central Florida on March 31. The College of Engineering and Computer Science, with the help of several private donors, is hosting the day aimed at getting girls interested in science and math careers. Read more here.

UCF COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE HOSTS LOCAL STUDENTS AT ENGINEERING COMPETITION

Feb 28th, 2007 -- More than 500 students from Orange, Seminole and Volusia county schools participated in hands-on engineering, science and math education events last week at a contest hosted by the University of Central Florida's College of Engineering and Computer Science and several partners.

Elementary, middle and high school student teams at the SECME Regional Competition designed vehicles powered by mousetraps and solar panels, bridges that withstood pressure tests, containers that protected eggs and were dropped from three stories and water bottle rockets that were launched and evaluated for distance. Read more here.

UCF Student Engineers Working to Bring Clean Water to Haitian Community

Dec 22nd, 2008 -- A three-mile trek over rocky terrain takes about 10,000 residents of Mare Brignole, Haiti, to their closest supply of water – a contaminated mountain spring.

Students in the University of Central Florida’s Engineers Without Borders chapter plan to end that ordeal by developing a more reliable clean source of water for the community. They visited Mare Brignole last week to meet with residents and assess the community’s needs, and now they will begin designing and raising money for a cistern-based system to provide clean water. Read more here.

Engineering Professor's New Card Game Inspires Kids to Learn and Enjoy Math

Dec 17th, 2008 -- When his two young children struggled to understand multiplication, University of Central Florida engineering professor Ron Eaglin gave them typical paper and computer math drills to help them improve.

Unfortunately, the drills failed miserably, as his children saw them as punishment and had little enthusiasm for learning.

Believing a more entertaining approach might work better, he designed a card game that has helped his children learn math while having fun. Read more here.

UCF's College of Engineering Ranked in Top 10

Nov 11th, 2008 -- UCF's College of Engineering and Computer Science has been ranked among the top 10 graduate engineering schools for Hispanic students by Hispanic Business magazine.

Hispanic Business magazine, the self-proclaimed authority on the U.S. Hispanic market, delivers news with topics ranging from politics to the economy.

HispanTelligence, the research sector of Hispanic Business Inc., annually reports its top university findings for Hispanics in the fields of medicine, business, law and engineering.

Topping this year's list of graduate engineering schools is the Georgia Institute of Technology, followed closely by Purdue University College of Engineering. Read more here.

Student Receives Astronaut Scholarship

Oct 18th, 2008 -- UCF Mechanical Engineering student Ashley Ewh is awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Read more here.

UCF, Siemens Expanding Energy, Turbine Research

Oct 17th, 2008 -- An $850,000 Siemens Energy Center lab space expansion will allow the University of Central Florida and Siemens to ramp up energy and turbine research — a move that ultimately could lower electricity costs for both businesses and residents. Read more here.

Siemens Dedicate New Energy Center

Oct 9th, 2008 -- The University of Central Florida and Siemens on Wednesday dedicated the new Siemens Energy Center and celebrated a partnership that benefits America's energy needs and the Central Florida economy. Read more here.

Enterprise Florida Webinar on Clean Energy / Siemens - UCF Strategic Relationship

Sep 30th, 2008 -- Strategies for growing your cleantech business through partnerships event. Originally held live September 30th at 10 a.m. Pacific/1 p.m. Eastern. Read more here.

Howard Lance to receive Honorary Doctorate

Sep 18th, 2008 -- Howard L. Lance, chair of the board, president and chief executive officer of the Harris Corporation, will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Science. Read more here.

Stormwater Expert Talks about St. John's River Flooding

Sep 4th, 2008 -- There are still spots along the St. Johns River where floodwaters from Tropical Storm Fay continue to rise. Read more here.

The Chronicle of Higher Education Interviews Prof. Al Ducharme and Highlights CECS's Use of Technology to Deliver Classes

Jun 28th, 2008 -- Dalton A. Kehoe, an associate professor of communication studies at York University, in Toronto, has for decades won teaching awards and praise for his lectures. So when he was asked to do his first online course, a couple of years ago, he was excited to head into a studio to capture his 50-minute talks on video. Read more here.

UCF Students Cook Up Their Own Fuel

May 1st, 2008 -- Two men have found a way to never have to show up at a gas station. They are instead cleaning out grease tanks to fill up their car tanks.

"Driving by the fuel signs and see $4.30 a gallon, it's kind of nice not having to stop there and pay them that," University of Central Florida student Eric Williams said. Read more here.

Graduate Programs Rank Among the Top 100

Apr 4th, 2008 -- University of Central Florida’s programs were ranked among the best in the nation in the 2009 U.S. News and World Report Best Graduate School guide.

The university’s electrical engineering graduate program was among the highest ranked of UCF programs coming in at 65. Education, physics, public administration and speech-language pathology programs were also ranked in the top 100. Read more here.

President Hitt Commends 'The Little Car That Could'

Feb 13th, 2008 -- President John Hitt on Wednesday congratulated the UCF students whose self-driving vehicle -- which he dubbed “the little car that could” -- made it to the national finals of the DARPA Urban Challenge last year. Read more here.

UCF Researchers Testing Whether Road Markings Can Limit Red-Light Running

Jan 28th, 2008 -- University of Central Florida researchers are testing whether “Signal Ahead” markings painted at an Alafaya Trail intersection will help reduce dangerous red-light running.

In earlier simulations in a UCF lab, drivers were three times less likely to run red lights on roads with “Signal Ahead” painted on the surface to guide them. Read more here.

UCF Expands Partnership With Jordanian University During Princess' Visit

Jan 16th, 2008 -- Enticed by extensive research opportunities with faculty and corporate partners, Ruba Amarin left Jordan to pursue her graduate degrees at the University of Central Florida.

Amarin had studied at the Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), a prestigious school in Jordan that has sent about a dozen students to UCF. And now UCF students will have the opportunity to travel to Jordan and attend PSUT as part of a new student exchange agreement finalized on Monday. Read more here.

FSEC Director Emeritus Receives National Recognition

Nov 6th, 2009 -- David Block, director emeritus of FSEC, has received a special recognition award from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. Read more here.

UCF Hosting Workshop with Nation's Leading Turbine Researchers

Oct 26th, 2009 -- Many of the nation’s leading turbine researchers will be at the University of Central Florida this week for a U.S. Department of Energy workshop. Read more here.

UCF Gets $2.8M From DOE for Solar Network

Oct 17th, 2009 -- With unemployment at an all-time high, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is investing in solar workforce development and providing $2.8 million to the University of Central Florida’s Solar Energy Center (FSEC) to help lead those efforts. Read more here.

Former President of India to Discuss ‘World Space Vision’

Oct 16th, 2009 -- Abdul Kalam, who served as the 11th president of India from 2002 to 2007, will speak Thursday, Oct. 22, at the University of Central Florida. Read more here.

UCF to Enrich Kennedy Space Center Experience for Students, Teachers

Oct 16th, 2009 -- The UCF College of Education signed a new agreement that will help area teachers bring NASA’s vast resources in life science, astronomy, energy and more into their classrooms. Read more here.

The Classroom Hits the Road

Oct 5th, 2009 -- When it comes to hands-on learning, UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer (CECS) students make their own path—literally. Read more here.

New Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering Chair Appointed

Oct 1st, 2009 -- The College of Engineering and Computer Science welcomes Dr. Golam Newaz as the new Chair and CAE Link Professor in the Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering (MMAE) Department. Read more here.

UCF Research Offers New Hope for Dementia Patients

Sep 29th, 2009 -- With the risk of developing dementia growing at an alarming pace, a UCF research team is working with the Boston University School of Medicine to develop a miniature diagnostic toolkit in the hopes of stimulating earlier detection and treatment. Read more here.

UCF to Host Climate Change Forum with U.S. EPA Official Danny Orlando

Sep 28th, 2009 -- EPA Official Danny Orlando will present Storms and Opportunities: A Planetary Energy and Climate Discussion at 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 29 in the Cape Florida Ballroom of the Student Union on the UCF campus. The event is free and open to the public.
Read more here.

To the Moon, Rover!

Sep 24th, 2009 -- The Omega Envoy Project–Earthrise Space Inc.’s project to advance public and private space exploration in Florida–and UCF have partnered to develop the only student-led entry for the international $30 million Google Lunar X-Prize competition. Read more here.

UCF Receives $25,000 from Northrop Grumman for Training Space Workers

Sep 23rd, 2009 -- The UCF Research Foundation has been awarded $25,000 by Northrop Grumman to administer a program designed to give as many as 32 qualified college students real-world experience in the space industry. Read more here.

Fun in the Sun: UCF Trustees Meet at Florida Solar Energy Center

Sep 22nd, 2009 -- The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees met Thursday at the university’s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), the largest and most active state-supported energy research institute in the country. Founded 34 years ago, FSEC researches and develops energy technologies that enhance Florida’s and the nation’s economy and environment. Research activities include solar water and pool heating, solar electric and distributed generation systems, energy-efficient buildings, alternative transportation systems, hydrogen fuel and fuel cells. Read more here.

Final Shuttle Mission to Include UCF’s Stott

Sep 22nd, 2009 -- NASA has assigned the crew for the last scheduled space shuttle mission, targeted to launch in September 2010. The flight to the International Space Station will carry a pressurized logistics module to the station. Read more here.

UCF to Showcase Academic Programs During Family Weekend

Sep 22nd, 2009 -- Several University of Central Florida colleges including the College of Engineering and Computer Science will open their doors to parents, students and fans before the annual Family Weekend football game on Saturday, Oct. 3. Read more here.

Transforming Companies to be more Competitive

Sep 22nd, 2009 -- In a time of budget constraints and limited resources, Engineering Professor Dr. Timothy Kotnour thinks it’s time for organizations to change the way they see the world. Even though change is difficult, he says transforming from within is the only way to compete in today’s economy. Read more here.

Creating First-place Innovation a Breeze for UCF Students

Sep 10th, 2009 -- Creating a device that maximizes the effectiveness of a wind turbine was a breeze for a group of engineering students and graduate assistants from the University of Central Florida, who won first place at the 2009 Future Energy Challenge in Australia. Read more here.

Engineering Graduate Program Ranked No.6

Sep 10th, 2009 -- UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) again ranks among the top graduate programs in the nation in Hispanic Business Magazine’ s 2009 Best Schools for Hispanics report. Read more here.

CECS Names New Associate Dean

Sep 8th, 2009 -- Marwan Simaan, Interim Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles H. Reilly as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs effective September 1, 2009. Dr. Reilly is a Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems and has served as Interim Associate Dean since late January. Read more here.

A Fearless Knight Spacewalks

Sep 3rd, 2009 -- Expedition 20 flight engineer Nicole Stott (UCF ‘92) participates in the STS-128 mission’s first spacewalk as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. Read more here.

UCF Offering New Modeling & Simulation Program

Sep 2nd, 2009 -- Central Florida is at the heart of the modeling and simulation industry as the home of several of the nation’s top companies and military agencies. The University of Central Florida has developed a new master’s degree program to train employees to work in the growing and lucrative field. Read more here.

UCF ranked as a Top 5 School to Watch

Sep 1st, 2009 -- A report on how UCF ranks among universities in academics, facilities, research advances, enrollment, innovation and more. Read more here.

UCF scientists win research grant to develop power-plant sensor

Sep 1st, 2009 -- Dr. Xun Gong and two colleagues, along with support from a UCF corporate neighbor, Siemens Energy, hope to develop a temperature sensor for use in power plants that run on natural gas to generate electricity.

From the Orlando Sentinel Read more here.

UCF Reports - Video Story of UCF Grad in Space

Aug 31st, 2009 -- Shuttle mission STS128 sends one of UCF's own, Mission Specialist Nicole Stott. She will team up on a space walk removing a used amonia tank. Read more here.

Shuttle Launch With UCF Alum Resch. for 12:22 am Fri.

Aug 27th, 2009 -- Read more here.

Harris Corporation Receives UCF Partnership Award

Aug 21st, 2009 -- Harris Corporation received the University of Central Florida's Partnership Award at UCF's Colbourn Society Reception on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The Partnership Award is given to an organization that collaborates with the UCF community to further President John Hitt's goal of being America's leading partnership university. Read more here.

Engineering Grad on KSC Launch Tues 1:36 a.m.

Aug 21st, 2009 -- Engineering Grad on KSC Launch Tues 1:36 a.m. Read more here.

UCF Alum to Live Aboard International Space Station

Aug 13th, 2009 -- CECS alum on shuttle crew Read more here.

NASA-Preflight Interview with Space Station Bound Alum

Aug 13th, 2009 -- You’re a flight engineer on Expedition 20 and 21 to the International Space Station; Nicole, in a nutshell, what are the goals of the flight, and what are your main responsibilities?
Read more here.

UCF Scientist Programming Human Stereotypes, Biases into Computers

Aug 7th, 2009 -- For better or worse, people tend to employ biases and stereotypes to make quick decisions about how to interact with others. A University of Central Florida researcher is working to enable computers to better predict and simulate such behavior.

Read more here.

Teachers, Students ‘P.R.O.F.I.T.’ from Combining Technology with Math

Aug 6th, 2009 -- Teachers, Students ‘P.R.O.F.I.T.’ from Combining Technology with Math Read more here.

CECS Staff Service Awards 2009

Jul 28th, 2009 -- Dr. Marwan Simaan, Interim Dean, presents the annual staff service awards to Pedro Cordero, Bill Scoltock, and Jeanine Clements.

Three staff members in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Jeanine Clements (MMAE), Bill Scoltock (IEMS), and Pedro Cordero, were recently recognized for their years of dedicated service to UCF and the college at a presentation on July 24. During the award presentation, Dean Simaan thanked each of the awardees for their achievements and contributions to the university. Read more here.

CECS Graduate Wins Miss Florida USA Pageant

Jul 21st, 2009 -- CECS Graduate Wins Miss Florida USA Pageant Read more here.

Engineering Professor Honored at ASEE Conference

Jul 14th, 2009 -- Read more here.

White House to Honor UCF Engineering Professor for Mentoring Success

Jul 13th, 2009 -- The White House and National Science Foundation will recognize University of Central Florida professor Lesia Crumpton-Young for her success with mentoring women and minorities who are studying engineering and with increasing diversity in her field. Read more here.

To the Moon and Back

Jul 8th, 2009 -- robot rover Read more here.

UCF Robotics Wins Back to Back

Jul 1st, 2009 -- For the second year in a row, UCF’s Surface Robotics team was victorious in a competition sponsored by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Office of Naval Research. Read more here.

Nanoparticles Explored for Preventing Cell Damage

Jun 29th, 2009 -- Sudipta Seal is enthralled by nanoparticles, particularly those of a rare earth metal called cerium. The particles are showing potential for a wide range of applications, from medicine to energy. Read more here.

Robotics Club Competes in Virginia Event

Jun 18th, 2009 -- UCF’s Robotics Club is one of eight university teams meeting in Virginia Beach, VA for the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International/Office of Naval Research second international surface vehicle competition. The event began June 18. Read more here.

New avatar technology combines advances in artificial intelligence and computer image rendering

Jun 12th, 2009 -- Project LifeLike is a collaboration between the Intelligent Systems Laboratory (ISL) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) that aims to create visualizations of people, or avatars, that are as realistic as possible. Read more here.

Elite Engineer’s group includes CECS Professor

Jun 10th, 2009 -- Read more here.

UCF Researcher Developing Computer Program to Detect, Measure Brain Tumors

Jun 2nd, 2009 -- The same techniques used to detect suspicious activity in airports, stadiums and other public places are now being used by the UCF researcher who invented them to find and measure potentially life-threatening brain tumors.

Mubarak Shah, UCF’s Agere Chair professor of Computer Science and one of the world’s most eminent researchers in the rapidly developing field of computer imaging, has received $400,000 from the National Institutes of Health to develop a computer program to analyze brain scans produced by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI.) Read more here.

Engineering Students Earn Top Honors at National Bridge Building Contest

May 29th, 2009 -- Victory for a group of students from UCF’s College of Engineering & Computer Science at the National Student Steel Bridge Building contest. Read more here.

UCF group paves black and gold path to better drainage

May 19th, 2009 -- A University of Central Florida engineering professor has been studying the water-filtering properties of tires for several years. So far, he said, his mix effectively removes nitrogen and phosphorus from water.
Read more here.

Engineering Students Ready for Study Abroad

May 15th, 2009 -- Although the equations of motion, Ohm’s Law and software tools work the same whether in China, Germany, Brazil or the USA, the cultural differences in the engineering work place are very different. Read more here.

Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Receive Research Award

May 13th, 2009 -- Outstanding researchers at the College of Engineering and Computer Science have been awarded the 2008-2009 UCF Research Incentive Award.

Five CECS faculty, Professors Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Nacati Catbas, Ronald DeMara, Eduardo Divo and Mubarak Shah were selected to receive the prestigious award which recognizes excellence in research. Read more here.

Bridging Nations Through Stronger Structures

May 13th, 2009 -- Earthquakes are to Turkey what hurricanes are to Florida. So when Necati Catbas elected to study engineering in his hometown of Istanbul, it is not surprising that he was particularly interested in protecting buildings from such powerful natural forces. Read more here.

Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Members Receive Teaching Award

May 13th, 2009 -- Thirteen faculty members of CECS have been awarded the 2008-2009 UCF Teaching Incentive Program Award. Read more here.

UCF Engineering Students Showcase Renewable and Sustainable Energy Projects

May 12th, 2009 -- Twenty teams of University of Central Florida engineering students presented innovative ways to conserve energy and save companies and taxpayers money during an inaugural symposium sponsored by Progress Energy.

The projects included a bicycle that generates enough electrical power to operate a light bulb or cell phone, an automated process for making biodiesel fuel, and a tool to help Seminole County save money by better predicting and reducing power consumption by its water treatment plants. Read more here.

Howard Lance, Harris CEO Receives Honorary Doctor of Science

May 8th, 2009 -- Howard L. Lance, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Harris Corporation, has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from UCF.

A Melbourne-based global provider of communications and information technology products, software and systems, Harris Corporation is a big supporter of UCF and has donated $3 million for the engineering center that bears its name. The company also has invested in research programs that have given students opportunities to work-side-by-side with top experts. Read more here.

Electrical Engineering Earns High Ranking

May 5th, 2009 -- Electrical Engineering is one of several UCF graduate programs named among the best in the nation in the 2009-2010 U.S. News and World Reports Best Graduate Schools guide. Read more here.

UCF - Progress Energy Senior Design Symposium in Renewable & Sustainable Energy

Apr 30th, 2009 -- Dr. John Hitt, UCF President, Dean Marwan Simaan, UCF College of Engineering & CS, and David Maxon, Progress Energy Regional VP, recognized Progress Energy and UCF engineering Senior Design students in Renewable and Sustainable Energy. Read more here.

UCF Programs Earn High Rankings

Apr 30th, 2009 -- Several UCF graduate programs ranked among the best in the country in the 2009-2010 U.S. News and World Report Best Graduate Schools guide. Read more here.

Engineers Without Borders Prepares for trip to Haiti

Apr 28th, 2009 -- UCF's Engineers Without Borders team will make its third trip to Haiti in May to help bring clean water to the town of Mare Brignol. Read more here.

Harris Corp. Receives UCF Industry Research Sponor Award

Apr 27th, 2009 -- Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, has received the Industry Research Sponsor Award from the University of Central Florida’s School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). Read more here.

Harris Corporation Receives UCF Industry Research Sponsor Award

Apr 27th, 2009 -- Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has received the Industry Research Sponsor Award from the University of Central Florida's School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). The award, presented during the school's 2009 Industry Day, annually recognizes one company for its consistent support of research activities at the school.

Harris and the University of Central Florida (UCF) have an ongoing agreement to promote research and development in a variety of engineering fields. Harris donated $3 million to UCF in 2005 that was matched by state funds and used to equip research labs in the school's Harris Corporation Engineering Center. The labs specialize in some of today's most advanced engineering disciplines, such as microwave and wireless communications, full-motion video processing, computer vision, robotics, software engineering and large-scale designs. Read more here.

UCF Again in National Top 10 for 'Power' of Its Patents

Apr 23rd, 2009 -- The University of Central Florida topped the likes of Princeton, Stanford and the University of North Carolina to rank seventh in the nation for the power of its patents, according to the world�s leading professional association for the advancement of technology. Read more here.

UCF Computer Programmers to Compete for World Title in Sweden

Apr 3rd, 2009 -- Three University of Central Florida students will put their computer knowledge to the test as they compete for a world championship at the �Battle of the Brains� competition April 18 to 22 in Stockholm, Sweden. UCF is one of 21 U.S. universities competing in the 33rd annual World Finals of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) International Collegiate Programming contest, sponsored by IBM. The world finals will feature the top 100 teams out of more than 7,000 teams from around the globe that competed in regional competitions. Read more here.

CECS Undergraduate Research Awards

Apr 2nd, 2009 -- Congratulations to the winners of the Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence. This annual event allows students from all disciplines to present their work and engage others in research work being conducted at UCF. Read more here.

Two CECS Professors Receive Highest UCF Teaching Award

Apr 1st, 2009 -- Two CECS Professors Receive Highest UCF Teaching Award
By Courtney Gilmartin

April 1, 2009

An accomplished engineer who mentors young women, an engineer who has saved the semiconductor industry millions of dollars and a researcher whose collaborations have brought international recognition to UCF have won UCF’s highest faculty award.
Debra Reinhart, and Juin Liou from the College of Engineering were among three named Pegasus Professors today at the annual Founders’ Day ceremony. The award recognizes extraordinary contributions to the UCF community through teaching, research and service.
Since 2000, only 16 UCF professors have received the award.
As Pegasus Professors, Reinhart and Liou each received a statue of the UCF Pegasus, a gold Pegasus Professor medallion and a check for $5,000.
Debra Reinhart, a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering and interim director of UCF’s NanoScience Technology Center, is an accomplished engineer and leader in the fiel Read more here.

Students to Showcase Robots, Solve Engineering Problems at FIRST Competition

Mar 13th, 2009 -- More than 2,000 students from 53 high schools will tackle 4,500 pounds of metal, gears and electronics as they showcase their engineering skills at the Florida FIRST Robotics Regional Competition.

Co-hosted by UCF and Kennedy Space Center, the competition will be held Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, in the UCF Arena. Students from Central Florida, Tallahassee, Miami and Puerto Rico are among those scheduled to compete in the event, which is free and open to the public. Read more here.

Two UCF Engineering Professors Honored by AAAS

Feb 18th, 2009 -- Two University of Central Florida engineering professors have been elected to an elite fellowship dedicated to advancing science around the world.

Issa Batarseh, a professor of Electrical Engineering, and Sudipta Seal, a professor of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering, were honored as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) at the organization’s annual meeting last weekend in Chicago. Read more here.

UCF Program Helps Students 'EXCEL' in Math and Science

Feb 12th, 2009 -- University of Central Florida students participating in the EXCEL program get the feeling of a small college campus while pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

EXCEL is a competitive, two-year program that aims to help incoming freshmen increase their success in science and math classes by creating connections with other students, faculty and disciplines. Read more here.

Jan. 9th UCF Executive Briefing & Panel Links - UCF TV

Jan 30th, 2009 -- Episode #40
Norm Augustine, Education
Speaker Norm Augustine discusses how America's educational programs are impacting its stake in the global job market. Read more here.

UCF Panel Discusses Challenges of Math and Science Education

Jan 9th, 2009 -- The United States needs to enhance K-12 math and science education and encourage more women and minorities to pursue careers in those fields, former Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO Norm Augustine said Friday at a UCF forum.

Augustine headlined an expert panel that addressed the challenges of science, technology and math education from kindergarten through college. The briefing, organized by the University of Central Florida’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, aimed to merge ideas from the academic, political and business communities, which will need to work together to achieve the best results for kids and the nation. Read more here.

Marwan Simaan Named Interim Dean of UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science

Jan 7th, 2009 -- Marwan Simaan, the first National Academy of Engineering member to join the University of Central Florida faculty, has been appointed interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Provost and Executive Vice President Terry Hickey announced today.

Simaan, whose appointment is effective immediately, joined UCF in spring 2008 after a 32-year career at the University of Pittsburgh. In 2000, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions awarded to engineers. Read more here.

UCF Panel to Tackle Challenges in Science, Technology and Math Education

Jan 6th, 2009 -- Teaching kids the value of math and science can be tricky. But tomorrow's business leaders and educators will need a strong grasp on these subjects to tackle some of the world's biggest problems.

That's why the University of Central Florida will host its first public briefing on Friday, Jan. 9, on the challenges of science, technology and math education from kindergarten through college. The briefing aims to merge ideas from the academic, political and business communities, which will need to work together to achieve the best results for kids and the nation. Read more here.

CECS Students Show off projects during Research Week

Jan 1st, 2009 -- UCF will celebrate students' research accomplishments and encourage other students to get involved in research during the fourth-annual Student Research Week. Read more here.

Computer Programmers to Compete for World Title in Sweden

Jan 1st, 2009 -- Three University of Central Florida students will put their computer knowledge to the test as they compete for a world championship at the “Battle of the Brains” competition April 18 to 22 in Stockholm, Sweden. Read more here.

Vision Lab

Lab tours at the college open house included a look at CECS's unmanned aerial vehicle.