"~ '.
(i~~\ \\
ia.~\~\
. ~~~("\ '0 . .y ':/'
22 focus on nanotechnology .1.>." .~';>" -' ::,/
POWERPOINTSNano'sF~J~3Batérials may scan revolutionize energy storage. By Jeffrey Winters
26 KOREA'SNANOFUTUREHalfwaythrough an ambitious lO-year plan, South Korea is making strides in nanotechnology, ByY. Eugene Pak
28 GOOD CONDUCT A researcher says that a new membrane textured on the nanoscalewill let fuel cells triple the current they Gancarry, By Michael Aprams
3
The July Question of the Month
What do you think of the following proposed positioning state- ment from the National Academy of Engineering?
Noprofession unleashes thespiritofinnovation likeengineering. Fromre- searchto rea/-worfd applications, engineers constantly discoverhowto im- prove our /ivesby creatingbold newsolutionsthat connect science to life in .
unexpected,forward-thinkingways.Few professionstum 50 manyideas into 50 manyreafities,Few havesuch a direct and positiveeffect on people'sev- erydaylives, Weare countingon engineersand their imaginationsto help us meetthe needsof the 21stcentury,
ODesthis statement make a convincing case for repositioning engineering and engineers?
A reader who answered no, said, "Math and sci- ence skills muse always beemphasized, Engi- neering is an exact pro- fession, " Someone else
added, "I like the emphasis on the importance of engineering aswe move into the 21st century, but I don 't agree with taking the image of engineering away jrom a math and science base, After aU, isn't that why we become engineers?"
One respondent who replied yes, wrote: "[ believe that there shouldstiUbea greateremphasison the science behind the innovation, It takes a special person to be an engineer-mold- ing together a briUiant idea with sound scientific 'reasoning,"
Another said, "[believesimply changingthe emphasison the promotion of engineers and engineering as a whole wiU do
wonders in getting high schoolers and young students inter- ested in engineering, "
Another reader said: "Whenpeople see an engineering stu- dent they see a boring guy (I say 'quy' because there are not many women in this career) who 's always working on calcu- lus problems and complex theories instead of building inter- esting things as architecture students do. To solve this image problmn, we need to nol only create nice slogans but change
thé way engineering is taught around the world, "Another ob- served that the statement "sounds like lo:wyertalk, Remember theaudienceis young people."
Thenext Questionof the Month will be posted Aug.L
Featured ThisMonth Online:"TheHistoryof lndustrialTechnical OPPORTUNITIES Drawing,"byAlbertoFernandez Sara,anindustrialengineerand
~A ~
,
'
,'
i.
-
--~~ professor?f engineering graphicaldesignat theUniversityof
~~fE 1 \:=>
Ge""""""".> 1 Zaragoza10SpalO.
.
neralE
.x<ell.eace Award. ~Mft Seo. Nanorin!. . -...
" B n 'A
"m..,.",...".' Mechanrrc, .t..~..w- [ngm<efmg"". " ".""" ". , Mng",mo!{!lJ'ilJi.li '->.' W""","",,<!> r,
MECHANlêALENGINEERING(ISSN 0025-6501) is published monthly by The Amene'n Suciety oO..I"hani,,1 Enginee". Th", P"k Avenue. New York, ~Y 10016-5990. Pe~odiçoùs postage paid" New York. N.Y.. 'nd ,clditio...>!
mailing offices. POSTlVIASTER. Send ad,",ess changes to .Vlr,haniarf Engin"ri,% cio The A,;"ric", Society ofMcch""cal Enginee". 22 Law Drive. Box 2000. faniield, NJ 0/007-2300. PRICES. To memben. annuilly $29foc ini- ti.1l membcnhip subscripcion. single copy $4, >ub"ripcion price to nononembe" avail.ble upon request. COPYRIGHT >~ 2007 by The Amen",n Soacty of Mechamd Engonce". Canadran, Goods & Services Tax Reg;",.cion
#126148048. Printcd in U.S,A. Authorizacion to phococopy material for "/Cernai o.'persona! use nndccciccummnces no,filling within the fiicuse provmom of the Copynght Act B gtanted by ASME 10 hbcari" .nd other usc" regis- ccred with the Copyrighr Cleacance Center Tcansacciona! Rcpomng Service. 222Rosewood Drivc. Danv=. MA01923. Rcqn"r for special pentU",on or bulk copymg should bc addrcsscd to RepnmslPcnni;,;ons Dcpmmc",.
page 28
features
1
August 2007 Volume 129/No.8
On the cover: Virtual worlds expand their horizons.
page 30
COVER ILLUSTRATION BV DEREK WILSON.
ODU CENTER fOR ADVANCED ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENTS
"
We need 10 do more ~
Ihan Issue a slalement, ~
Yes, fi will h71p raise !he
.
