

CEIE News and Events |
Dr. Tomasz Arciszewski participated on Monday, April 28, 2008, in a
workshop in the New York City organized by the Association of Polish
Engineers. The workshop was on "Innovation: technology transfer,
education and industrial applications." It was attended by about 50
practicing engineers and educators from the USA and Poland, including
presidents of several Polish technical universities (Warsaw University
of Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Bialystok University
of Technology). Dr. Arciszewski served on the Scientific Committee of
the Workshop, presented an invited talk on "Future of Engineering
Education," and co-chaired a session on "Engineering Education.
Carly May, a senior in the CEIE department, received a student award representing George Mason University at an annual event organized by the American Concrete Institute - National Capital Chapter. The theme of the event was “Recognizing student achievements” and was held on April 15. Other universities who attended the event include George Washington, Catholic, Howard and Morgan State. The annual event hosted student presentations that highlight research activities in the area of concrete.
A new student organization has been formed in CEIE for students interested in transportation. The GMU Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) is hosting a guest lecture on Thursday, March 27 by Dr. Jonathan L. Gifford titled Policy, Politics and Transportation Systems. See the CEIE Seminar Page for more details. For more information on the new ITE Chapter, contact Omar Elkassed, founding President by email at: oelkasse @ gmu.edu.
On February 20, 15 High School Teams participated in the Second Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Contest. The event was part of the Engineer’s Week celebration and was sponsored by the GMU ASCE and SAME Student Chapters and the Civil Engineering Institute (CEI).
Team Extreme from Annandale High School won First Prize for Best overall bridge. Other winners were from T.C. Williams, McClean, and James Madison High Schools. Thank you to all for a fantastic event! See more photos of the event here.
The Civil Engineering Institute honored Virginia Delegate Tom Rust as the 2008 Outstanding Engineering Award recipient during its annual luncheon on January 29. Over 150 attendees were present including members of the CEI Board, Dean Griffiths, and President Merten. Delegate Rust has been a leader in the Northern Virginia region and an accomplished engineer, now serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Patton, Harris, Rust and Associates, P.C. CEI and George Mason are proud to recognize his service with this award.
In January 2008, fourteen members of the GMU ASCE Chapter participated in an engineering tour of Egypt. Students toured the great pyramids, the Aswan high dam, Luxor, and the Library of Alexandria among many other activities. The trip was supported by their Chapter fundraising efforts and the Civil Engineering Institute.
Dr. Tomasz Arciszewski has been selected to serve on the newly forming ASCE Body of Knowledge Educational Fulfillment Committee. The committee was formed to create a learning community of scholars interested in civil engineering education reform. Among the tasks the Committee will undertake are the documentation of how programs are incorporating the BOK into their curriculum and review of work products of the BOK2 Committee. Click here form more about ASCE Education for Professional Practice Initiatives
Omar Elkassed, a graduate student in civil, environmental and infrastructure engineering in the Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering, has received a 2007 Dwight D. Eisenhower Grant for Research Fellowship awarded under the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Office of Professional and Corporate Development.
During his one-year fellowship, Elkassed will be working on a project to gather and analyze information on transportation education programs and develop materials in support of the FHWA workforce development programs. One key element of this project is to assist the Office of Professional and Corporate Development in its efforts to strengthen partnerships with educational institutions. Disciplines involved are engineering, transportation, public administration, public policy, education, economics and law.
The purpose of the grant is to attract qualified students to transportation research, education, development and technology transfer activities and provide them the opportunity to conduct original research and publish on important transportation projects at U.S. Department of Transportation facilities.