Instructor: Prof. Gary Halada
Office: Room 308, Old Engineering Building
Office Hours: Monday 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Phone: 2-8526
Email: ghalada@ms.cc.sunysb.edu

T.A.s: Samrat Chawda, Chis Young, Johanna Sisalima (undergraduate)

Texts: "Inviting Disaster: Lessons from the Edge of Technology" by James R. Chiles
"Stiquito for Beginners: An Introduction to Robotics" by James M. Conrad and Jonathan W. Mills
"Understanding Nanotechnology" by Scientific American (isbn 0446679569)
Handouts

Resources provided on web page on "Learning from Disaster": /disaster/index.html
Other recommended texts will be placed on reserve in the Engineering Library

The course will consist of four basic modules which will help you to understand what an engineer is, what engineering science and materials science are, how engineers solve problems and develop new technologies, and the role of research in modern engineering:

Module 1:  What is Engineering Science?
Goal: Understanding what engineering and materials science are and the evolving role 
of the engineer in problem solving, invention, research and industry.
We will also review the objectives of the undergraduate program, and 
what you need to know to be a successful engineering student at Stony Brook. 
Guest speakers on areas of emerging technology and research engineering at Stony Brook.
Materials: Handouts, websites
Weeks 1 - 3 
 Lecture 1 (pdf)

Module 2: The Future of Engineering: a Multidisciplinary Design and Research 
Oriented Profession
Goal: Developing understanding of the role of research in engineering; 
skills in reading journal articles,creating technical bibliography, 
independent background research
Lab tours (Center for Thermal Spray Research, Polymers, Surface Analysis 
and Corrosion Science)
Materials: "Understanding Nanotechnology"; handouts
Weeks 3 - 7 

Module 3: Learning from Disaster
Goal: Understanding how research can help identify what happened to cause a failure and 
help develop solutions.  
Also understanding why a multidisciplinary approach is essential for forensic engineering.  
Ethics in engineering: Case studies
Materials: "Inviting Disaster", website and films
Weeks 7 - 11 

Module 4:  Introduction to Design 
Goal: Team design and building of a shape memory alloy walking robot
Use of materials from NiTi robot kit to help understand the nature of 'smart' materials 
and how they can be used.
Text (Ch. 7)
Materials: Stiquito for beginners".
Weeks 11-15 

Grading:

You will be graded based on a portfolio of four assignments (which will be based on the four areas discussed) and a couirse synopsis, plus attendance. Grades will be given on each assignment individually, at which point you will add the assignment to your portfolios. At the end of the term, your portfolio should answer these questions:

• What is an engineer?
• What is Engineering Science?
• What is Materials Engineering?
• What is the role of the engineer in Research?
• What can we learn from engineering failure?
• Why are engineering and engineering design important?
• Why is it important to you? (In other words, why should you invest your time and effort in learning about and trying to understand Engineering Science?)

• Assignments
• Portfolio:
  "A portfolio is required in order to complete course requirements.

  It is due in my mailbox no later that 5 p.m. on December 17th (earlier is always acceptable, but there are NO extensions!).

  The portfolio is to consist of:

  All 4 assignments.
  A page detailing any corrections you have made to any assignments -- note, only if changes are mentioned on this page can any changes be made to your grade!
  A one page summary, in which you answer the following:
  Did this course meet its educational objectives (for you)? In other words, do you have an understanding of what engineering science is, and how design, research and communication skills are essential components of the field of professional engineering? Did the coursework help you in developing this understanding? Also, what feedback can you supply concerning how we can enhance this course in the future?"

• Additional Reading Material and Resources
  • http://www.creatingtechnology.org/index.html
    This is the web site which accompanies the book
    "Engineering -- An Endless frontier"
    by Sunny Auyang and published by Harvard University Press. 
    It is an excellent source of general information about engineering.
  • design, construct, test and even race 'virtual' walking robots
  • JOM article on Damascus steel sword blades analyzed using modern materials research techniques
  • Stiquito website
  • Stiquito books
• Lecture Notes
  • Lecture 1 (pdf)
• Discussion Forum
• Notice:
  Monday, Dec. 12th is the last day of class for us, and hence
  also the day we will have our Stiquito contest.

  Due date for the fourth assignment (to be sent soon) and
  the portfolio (all four assignments plus a class summary --
  which includes your feedback on what you have learned and
  what you feel we should change) is due on the day which would
  be the date of the final (if we were having one which we are not)
  -- Friday, December 16th."

  • Friday, Sept. 23 -- Film at Javits 105 (Product testing)
  • Friday, Sept. 30 -- Lab tours (meeting site to be announced)
  • Monday, October 3 -- Lab tours (meeting site to be announced)
  • Friday, Nov. 4 -- Film at Javits 105 (Learning from Engineering Disasters)
  • Friday, Nov. 11 -- Film at Javits 105 (Learning from Engineering Disasters)
  • Friday, Nov. 18 -- Film at Javits 105 (Learning from Engineering Disasters)

back to the Stony Brook's Department of Materials Science and Engineering

JQ.