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The FCMF, SPE student chapter in collaboration with IACMI hosted two STEM events in June 2018

  Outreach, Releases 

The Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF), SPE Student Chapter at the University if Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) and the UT leg of Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovations (IACMI) hosted two STEM events for high school  students. Both these activities were led by our students and they included peer to peer education and an introduction to the World of Composites.

  • Monday, June 11, 2018:
    As part of the “Education and Workforce Development Program” / Summer Manufacturing Camp of the “Boys & Girls Clubs of  the Tennessee Valley”, 12 High schoolers visited the FCMF.
    The students had little to no knowledge in plastics, polymers and composites. During their visit, the UT students engaged them in several ways-

    • An introduction to what composites are and what we do at the school, and how the echo system works between industry, community colleges, university and the FCMF lab.
    • A tour to showcase the equipment, samples and demos with discussion with UT undergrad and graduate students
    • Experiential learning with hands on work to fabricate a composite snow sled. This activity included UTK-FCMF, IACMI,  with industry support in the form of equipment and materials by Magnum Venus Products (MVP), Chomarat, MAFIC and PolyNT respectively.
  • Wednesday, June 13, 2018:
    As part of the University of TN Vols Teach program in the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences, UTK is providing support to a group of high school students along with UTK undergrads involved in the TRIO program.
    The purpose of the visit was to expose them to emerging technologies in plastics, polymers, composites and additive manufacturing. The students were exposed to related career opportunities by touring the UT’s FCMF and Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) at ORNL.

 

FCMF Welcomes Summer UG and IACMI Interns

  Releases, Student Highlights 

FCMF welcomes the following IACMI interns and UT undergraduate work study students who have joined our team for Summer 2019.

  • Ashley Herbers, Undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering at UT
  • Benjamin Schwartz, Undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering at UT
  • Brian Roberts, Stony Brook University, NY is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering, he is an IACMI intern
  • Eleni Golloshi, Undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering at UT
  • Isaac Sloan, Colorado State University, CO is an undergraduate student in Business Marketing with a minor in Sustainable Energy, he is an IACMI intern
  • Justin Labelle, Michigan State University, MI is an undergraduate student in Chemical Engineering, he is an IACMI intern
  • Kah Choong, Undergraduate student in Material Science Engineering at UT
  • Keona Madison, Undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering at UT
  • Molly Mays, Undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering at UT
  • Sabrinna Romero, Humboldt State University, CA is an undergraduate in Environmental Resources Engineering, she is an IACMI intern
  • Samantha Ford, Chatham University, PA is a graduate student in Sustainability, she is an IACMI intern
  • Sarah Wheeler, Master Student in Architecture at UT, she is a UT Summer intern
  • Shannon Rearden, University of Alabama, AL is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering and in German, She is a UT Summer intern
  • Tyler Petersen, Undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering at UT

These students are working on a diverse range of projects as they gain experiential learning and consider a professional career in plastics and composites. Their projects include functional composite helmet shells, life cycle analysis and embodied energy of composites, carbon fiber nonwovens, sheet molding compound, characterization of composite inserts, noise vibration harshness of self-reinforced composites, filament winding, natural fiber composites, modeling of composite preforms, and design of tools and molds for composite production. Our graduate student team and staff are closely working with these students as they gain experiential learning and contribute to the broad area of advanced plastics and composites.

ACMA Composites Recycling Conference Tour

  Releases , ,  

The ACMA Recycling Conference tour hosted up to 30 visitors from various composites industries, educational institutes, and governmental agencies from all over the world on Tuesday, April 10, 2018.

The 2018 Composites Recycling Conference brought in experts from the US and around the world to highlight the most relevant technology and business developments which are turning composites recycling into reality in order to support the development of a self-sustaining composited recycling ecosystem.

National Defense University Tour

  Releases , , , , ,  

As part of their Master’s Program industrial focus “Additive Manufacturing”, each year hundreds of students and faculty members from the National Defense University tour sites across the US and Europe to learn more about how government, industry, and academia collaborate to connect innovation research, intellectual property management, and the commercialization of these efforts within industry.

This March 1, 2018, ten senior military personnel holding the rank of either Colonel or Lt. Colonel on a path to become Flag Officers and Senior Executive Service (SES) members serving in the federal government visited our facility as part of their tour to ORNL, UT and IACMI facilities.

Tickle College of Engineering is now 29th in US News Grad School Rankings for Public Universities

  Releases ,  

The Tickle College of Engineering continued the positive momentum it has generated in recent years, surging four spots in the US News and World Report graduate school rankings to crack into the top 30 among public institutions, coming in at 29th.

The college has now risen seven spots since 2016, and is up 14 spots since 2011.

“We’re very pleased with our continued improvement in the US News rankings and in the growth and success that it reflects in our college,” said Dean Wayne Davis. “All of our disciplines are now ranked in the top 50 among public universities, with all but one in the top 40. That’s a result of the great work being done here, and the recognition of it.”

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Vaidya to be Recognized as Honored Service Members During SPE’s ANTEC 2018 @NPE 2018

  Releases , , ,  

At SPE’s ANTEC(R) 2018 @NPE2018 in May, the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) will introduce two new Honored Service Members who are being recognized for their contributions to the Society. One of these two members is Uday Vaidya, director of the Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility.

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East Tennessee Composites Coalition Tour

  Releases ,  

The East Tennessee Composites Coalition tour hosted over 50 visitors from various composites industries, educational institutes, and governmental agencies on Wednesday, February 28.

The East Tennessee Composites Coalition is an initiative that will shape the composites industry in the area and transform the region into the main hub of composites providing a full circle of educational, industrial and technical services.

Uday Vaidya Speaks to Tour AttendeesUday Vaidya Speaks to Tour Attendees FCMF Researchers Lead Visitors on a Tour

Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing Office 2017 Highlights

  Releases  

As AMO gears up for the year ahead, join us on a quick trip down memory lane as we recap five of the most innovative projects, top milestones, and cool moments in 2017. Watch the video above to hear about projects and partnerships that contributed to improving the energy and material efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness of manufacturing.

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