UW News

October 15, 2003

UW engineering faculty members speak to hot topics in 2003 lecture series

The public will have a chance to hear from three of the University of Washington’s world-class researchers on some of today’s hot technology topics via “Engineering the Future,” a fall lecture series that begins next week. The presentations are:

OCT. 22
Engineering Dean Denice Denton will discuss “Crossing Boundaries, Forging Connections.” Denton will explore how UW Engineering is working across the disciplines to unravel the mysteries of the genome, explore nanotechnology and microsystems, develop alternative energy sources and tackle the challenges of homeland security.

NOV. 5
Yongmin Kim, chair of the Department of Bioengineering, will present “House Calls: High-tech Medicine on Your Doorstep.” Futurists have imagined home-based doctoring that uses technology to take the patient to the physician and vice versa. Imagine using a portable ultrasound to gauge the health of one’s arteries or the status of a high-risk pregnancy at home, then sending the images to a doctor for evaluation. Or picture carrying all your medical records on a key chain. Kim will explain how the future, in many ways, has arrived.

NOV. 19
Steve Kramer, professor of geotechnical engineering, will talk on “Shake, Rattle and Roll: Are We Prepared for the Big One?” Kramer, an expert on soil behavior during major temblors and the effect on structures, will take listeners on an underground journey to explore the causes, risks and consequences of big earthquakes, focusing on the Pacific Northwest.

Light refreshments will be served before each lecture at 6:30 p.m. in the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering. Lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. in the adjacent Electrical Engineering Building, room 125. The series is co-sponsored by the College of Engineering and the UW Alumni Association.

Cost of single lectures is $12 for UWAA members, $15 for non-members. Admittance to the entire series is $32 for UWAA members and $40 for non-members. For more information or to register, go to http://www.uwalum.com or call the alumni association at (206) 543-0540.

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