chbe@iit.edu
A Monthly Newsletter for ChBE Students
August 27, 2007
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Things to Do - See 30 Plays in 60 minutes for $14 or Less!
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AIChE Update - AIChE Chapter Plans for Another Great Year!
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Student Profile - Ray Losch
Welcome to the first issue of the ChBE Student Newsletter – your monthly
guide to everything you need to know about IIT, ChBE and life in
Chicago.
If you’re a returning student – welcome back! We hope you had a
wonderful and relaxing summer.
If you’re new to IIT – we are so happy you have decided to further your
education with us!
You may be wondering, “What the heck is this newsletter, and why should
I spend my time reading it?”
I’m a strong believer that there’s more to college than books, study
groups, classes and exams. It’s about finding yourself and growing into
the person you’re meant to become. I know that sounds very “chicken
soup-y”, but it’s true. And, while the faculty and staff of ChBE strive
to provide you the best academic programs possible, we’re also committed
to helping you become well-rounded, accomplished, successful,
compassionate and proud alumni of IIT.
Each issue will offer you profiles on exciting research taking place
right here on campus, profiles of your faculty and fellow students, and
some fun things to do around town. Have story suggestions or want to get
involved with the production of this newsletter? Feel free to visit me
at Perlstein Hall, Room 127 or e-mail me at
cbeisel@iit.edu.
My door and inbox are always open!
So, with that said… Let’s celebrate a new semester at IIT and make the
most out of what the great city of Chicago and life has to offer us!
-Courtney
Leigh Beisel
Things to Do - See 30 Plays in 60 Minutes for $14 or Less
Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Thirty plays performed in 60 minutes or
less, for $14 or less?
The
Neo-Futurists, a non-profit theater group, puts on a show
titled "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" each Friday and Saturday
at 11:30 pm and Sunday at 7:00 pm. I know that it sounds very artsy-fartsy,
but it's actually a very good time and quite student-friendly.
Here's how it works - They don't sell advanced tickets to their shows,
so attendance is based on first-come, first-served. The doors open a
half hour before the show starts and I advise getting there at least 30
minutes before the doors open to ensure you're admitted. The theater is
located at the intersection of Ashland and Foster in the northern part
of the city.
Here's information on how to get there. And, just a warning, it’s located above a funeral home!
Once you're admitted, it's time to pay. The base price is $7, then you
roll a die to find out the additional amount required. So, you'll end up paying $8
to $13, depending on your luck that day. After that, you enter the
theater and are given a nickname by one of the actors. Make sure you put
on your name sticker or else you'll surely be picked on by the actors!
At the time you enter the theater, you'll also be handed a program that
includes the listing of play titles. Each play is written by the actors
in the troupe, so don't be surprised if you don't recognize anything on
the sheet. When all attendees are seated, the actors will explain to you
how it works - 30 plays in 60 minutes. The audience is responsible for
calling out the order in which the plays take place, so the actors have
no idea the order in which the plays take place prior to the show.
Some plays are serious; others are hilarious, with topics range from
political satire to childhood experiences. You’re guaranteed a good time
and lots to talk about after leaving the show. Plus, new plays are
introduced each weekend, so you’ll never see the same show twice. It’s a
great way to spend an evening with friends, and it’s an “all ages” show
so even our under-age students can spend a night out on the town for
just a few bucks.
Enjoy!
Poll - What does
Charles Pierce Mean to You?
On October 5 at 4:00 pm, the Department will honor its first graduate and first known African-American chemical engineer in the United States, Charles W. Pierce (1876-1947), by presenting his descendants with the 2007 ChBE Distinguished Alumni Award.
Pierce graduated from the program in 1901 and began his career working alongside Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver at a university now known as the Tuskegee Institute. In 1907, Pierce moved to Greensboro, N.C., to teach at the present-day North Carolina A&T University, eventually heading the mechanical engineering department. He later returned to Chicago and began teaching physics at Wendell Phillips High School in 1921 until transferring assignments after the completion of the DuSable High School in 1935. He taught science and physics there until his retirement in 1941.
ChBE wants to know what it means to you that the nation's first African-American chemical engineer is a graduate of our program? Share your thoughts and insights with us by e-mailing cbeisel@iit.edu.
AIChE Chapter Plans for Another Great Year!
The
IIT Chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
looks forward to a great year, with many events occurring in the next
few months. For those of you not familiar with AIChE, the organization
exists to enhance the educational experience of students and facilitate
networking both with professionals and fellow students. Membership
in the chapter is encouraged, but not required. Yearly dues are
$10. As a special bonus this year, all students that pay their
dues will receive a FREE ChBE t-shirt!
(The t-shirts will be available after Wednesday, August 29.)
Weekly meetings are held on Thursdays from 12:50 – 1:40 pm in Perlstein
Hall, Room 108, starting on September 6. Most meetings include a
speaker, either from industry or a professor, and a variety of chemical
engineering topics are covered throughout the year. Best of all, lunch
is provided to all in attendance!
Our fall picnic will be held Friday, September 7 at 1:00 pm near the
tennis courts. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and hang out
with other chemical engineering students and faculty. We’d love
for you to join us that day!
The Chicago Section of AIChE’s annual symposium will be held at the
University of Illinois at Chicago on September 25 - 26, focusing
on recent developments in refining, energy, and biotechnology. Full
details for the symposium, including a schedule of events,
can be found online. This great event is only $5 for students
who submit a $25 refundable deposit by September 24, and it includes a
career fair and six meals!
On October 12, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm the seventh annual Evening with
Industry will be held. This banquet style dinner is an informal
opportunity for professionals to discuss career, co-op, and internship
opportunities with students. It provides much greater
student/professional interaction than in a typical career fair.
Other events being planned for this school year include a competition
for graduate students, plant tours, ChemE Jeopardy, and trips to both
the regional and national conferences. Each year we send a number of
delegates to the AIChE Annual Meeting with the support of the
department. If you have any other events
you’d like to see or more information about anything regarding AIChE,
just e-mail us at
aiche@iit.edu. Additional information about upcoming events
can also be found on our
website.
We look forward to another great year in the chapter, and hope to see you soon at our fall picnic!
Ellen Kloppenborg
IIT AIChE Student Chapter President
ChBE recently sat down with Ray Losch, a ChBE Ph.D. candidate currently completing his thesis project. He shares his experiences at IIT below.
Hometown?
Northbrook, Ill.
Why did you come to IIT?
After working in industry for a couple of years, I wanted to go back to
school to study electrochemistry. IIT's program was flexible and fit
into my schedule as I transitioned from working a full-time job to
becoming a full-time graduate student.
What is your thesis project?
I'm continuing on a project related to solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).
I'm trying to deposit thin layers of ceramic by atomizing a suspension
of ceramic particles. Instead of using pressure to atomize the liquid,
I'm using a strong electric field. My project involves investigating how
the deposition evolves as I look to maximize the density of the layer as
it forms.
Why did you choose this topic?
When I started graduate school, I was really interested in
electrochemistry. I had an undergraduate degree in material science, so
much of chemical engineering field was unfamiliar to me. When I arrived
at IIT, I met with a couple of professors to talk about my interests and
background. This was a project related to electrochemistry in
which I felt I could make an immediate impact, so I jumped on it.
What are your career aspirations?
I'd like to work at a university or in industry doing research and
development. I'd also like to teach in some capacity.
How
has your education at IIT made these aspirations attainable?
The graduate program at IIT has given me a solid chemical engineering
background and allowed me to take electives in electrochemistry and in
surface chemistry, which has helped me in writing my thesis and given me
the scientific background I need to be a valuable engineer.
Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?
Middle-aged, hopefully married with a couple of kids.
What is your dream job?
International playboy or stuntman
What advice do you have for ChBE's
undergraduate students?
Get involved in undergraduate research if you have the time. Learn about
your professors areas of expertise and, if you find one of them
interesting, talk to them about it. Doing undergraduate research will
give you an idea of whether or not you want to go to graduate school,
and it gives you something interesting to talk about during interviews.
What is your favorite IIT memory?
In Fall 2004 semester, I opened the department's annual newsletter
Crosslinks and noticed a picture of a guy sitting at a table, sleeping,
with his head buried in a thermo book and something struck me about the
picture. After thumbing through the newsletter, I looked back at the
picture and realized it was me.
ChBE T-Shirts - FREE with your AIChE Membership Dues!!!
Upcoming Events & Important Dates
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8/31 |
ChBE Battle of the Brains Details Announced
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9/3 |
Labor Day - University Closed
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9/7 |
AIChE Annual Fall Picnic
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9/7 |
Immunizations Forms Must Be Turned in to Student Health Services
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9/7 |
Last Day to Submit Application for Graduation
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9/25 - 9/26 |
AIChE- Chicago Symposium
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10/5 |
2007 Peck Lecture & Distinguished Alumni Awards
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10/12 |
AIChE 7th Annual Evening with Industry Event
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10/18-19 |
Fall Break!
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11/2 |
Last Day for Official Withdrawal
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| 11/4-9 | AIChE Annual Meeting - Salt Lake City, Utah |
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11/13 |
Registration for Spring 2008 Semester Begins
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11/22-23 |
Thanksgiving Break - University Closed
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12/8 |
Last Day of Classes
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12/10-15 |
Finals Week
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12/16 |
Commencement
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12/24-1/1 |
University Closed
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1/21 |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - University Closed
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1/22 |
First Day of Spring 2008 Semester
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Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
10 W. 33rd Street | Perlstein Hall, Suite 127 | Chicago, IL 60660
312.567.3040 | www.chbe.iit.edu | 312.567.8874 (fax)
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