Computer Scientists + Computer Engineers = openHACK

You are invited to join a new group of computer scientists and computer engineers at the University of Arkansas, who will meet regularly to work on hacking, coding and teach new programs outside of the classroom. No experience with the systems is necessary, and group activity of “openHACK” will be decided democratically.

“If you’re going to go far in this business, you have to do it all the time,” said Addam Hardy, creator of openHACK. He feels that learning outside the classroom is more beneficial for students, and wants to provide a more creative, free environment for computing students to teach themselves and each other. “We’ll have straight-up introductions to this software, you don’t have to know anything about these systems to join,” he said. What he’s recognizing is that “you take a class and you don’t think you can do it…but we want to take the intimidation out of what you’re learning.

openHACK will focus on a few areas that will appeal more to computer science folk, such as NOSQL data systems i.e MongoDB (also Cloud storage/Map/Reduce); Ruby on Rails (building a blog engine/building a twitter clone); an introduction to Source Control, Git and GitHub; Behavior/Test Driven Design (BDD/TDD) and iOS Development.

The areas that will appeal more to the computer engineering students are an Introduction to Arduino Microcontroller and XBOX Kinect Hacking.

What do you have to do to join? Get in touch with Addam Hardy at addam.hardy@gmail.com, via twitter at @addamh, or http://github.com/addamh. Hardy’s experience at socialvolt and with other computing jobs inspired him to form a group for a creative computing outlet. He hopes to have 20 people interested before officially kicking off meetings, so stay in touch!

photo credit xkcd (http://xkcd.com/722/)

The Chorale of Contentment

This week I'm reading Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese, which is about the medical staff of a mission hospital in Ethiopia. Last night, this passage resounded with me for its elegant narration of finding peace in your life-

"There were other noises she became attuned to in her new-mother state. The thwack of wet cloth on the washing stone. The clothesline sagging with diapers (banners to fecundity) and raising a flapping alarm before a rain squall, sending Almaz and Rosina racing outside. The glass-harp notes of feeding bottles clinking together in the boiling water. Rosina's singing, her constant chatter. Almaz clanging pots and pans...these sounds were the chorale of Hema's contentment."

The main character in the paragraph, Hema, is a very independent woman who had previously focused on nothing other than her career as a doctor. Through a strange set of circumstances, she suddenly becomes obligated to adopt a set of twins that she helped deliver.

In that paragraph, she begins to discover the difference in the loving care that she gives her patients and the loving care of a mother. She embraces that role, makes peace with it.

--

I've lived by myself for a little more than four months now, and the family-like percussion of a household- a baby's coos, wails, adorable laughter; a mother's chiding, multiple sets of music or media playing at the same time, friends on the balcony- has changed, leaving space to notice different noises.

The dryer tumbling clothes softly is an escape of the hassle and anxiety of laundromats. The microwave ding bringing me a steaming hot chocolate, the last rumble of thunder just before the rain starts, a ringing phone connecting you to one of the people you wish most to talk to, and a quiet mind that isn't cluttered with worry for where the next meal is coming. These are a few of my sounds, my chorale of contentment.

photo credit: waI:ti

Meet the Professor: Dr. Wejinya

Dr. Uchechukwu C. Wejinya, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since Fall 2008. He earned a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State Univeristy.

Intro to Engineering
Wejinya grew up in Nigeria, and originally wanted to be a medical doctor, but his first observation of a surgery changed that. He was still interested in math and science, so his dad suggested that engineering would be a good fit for him, since it is an application of math. From there, he said, “Engineering became a passion of mine.”

Wejinya tutored students since he was a boy, and lectured for his professor as a graduate student.

Influential Researcher
Wejinya’s main scientific influences were his Ph.D. advisor, who particularly loved his research and his job, and another one of his mentors, Dr. Percy Pierre. “He helped a lot of people achieve their dreams in science and engineering, he made me who I am today,” he said. “Professor Pierre is well accomplished. He was recently elected to the National Academic Engineering.”

University of Arkansas experience
Wejinya visited the University of Arkansas to explore the possibility of teaching here, after meeting Steve Tung, UA mechanical engineering professor, at an IEEE conference in Hong Kong in 2007. The two lectured on the same topic, so they spent time networking at the conference.

At the time, Wejinya was doing Post-Doctoral work, and although he had multiple job offers, none of them were the right fit.

During his visit to the Fayetteville campus, he met the Dean, Provost and various faculty members. “The department head was very accommodating,” he said. “I decided to accept because I wasn’t going to be a number; I saw that I was wanted here.” He saw opportunities for growth in the department, for personal and professional success, and wanted to be a part of that.

Research
Dr. Wejinya is passionate about nanotechnology, an interest that began during his grad school experience. Now, he pursues two areas of research- macrobiotic systems and nanotechnology.

In macrobiotic systems, essentially large robots, he wants to continually improve them, make them more intelligent. Within nanotechnology, where researchers work with small things, he focuses on materials properties, mechanical, physical and electrical properties.

A few other UA researchers are doing similar work, but Wejinya said he’s looking for different applications for the research. For example, with technologies such as a cell phone, biosensors and medical devices, it is his job to think of the effects of any possible extreme conditions: temperature, the effect of humidity, and more. “You don’t want these (devices made with nanomaterials)to fail at extreme temperatures,” he said. “If you’re in the middle of the desert and your car breaks down, you would be relying on a cell phone exposed to extreme heat.”

Working to ensure the reliability of these devices “is my bread and butter,” he said.

Other projects
He is involved with the African Students Organization, and is forming a Robotics and Automation Society, with plans for activation in early 2013. The group will complement the University of Arkansas labs and summer programs that already focus on robotics projects. His vision is to “make a formal multi-disciplinary team, where computer science, intelligence is central to the group.”

Off the Clock
In his free time, Wejinya spends a lot of time on the Fayetteville trails. He likes to run and bike, because it keeps him focused.

Meet the Professor: Dr. Vasundara Varadan

Dr. Vasundara Varadan has taught at the University of Arkansas since 2005. She earned a B.S. and PhD in Physics. Prior to accepting this teaching position, Varadan was Director of the Electrical Engineering and Communications systems Division at the NSF and distinguished professor at the Pennsylvania State University, where she taught for 22 years.

Education
Varadan grew up in India, and earned her education during a time when engineering was a non-traditional path for women, but that didn’t make it a challenge for her. “My sisters had degrees in Physics and Business, so it was very much up to me what I wanted to do, we were not restricted in that way,” she said.

The Road to Engineering
Although Varadan may not have set out to become an engineer, she certainly seems very pleased with the outcome. “Engineers make the world a better place to live,” she said. “It’s a noble profession…a good group to belong to.”

Her first job was a Post-Doctoral position at Cornell University, where she transitioned from physics into working as a materials engineer. For a time, she was an assistant professor of engineering at Ohio State, before accepting her position at Penn State.

University of Arkansas Experience
Varadan came to the U of A because she wanted the chance to really build something. The condition of her labs at Penn State and U of A faculty persistency lead her to visit the Ozark campus. Once she met with John White, distinguished professor of industrial engineering and Chancellor Emeritus, she said, “He blew me away. His vision and great plan for a steep slope up is what brought me here.”

She has been proud to work with such bright students, and is grateful to the Chancellor’s and Governor’s scholarships that brought them here.

Research & Projects
Varadan was one of three Arkansas researchers who were awarded a joint funding of $25 million from NSF’s EPSCoR for projects from 2010-2015. Her project, named GREEN, aims to reduce the thickness of solar cells and reduce its cost, while incorporating a state-wide educational program that will involve several schools (K-12) and five different Arkansas universities: the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, UALR, UA Pine Bluff, UA Fort Smith, and Philander Smith College.

The Green Mobile is a large bus housing a solar energy lab that produces energy for experiments from solar panels on its roof, and will bring the GREEN program directly to students in grades K-12 and Arkansas communities. “It’s designed to introduce (young) students to solar energy by weaving this knowledge into the curriculum,” Vardan said.

Off the Clock
Varadan likes to travel, read, garden, and spend time with her two young grandchildren. She reads a little bit of fiction, but mostly non-fiction books on world affairs, history, economics, and medicine.

The Bicycle Diaries

On Christmas day of 2000, my parents gave 11-year-old me a beautiful, brick-red, beach cruiser bicycle. Lovely in all its vintage style glory, it faithfully toted me to neighbors’ houses for afternoon chats over fried cornbread. Steadily, it lifted me to the community cemetery- my childhood place to reflect.

It was great for recreational riding. In Fayetteville, it was my companion for breezy afternoons on the sunny, leafy trail.

Eventually, I began challenging myself athletically and the lack of gears became a problem.

I’ve often fantasized about being the cute, eco-conscious working woman who cycled to work and the farmer’s market, valiantly balancing a successful career and leaving a small environmental footprint- recycling everything, using energy efficient appliances, fixtures and whatnot.

But one thing at a time, yeah?

For starters, I purchased this awesome sleek, racing style 24 speed roadbike from a friend of mine, and last week, I decided to cycle to work each day.

I didn’t think I was capable- mainly because of the all the stupid hills in this town. So I planned for the worst: get up early, pack work clothes, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

If all else failed, I could walk to work. It’s only five miles, how bad could it be?

Sunday, Day 1 Fayetteville to West Fork
24 miles roundtrip
My first “long” ride has me a little bit nervous, so I pack a small bag with portable air pump, sunscreen, water, other supplies, and set out early, thinking the hills will slow me down.

The weather was just chilly enough to appreciate my black workout clothes and the warming sun. I struggled up a few hills- mostly the ones that look small but ARE NOT. The larger ones at least prepare you mentally for it…geez.

I arrive to West Fork early, pleasantly surprised, and take a break at their riverside park and spend some time with my cute baby nephew, who lives nearby.

The return trip was pretty simple, probably more coasting, but it gave me time to enjoy the breeze and some tunes from my iPod. Nouveau road trip. Now, I had the confidence to make the shorter trip, from home to office.

Monday, Day 2
13 miles
First day to work, I got up refreshed and took a brisk ride to campus, making a mental note to find winter gear. Staying active can only warm you up so much. Huh.

Four stoplights, two stop signs and several exhaust clouds later, I arrived at the office only 25 minutes later. This could actually save me time…strange.

In the evening, after biking home, I took a chance and biked up the bigger hill to the Mission/Crossover intersection. Yes, it killed me. And yes, of course I rewarded myself with La Huerta queso. Don’t mind if I do.

Tuesday, Day 3
8 miles
Getting in the hang of things, I arrived at work on time, not pushing myself to get out the door as early as yesterday. The hill by Fayetteville Public Library never fails to kicks my but every morning, but I’m making it. Also, I’ve fully appreciated that Clubhaus has showers, hair dryer, for more pleasant transition from ride to office.

In the evenings, I start to go to bed earlier. Exhausted.

Wednesday, Day 4
8 miles
Riding time has dwindled to 20 minutes (one-way), and I’m starting to enjoy the scenery. Huntsville road takes me past a beautiful, green valley that leads to the Boston mountains, and these tiny little stone cottages dot the landscape. I look forward to going past the old, three-story home that has a quaint little park bench underneath a lone tree in the pasture.

Menial details of the riding, like where I can float past or avoid traffic easier through a short stretch of sidewalk, become more clear, routine. You begin to think of things differently. Any time you rent a movie, check out a book, go grocery shopping, it becomes more of a conscious effort: how can I get all of my errands done without returning home in the middle of it? How can I get there on the least hill-y route, and what timeframe has the least amount of traffic?

Thursday, Day 5
12 miles
Clubhaus workers start to keep tabs on my mileage, stopping to chat about different models of bikes. I guess the weird thing about having a job you enjoy like that is having to spend 8 hours a day thinking about it, but not actually getting to exercise, cycle, run, do yoga, etc.

Today brought an interview of a professor at the Engineering Research Center, so I picked up a few extra miles. It was a little frustrating, to choose between wearing professional clothes and getting there later or wearing biking clothes, being on time, but our professors are easy going, and this one in particular just appreciated that I wouldn’t automatically hop in a car to get anywhere.

The ERC didn’t have any visible bike racks, which surprised me at first. These are the people who are making newer and better biofuels, thinner solar panels, etc. I suppose they can simply make fuel more efficient, instead of nixing the use of it altogether. (Turns out they have a bike rack in the back, and students tend to take an hourly shuttle from campus out to the center.)

Friday, Day 6
24 miles
Biking to work feels completely routine, but carrying a change of clothing is still kind of annoying. So today, I wore a professional-style dress, but some leggings too, for the ride. After work, I went cycling on the city trail with a friend. It was nice to get out of the trail of exhaust and appreciate the stream, trees, the under-the-road tunnels, the right-of-way, and it is, of course, always fun to have a riding partner.

That evening, with my goal completed, all I wanted to do was sit down and eat.

Next, I’ve decided to analyze weekly cost difference in buying gas for a car, or more food while cycling to work.

While taking off my helmet and shoes, I think of the people I met this week because of the bike, the bored teenagers that slow down and cheer you on, the janitors who find it quirky that a cubicle worker doesn't drive to work, the guy who nearly took me out in the turning lane, and the random lady who stopped to chat about bikes in general and how ambitious you must be (flattering, but untrue). Then, about how much better I feel from all the extra exercise, sleep and water.

And somehow, I think, barring any financial and environmental reasons, it’s still worth it.