2010 News

Professor Riccardo Betti wins Edward Teller Medal for Fusion Research

November 10, 2010

" Riccardo Betti, senior scientist in laser energetics, professor of mechanical engineering and physics and astronomy at the University of Rochester and director of the Fusion Science Center for Extreme States of Matter, has won the Edward Teller Medal for his research into laser-driven fusion at the University's Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE).

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2010 Provost's Multidisciplinary Award - "Augmented Reality for the Structural Conservation of Archaeological Monuments"

November 1, 2010

The research project "Augmented Reality for the Structural Conservation of Archaeological Monuments" lead by Prof. Renato Perucchio (Mechanical Engineering) and with the collaboration of Profs. Jannick Rolland (Optics) and Elizabeth Colantoni (Religion and Classics) has been awarded the 2010 Provost's Multidisciplinary Award (http://www.rochester.edu/provost/multidisciplinary.html). This collaborative research aims to develop an interactive structurally integrated method for 3D archaeological documentation, architectural reconstruction, and engineering structural analysis of ancient monuments based on state-of-the-art augmented reality display techniques and hardware. Interdisciplinary research combining expertise in archaeology, art history, geology, material science, structural engineering, and 3D visualization is increasingly needed to insure the preservation of major archaeological monuments such as the Parthenon in Athens, the Pantheon in Rome, the Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings in Colorado, and the Machu Picchu site in Perù. The complexity of these monuments increases the difficulties that normally exist when data are exchanged and correlated between disciplines. Taking advantage of the collaborations developed in the College through the new program in Archaeology, Technology, and Historical Structures, this research builds on existing initiatives and expertise in classical archaeology (Religion and Classics), structural and computational mechanics and geometric solid modeling (Mechanical Engineering), and the newly established state-of-the-art 3D visualization/augmented reality laboratory (Institute of Optics).

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Our Baja team came in 37th at the baja SAE Carolina Competition

April 5, 2010

Our Baja Team – a group of mechanical engineering majors who design, build, and maintain a small, rugged-terrain race car - came in 37th at the Baja SAE Carolina Competition in April 2010. The competition, held in Greenville, South Carolina, hosted more than 100 teams from all over the world. In addition to racing their cars, the teams were judged on the cost of production, and a variety of other characteristics like acceleration, maneuverability, traction, and suspension. Their 37th place finish was the best result the team has achieved in the competition in a while, but the team’s advisor, Pat Lewis (also a ME grad), thinks that they are primed to do even better at the Baja SAE Rochester Competition in a couple of months at RIT.

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