In these challenging times, we are all navigating through unforeseen difficulties and trying to adjust to the new “normal.” I hope you are all healthy and safe.
The pandemic changed everything for us right after spring break. Our faculty were indeed superstars in being able to transform each of their classes and laboratories into remote/online delivery formats. Almost all our courses were transformed within seven days to provide our students continuous learning through the spring semester.
The lab experiments were video recorded with the help of our graduate teaching assistants. Experimental data were provided to the students to prepare lab reports and answer fundamental questions.
For the first time, Texas A&M University provided a virtual graduation recognition celebration, which consisted of messages from university leadership, the dean of engineering, and each department head, it was a remarkable experience.
Upon cancellation of all undergraduate classes, employment and research experiences on campus this summer, Dr. Mike Demkowicz imagined a way to enable students to have the Research Experience for Undergraduates – REU (usually on campus) delivered online. The first of its kind online research undergraduate experience (O-REU) was a genuinely novel idea and enabled our students, faculty and researchers to remain engaged during the stay-at-home orders over the summer. The idea went viral all over the country. Students received $5,000 for 10 weeks to work with our faculty on research projects performed online, educating students in computational materials, modeling and machine learning/data science techniques.
During this uncharted time, we also welcomed three new faculty to our department: Dr. Edwin L. Thomas, professor, Dr. Qing Tu, assistant professor, and Dr. Taylor Ware, associate professor.
The pandemic has not slowed our momentum. We raised seven capstone projects totaling $50,000 in funded projects, and our annual research expenditures were over $13 million dollars in 2019.
We have experienced an 8% increase in graduate students for 2020, and our undergraduate students won the best technical report award in the Cast in Steel Competition organized by the Steel Founders’ Society of America.
Although we would love to host visitors on campus this fall, the college is minimizing the number of events on campus. We hope to welcome visitors back soon.
Wishing you and your family safe and healthy days.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ibrahim Karaman
Department Head
Chevron Professor I