Students Grow at TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit

Posted on February 8, 2011 by

Contributed by Katie McIntyre

Over the MLK holiday weekend, 19 Paper Science and Engineering students at NC State University travelled to Kingsport, TN for the annual TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit.

The 2011 Student Summit allowed students from paper science programs across the country the opportunity to learn more about the pulp and paper and packaging industries directly from professionals involved in day-to-day operations. Industry leaders met with students to impart some of their professional knowledge to budding engineers.

Throughout the weekend, students heard from professionals at a variety of levels; from mill managers to young professionals. Sessions highlighted new technologies in printed and flexible circuitry, biofuels energy, and carbon management.

Dedicated to preparing paper science students for successful careers, TAPPI provided students with essential information about interviewing, resume building and personal finance for young professionals.

Multiple companies took the opportunity to interview students for jobs, internships and co-ops during the Summit. More than one NC State student secured an internship over the weekend!

It has become tradition for the Student Summit to be held near a prominent manufacturing facility in order to provide students the opportunity to take a tour of the mill. This year was no exception, attendees were treated to a detailed tour of the Domtar Kingsport mill. Domtar was a key sponsor of the weekend event and supported many of the sessions with its professionals.

TAPPI Student Summits are never all work! Students had ample time to network with their peers from across the country and even got the opportunity to travel to Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium Park to visit the local “wolf pack” and had a “howling” good time. Take a listen!

The weekend wrapped up with a final challenge to the student participants. Groups took part in the “Marshmallow Challenge.” Their task: to build a structure in less than 18 minutes that would support a marshmallow with a few pieces of spaghetti, a little string and some tape. Who thought a marshmallow would be so heavy? Take a look at some of the spaghetti towers students built.

Senior and double major in Paper Science & Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Jamie Pye, was awarded a McNutt scholarship from TAPPI to help fund the chapter’s travel to the conference.

Learn more about Paper Science and Engineering at NC State.

Local High School Students Learn about Recycling Paper

Posted on February 7, 2011 by moorman

NC State University Department of Forest Biomaterials faculty member, Dr. Med Byrd and Undergraduate Recruiter, Katie McIntyre recently spent two days bringing paper properties to life for Broughton High School chemistry students. Dr. Byrd gave a lively lecture about the chemical properties of paper, highlighting many of the concepts that they will focus on in their chemistry class in the coming weeks.

After learning the basic principles behind hydrogen bonds and flotation de-inking, students had the opportunity to recycle their own paper. Groups were challenged to recycle two sheets, improving upon their first procedure with the second sheet. Students with the cleanest, most uniform sheet, and highest yield in their recycled sheets were awarded with Wolfpack gear!

The Paper Science & Engineering faculty at NC State actively engage in outreach in our community. Lab and lecture instructions for papermaking, flotation de-inking, and other areas of interest are available for teachers and community leaders.

If you would like to schedule a visit to the NC State Department of Forest Biomaterials or inquire about a visit to your classroom, please contact Katie McIntyre at katie_mcintyre@ncsu.edu.

2011 InsideWood Calendars Now Available!

Posted on November 17, 2010 by

Fossil woods from Yellowstone National Park, Big Bend National Park, Florissant Fossil Beds and John Day Fossil Beds National Monuments, Ginkgo Petrified Forest, and the Denver Basin all have stories to tell about ancient forests.

See for yourself with “Plants With A Past. Inside Fossel Woods.” This 2011 calendar features photomicrographs of the distinctive anatomy of these ancient trees, which range in age from 70 million years old to 15.5 million years old.

Crafted by NC State Forest Biomaterials emeritus professor E.A. Wheeler, this beautiful calendar includes facinating images from the NCSU Libraries’ InsideWood Database. Dates for Arbor Days around the world, ensure you never miss an opportunity to celebrate trees and secondary xylem!

Priced at $15.75, profits from the sale of this calendar go to support fossil wood research and maintain the InsideWood Database and Website at the NCSU Libraries.

Get yours just in time for the Holidays!

Graduate Students Present Research at National Hispanic Engineering Conference

Posted on November 17, 2010 by

Submitted by Grace Williamson

Several outstanding graduate students in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at NC State University were selected to present their research at the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) national conference held in Cincinnati in October 2010. Each student selected received a scholarship covering all their conference expenses including travel.

Adrian Pirraglia presents his research poster at the 2010 Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Conference

Adrian Pirraglia with his winning research poster at the 2010 SHPE

Student research was judged in two separate categories – Graduate Paper and Graduate Poster. Julio C. Arboleda was awarded third place in the Graduate Paper category. Also competing in that category from NC State were Carlos E. Aizpurua, Carlos A. Carrillo, Ingrid Hoeger, Adrian Pirraglia and Carlos Salas. Adrian Pirraglia was awarded second place in the Graduate Poster category. Guillermo J. Velarde also participated in the graduate poster category.

The SHPE conference hosts universities nationwide making it very competitive.
To compete, students must first submit an abstract, or summary, of their paper or poster. Once approved, students submit a completed paper providing scientific goals, data analysis, research quality and conclusions. Finally, outstanding students present their project to seven judges at the conference who evaluate their presentation and knowledge of their research.

The SHPE Conference attracts over 5,000 engineering professionals, students and corporate representatives each year as the organization works to fulfill their mission to enhance and achieve the potential of Hispanics in engineering, math and science.

“Educational, technical, and career opportunities are provided at the conference,” says Dr. Daniel Saloni, assistant professor in Forest Biomaterials. “The students participated in a number of workshops on topics related to proposal writing, scientific paper writing, thesis writing, CV drafting, interviewing, working with advisors, working in teams and more; making it an outstanding opportunity for our students to network, grow and demonstrate the outstanding work they do here at NC State.”

Faculty members Orlando Rojas and Daniel Saloni mentored the students and coordinated the trip for the Department of Forest Biomaterials.

Williamston and Northeastern North Carolina Value the Assistance of NC State University

Posted on October 25, 2010 by

As a land grant institution, N.C. State University is dedicated to engaging with communities across the state to address issues and solve local and societal issues. Annually, the Extension, Engagement and Economic Development office at the university publishes “The Engaged University in North Carolina Regions” to share community-based stories illustrating the role of the university in the economic well-being of the state.

Pages 4-5 of the 2010 report feature examples of work in Northeastern NC by Tourism Extension and others in the NC State College of Natural Resources.

Read the entire publication online