The College of Engineering and Penn State Engineering Alumni Society (PSEAS) would like to express congratulations to this year's PSEAS Award winners including three from the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department.

The 2013 PSU College of Engineering Faculty/Staff, Engineering Science and Mechanics Award Recipients are:

Corina Drapaca has been awarded the PSEAS Outstanding Teaching Award

Melik Demirel has been awarded the PSEAS Outstanding Research Award

Al Segall has been awarded the PSEAS Outstanding Advising Award

ESM Congratulates our winners!

Infant infections take more lives in Africa than malaria or tuberculosis. In Uganda, over 4,000 new cases of infant hydrocephalus are reported each year. With only four neurosurgeons in the country and limited medical facilities, most of these children do not receive medical attention, leading to severe disabilities and even death.

A recent study links 60 percent of hydrocephalus cases in Uganda to environmental conditions, the first time that a major neurological disorder is associated with climate changes.

Recalling their data on climate patterns, hospital records and microbiological research, Dr. Steve Schiff, Director of the Center for Neural Engineering at Penn State University told UNEARTH News, “There turned out to be nothing subtle here. You could see the relationship between case numbers and rainfall in the raw data.”

US Deputy Chief of Mission Virginia Blaser visits CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda in Mbale. Photo credit: US Mission, Uganda

Hydrocephalus is a common neurological disorder among children. In sub-Saharan Africa, up to 375,000 infants develop hydrocephalus every year.

The brain naturally produces cerebrospinal fluid that circulates nutrients and cushions the brain. Hydrocephalus occurs when the brain fails to absorb the fluid, causing internal build up that enlarges the child’s head and puts pressure on the brain. Left untreated, this impairs cognitive and physical abilities, leaving the child scarred for life.

Dr. Osama Awadelkarim, Professor in Engineering Science and Mechanics, traveled to Saudi Arabia in mid-April to discuss progress with research collaborations with Taibah University in Almadinah. He was also invited to attend a higher education exhibition and conference in Riyadh.

Dr. Barbara Shaw, Professor in Engineering Science and Mechanics, will travel to Houston, Texas in early April to attend the ATI Oil and Gas Workshop. While in attendance, Dr. Shaw was invited to give a presentation on internal coatings to address corrosion of oil and gas pipelines.