August « 2012 « Engineering Stories

Engineers Without Borders summarizes their July 2012 implementation trip for a water project in Lela, Kenya

In 2008, the small farming community of Lela, Kenya asked Engineers Without Borders USA, for help with the Lela Community

The EWB Team with Lela Women's Water Committee — EWB-OSU travelers with the Lela Women’s Water Committee

Water Project, an effort to address the community’s lack of access to potable water. In 2009, the Oregon State University chapter of EWB-USA adopted the project and sent their first travel team to Lela. A second team returned in 2011 to conduct a technical water source assessment. After three years of work, which included a health survey, GPS mapping, water quality testing, and an alternatives analysis, EWB-OSU determined the best solutions were to drill a community water well fitted with an Afridev hand pump, and to build a rainwater catchment at the Lela Primary School. Continue reading →

By Tony Platt’s family

Tony Platt and Midnight — Tony with Midnight, showing off his patented piggy-back-ride trick. Midnight came to Tony as a frightened pup that was evidence in a criminal case and was adopted out 15 months later as a happy, well-adjusted dog with several tricks in his repertoire.

Tony Platt (Electrical Eng. ’07) passed away unexpectedly on May 21, 2012, at age 28. Tony was one of seven children raised by Mark and Kathy Platt in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He had four brothers—Mark, Danny, Nathan, and his twin, Chris—and two sisters, Emily and Betsy. We will always remember Tony for his intelligence, compassion, witty sense of humor, and contagious smile.

After earning a degree in electrical engineering from Oregon State, Tony was working toward an MBA at Portland State University while working full-time as a sales engineer at Analog Devices. Despite a full schedule, he successfully balanced work, school, sports, and volunteer work. For example, he regularly fostered dogs that needed a home prior to being adopted, and in 2011 the Oregon Humane Society awarded him the Diamond Collar Hero Award. He was also an amazing athlete who played soccer, basketball, and golf. Continue reading →

Oregon State University Ocean Lander — A rendering of the ocean lander, developed by researchers at Oregon State

Scientists at the College of Engineering and the College of Earth, Oceanic, and Atmospheric Sciences are developing a cutting-edge ocean lander, an autonomous vehicle that will descend to the sea floor to collect valuable geophysical data. Roberto Albertani, professor in the School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering, is spearheading an important part of the lander: the shield, which will protect the vehicle, provide stability, and ensure proper buoyancy as it dives up to 4,000 meters to the ocean floor. Continue reading →

Engineering Stories

News and research, student achievements, faculty engagement, and alumnus accomplishments.

Monthly Archives: August 2012

Coming Back from Kenya

Keeping Tony Platt Alive

Oregon State Researchers Collaborate to Build Ocean Lander

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