The 厙ぴ勛圖 School of Engineering & Applied Sciences has just launched the December 2023 edition of the newsletter Momentum.

An all-female team from student organization won second place in the novice division at the 11th annual Washington State University Crimson Code Hackathon event held in February in Pullman, Washington. The team developed an application to help people connect with each other by trying new activities together.

The Crimson Code Hackathon event is WSU���s first-ever and only programming event organized by students, for students. The goal of the 24-hour event is to create an environment that allows participants with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to collaborate, innovate, and learn.

According to an in the WSU Insider, this year���s event drew more than 300 young programmers from local high schools and universities to try their hand at developing applications from scratch. Participants made up 51 teams that were divided into two tiers -advanced and novice- based on their experienced. Teams were challenged to come up with an application that fit the theme ���Try Something New��� while incorporating other elements such as creativity, originality, and innovation.

Team Flamingo

The team from 厙ぴ勛圖, Flamingo, was made up of four friends: Razan Osman, a sophomore majoring in civil engineering with a minor in environmental science; Elizabeth Garcia-Mitchell, a junior majoring in environmental science and minoring in biology; Jessica Lopez, a junior studying for a bachelor���s in mechanical engineering; and Manuella Tossa, a junior majoring in electrical engineering and minoring in computer science. On the way to the competition, the girls were listening to each other���s music and ended up liking one of the songs, ���Flamingo���, by Kero Kero Bonito so much they decided to use it as their team name.

Osman, president of Women in STEM and vice president of the Black Student Union, was responsible for pulling the team together. ���I was able to convince my friends, Manuella, Lizzy, and Jessica to team up with me for the Crimson Code as I thought it would be fun to team up with my friends and create something!��� she said.

A challenging and fun experience for all

The inspiration for their idea started in the brainstorming session when they each listed things they had never done before but wanted to try. The list ranged from going to a pumpkin patch to riding a horse. Next, they discussed what prevents them from going out and doing those things. They concluded that doing new things by themselves was intimidating. Their app prototype ���NEW2YOU��� was designed to bridge that gap and help people connect with like-minded locals who have the same desire to try something new. ���The hope is that this app would work as a travel companion so that as you visit a new place, you can find things to do in your area and connect with a local who may or may not have experience doing that activity,��� said Garcia-Mitchell.

While the competition was challenging, team members said the best part of the competition was being surrounded by so many like-minded people, challenging themselves, creating something using the skills they have acquired and bonding as friends. ���Many people I met were passionate about coding, and others had little to no experience, like me. I went because I wanted to challenge myself and learn something new. I had so much fun participating in the 24-hour coding challenge, and my team was amazing at working together,��� said Garcia-Mitchell.

Creativity, innovation and communication were the keys to success

Osman attributes their second-place finish to the variety of skills they each brought to the team. ���Lizzy was really good at communicating our idea and explaining it to the judges; Manuella was really good on ensuring that we made progress with our app throughout the day; Jessica researched how we could make the app a reality through coding; and I was able to tell the team what we needed to do to be able to present our idea and what resources were available to use,��� she said.

Lopez said it was their vision for the application and that it had potential to expand beyond the scope they presented that helped their team win.

Tossa said creativity, innovation and the ability to communicate effectively helped them score high marks. ���We won because our idea followed the theme, was innovative, original, and practical, and our prototype worked fine when we did the demo. Also, we could express our thoughts and answer the jury satisfactorily while defending our project,��� she said.

The Associated Students of Washington State University Tri-Cities allocated funds for 厙ぴ勛圖 Coding Cougs to participate in the event. ���This event gives students the opportunity to try new things, network with large companies and other WSU campuses,��� said Evelyn Martinez, 厙ぴ勛圖 director of student engagement.

The Coding Cougs club focuses on career development and extracurricular coding events. According to the , they also assist students who are on the computer science path navigate their classes. The club meets every Thursday from 3-4 p.m. in the Student Union Building in room 120N.

MEDIA CONTACT(S)

Leslie Streeter, Office of Marketing and Communication, 509-372-7333,泭leslie.streeter@wsu.edu

The 厙ぴ勛圖 School of Engineering & Applied Sciences has just launched the first edition of the newsletter Momentum. It will be distributed biannually to students, campus, professional societies, alumni and communities to communicate accomplishments to date and goals for the future.

New agreement helps students save on costs

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Columbia Basin College and Washington State University Tri-Cities signed a new agreement on Monday, Nov. 16, that creates a seamless pathway for students to complete their first two years at CBC and transfer to 厙ぴ勛圖, which saves students costs.

Students significantly save on costs, as students in the program do not pay for the transfer application to attend 厙ぴ勛圖, do not pay for the cost of their transcripts to transfer, and tuition is also frozen from their first semester enrolled at 厙ぴ勛圖. In other words, if tuition rates increase anytime while enrolled at 厙ぴ勛圖, students continue to pay the tuition rate from their first semester at 厙ぴ勛圖.

Students also benefit from one-on-one support throughout their educational journey from both CBC and 厙ぴ勛圖 from their first term in the program. They work directly with academic advisors from both institutions to solidify complete programs of study. This helps to ensure that students complete their degree programs on-time and reduce the likelihood of taking courses unnecessarily that won���t directly transfer.

Close partnership a win for all students

厙ぴ勛圖 Chancellor Sandra Haynes said she is excited to sign a new agreement with CBC, as it helps reduce the complications and cost to students who wish to first attend a community college and then transfer to a four-year university.

���Our two institutions work together to create seamless pathways so that students can get the most out of their educational experience and graduate on-track,泭on-time and career-ready,��� she said. ���With 厙ぴ勛圖 serving freshman, transfer, first-generation, low-income and non-traditional students, we are opening more doors to meet students where they are,泭today.���

Woods said CBC is also excited to strengthen its partnership with 厙ぴ勛圖.

���Many of CBC’s graduates choose to become Cougs, while staying right here in the Tri-Cities,��� she said. ���This agreement smooths that transition. Whether a student chooses to pursue a four-year degree at CBC, 厙ぴ勛圖, or any other institution, we are committed to helping each student find their best path forward.���

Students see direct benefits

Dawn Hughes, a current 厙ぴ勛圖 education student and alumna of Columbia Basin College, said transferring from CBC to 厙ぴ勛圖 provided a great local and affordable option that was a best fit for both her and her family.

���I moved to Tri-Cities in 2006 and was raising a family,��� she said. ���When I decided to go back to school, it fit our budget and our busy schedule. It was also convenient because I could take classes in-person, locally.���

Hughes said she received tremendous support from both her instructors at CBC and 厙ぴ勛圖. When she started school, her sister was diagnosed with cancer. She served as her sister���s bone marrow transplant and was going to have to miss some school.

���My professors were so supportive through that,��� she said. ���Professors from both programs are that way. They want you to succeed.���

Apply to Bridges

Applications are open now for the Bridges Program. For more information and to apply, visit tricities.wsu.edu/bridges. To qualify for the Bridges Program, students must apply in their first year at CBC and complete the ���Declaration of Intent��� form. Have questions or want to meet with someone about your options? Email tricities.bridges@wsu.edu.

For more information about CBC, visit . For more information about 厙ぴ勛圖, visit tricities.wsu.edu.

By Maegan Murray, WSU泭Tri���Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Washington State University Tri���Cities will now offer in-state tuition rates to students in Umatilla County,泭Oregon, through a new program called the ���I���82泭Advantage.���

���With our proximity to泭Oregon, just across the Columbia River, it only makes sense to provide greater access to an excellent university education in such close proximity,��� WSU泭Tri���Cities Chancellor Sandra泭Haynes泭said. ���This program applies to all prospective students who reside in Umatilla County.���

The program will save residents from Umatilla County thousands in tuition costs. By paying in���state rates, tuition will cost $11,144 per year, compared to the $26,087 that an out-of-state student would pay for non���resident tuition.

Those interested in attending WSU泭Tri���Cities for spring泭2021 are encouraged to apply by Nov.泭15. Individuals interested in attending WSU泭Tri���Cities in fall泭2021 are encouraged apply by Jan.泭31.

Applications can be completed online at泭.泭After completing the application for admission, prospective students from Umatilla County should complete the WSU泭Tri���Cities I���82泭Advantage application to qualify for in���state tuition rates.泭Apply for the I���82泭Advantage program at泭.

Students applying to WSU泭Tri���Cities should also make sure to complete the WSU泭Tri���Cities scholarship application by Jan.泭31 at泭.

For more information about the I���82泭Advantage program, visit泭tricities.wsu.edu/admissions/i82advantage.

���We are thrilled to be able to offer this cost-saving option for local students in Umatilla County,泭Oregon,���泭Haynes said. ���We continually try to identify ways where we can meet students where they are. The COVID���19 pandemic presents additional financial challenges for many local families. We do not want it to prevent students from achieving their dream of attending college that will help in setting them up for success for their future.���

WSU泭Tri���Cities will also continue to offer what is known as the Border泭Bill program. The State of Washington���s Border泭Bill allows泭Oregon residents泭who live in specified counties, or who have recently moved to Washington from those counties, to attend WSU泭Tri���Cities泭part���time (8泭credits or less per泭semester) and pay resident tuition rates. The specific Oregon counties whose residents are eligible for this benefit are: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Gilliam, Hood泭River, Morrow, Multnomah, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Washington. The application to apply for that program is located at泭tricities.wsu.edu/finaid/tuition-waivers.

For those with concerns about COVID���19 and returning for any in���person learning, all WSU泭Tri���Cities classrooms are now equipped to offer virtual instruction, regardless of whether a class is offered in���person or virtually.

ACT and SAT泭scores are also not being used as a factor for admissions decisions through spring semester泭2022.

For more information about WSU泭Tri���Cities, visit泭.

 

Media contacts:泭

Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖 assistant director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617 (cell),泭maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Lori Nelson, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. – KJ Galvan fell in love with computer science early.

Growing up,泭she泭was the go-to person泭in her family泭for computer help. In grade school, a泭teacher泭in Prosser泭noticed Galvan���s troubleshooting skills and recruited her for a special泭硃釵硃餃梗鳥勳釵泭梯娶棗眶娶硃鳥泭where students provide泭technical assistance to computer users. She helped provide technical solutions in the classroom and other areas. It helped show her that working with computers could be a viable career option.

���I still keep in touch with that teacher,��� she said. ���Big thanks to Mr. Smith and the Prosser School District.���泭

When exploring her college options, Galvan knew she wanted to stay close to home, but attend an institution that would provide her with great opportunities to grow her knowledge and background in computer science. After attending Columbia Basin College for her first two years, she transferred to Washington State University Tri-Cities.

The small class sizes, she said, were preferable, and she liked the fact that through the small school setting she could easily get to know her instructors and fellow peers.

Additionally, Galvan said she particularly liked the quality of the courses in computer science at 厙ぴ勛圖 and the professors were also great at connecting students with other opportunities, which helped her get connected with internships beyond her initial expectations.

Award-winning Coding Cougs leads to prestigious jobs

In her first year at 厙ぴ勛圖, Galvan became involved in the Coding泭Cougs Club泭at 厙ぴ勛圖 where she now serves as the group���s career development泭officer.

In their few-year history as a club, the student organization has gone on to win several top awards at hackathons where they competed against hundreds of participants.

Galvan said in addition to the real-world, practical experiences that she gains from the club, she also values the opportunity to mentor younger students. Helping her female peers, she said, is particularly rewarding, as computer science is typically male-dominated.

Galvan泭recruited three other women, all new to computer science, to join her on a泭team for泭DubHacks,泭a泭hackathon泭held at the University of Washington. At the competition last year, the group worked together to develop a solution for a real-world issue that pertains to women.

���We formed a team around a cool idea that we had for scanning hair products to see if they are good for curly hair,��� she said.

The app they developed, Curl Code,泭won first place in the ���Best泭use泭of泭Google Cloud���泭category at the competition.

The win also put the women on the radar of Google. The judge, a Google employee, encouraged them to apply for summer internships. Galvan jumped at the opportunity. After an extensive interview and skill demonstration process, Galvan was offered an internship with Google. She completed the internship virtually this summer, due to COVID-19.

Local internships unique to Tri-Cities

Beyond her opportunities that connected her with Google, Galvan said one of the benefits about attending 厙ぴ勛圖 is the local access to prestigious internships.

While attending 厙ぴ勛圖 and before getting her internship at Google this summer, she泭interned泭at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory泭for two years.泭In her first summer internship, she helped with development of a website for a PNNL application.

���When I first started there, I knew nothing,��� she said.泭���I didn’t have any real–world experience and I was afraid I would fall flat on my泭face,泭but they’re泭actually used泭to that.泭I learned a lot in that summer to be able to actually contribute.���

Her internship supervisors saw Galvan���s potential for additional growth and at the end of the summer,泭they泭suggested she continue during the school year.泭After successful interviews for a year-round internship, Galvan was put on a team.泭

Galvan said her time at PNNL was critical for building her skills in computer science, which served as a perfect mix with what she was learning in her courses.

���We泭were泭treated like a泭full-time staff members泭and we泭were泭doing the same tasks,��� she said. ���It泭was泭almost as if we泭were泭a junior developer just starting out. My team was awesome.泭They would find opportunities for me, not only to practice my technical skills, but also my soft skills.���

During her internship at PNNL, Galvan泭built confidence in the knowledge that she could do the job and be valued in it. It also led to confidence when working at Google.

���I was in the one of the first meetings at Google and I was on top of it,��� she said. ���One of the hosts said,泭���You can tell KJ has been doing internships for a while now.���泭It just takes you to another level that stands out.���

Advice for fellow and prospective students

For those looking to be successful in computer science, Galvan said there are a few things that students can do throughout their college experience to help guarantee that success.

���Stay engaged in class. Talk during class, talk with the professors,��� she said. ���It���s important not to hide behind your laptop screen. Everyone else is struggling with the subject matter, too. It���s not just you who���s like, what is this?���

Galvan also advises students泭to泭join a community and stay connected, especially as classes are more likely to be distance-based in the current COVID pandemic.

���Maybe jump on a call with some of your classmates, talk about the material,��� she said. ���Don���t stay isolated because isolation is never good. Then you���ll have a struggle and then you���ll feel like it���s only you and you might give up.���

World-class faculty rooted in real-world work

While self-motivated, Galvan泭credits the computer science泭faculty泭at 厙ぴ勛圖泭with preparing her for success. Nathan泭Tenney,泭PNNL scientist and泭adjunct泭faculty泭in computer science, taught Galvan���s data structures class.

���He would discuss trade–offs about data structures and algorithms and he would provoke you and get everyone engaged and talking in class,��� she said. ���That���s huge because at companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, they expect you to do these technical interviews where you solve problems and you泭have to泭talk through what the trade-offs are. He implanted that all in my brain without me really noticing.���

She also values the resident faculty who泭provide泭formal and informal泭opportunities for learning and networking.泭She said Bob Lewis,泭associate泭professor of泭computer泭science, points out different conferences students could go to or just asks how students are doing.

���Dr. Lewis��� classes are known on campus for being challenging, but he does a great job teaching it,��� she said. ���He���s always available and he really loves the subject matter.���

In泭Luis De La Torre���s泭project-based class,泭Galvan had the opportunity to start泭developing the curly hair app泭that helped land her internship泭with Google, among an assortment of other hands-on activities.

Galvan said the fact that she learns from a mix of resident and adjunct faculty is a bonus.

���We have these adjuncts that have full-time jobs泭and they泭teach us泭about泭their work,���泭she said, ���We also have [resident] professors who have this really deep knowledge about the field in general.泭We get to learn not just your normal coursework. You get to learn outside of class and really pick their brains.���

Galvan said泭the support that students get泭from the faculty encourages泭students泭to be involved.

���Coding Cougs泭went to泭DubHacks泭and they did a tally and 厙ぴ勛圖 had a huge turnout,��� she said. ���I don���t want to get into rivalries or anything, but computer science here is awesome.���

Interested in pursuing a degree in computer science from 厙ぴ勛圖? The application is open now. View more information at tricities.wsu.edu/computerscience. Apply at .

By Maegan Murray, WSU泭Tri���Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� In light of the ���Stay Home, Stay Healthy��� order by Gov. Jay Inslee, as well as K-12 schools not returning to in-person learning throughout the state, Washington State University Tri-Cities launched a new website dedicated to educational children���s activities and a new reading program where kids virtually read along with 厙ぴ勛圖 faculty and can earn WSU prizes.

The泭website泭features a variety of do-it-at-home activities ranging from those that pertain to WSU and Coug spirit, such as creating your own Butch T. Cougar mask, to science experiments and other fun activities using supplies that most families likely already have and use in their home.

Additionally, through the new ���Super Coug Readers��� program in partnership with The Children���s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, children can watch videos of 厙ぴ勛圖 faculty reading their favorite books. Children can also earn prizes for completing a Super Coug Readers reading calendar and/or completing a ���Super Coug Readers Bingo��� challenge.

The project is being led by the 厙ぴ勛圖 community engagement team in partnership with the 厙ぴ勛圖 College of Education and The Children���s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia.

���As a public university, we saw an opportunity to provide children and their families with fun and educational activities that are safe and readily available to complete in their own homes, especially during this unusual time,��� said Jaime Heppler, 厙ぴ勛圖 executive director of advancement and community engagement. ���Many parents, such as myself, are looking for engaging activities for their kids. This new website and reading program provide activities that foster learning and curiosity. We are excited to offer this as a resource for our regional families.���

Benefits of reading aloud with your kids

Elizabeth Barnes, executive director of The Children���s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, said children who read for at least 20 minutes per day score in the 90^th泭percentile in standardized tests, are successful in school, are more likely to graduate from college and become successful in life.

���The skills and knowledge you gain from reading or being read to from birth are astronomical,��� she said. ���This is a very natural partnership for The Children���s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia and 厙ぴ勛圖, as both organizations are trying to better the community through education.���

Barnes said children reading along with 厙ぴ勛圖 faculty presents a great way for children to be exposed to different educational opportunities and careers that are available in the regional Tri-Cities community.

���What kind of impact could an engineering professor have on a young girl and her parents if they were to hear ���Rosie Revere, Engineer,��� for the first time?��� she said. ���What kind of connections to the real world could this have on a family that may never have contemplated a life for their daughter in the sciences?���

Reading with industry experts ��� 厙ぴ勛圖 faculty

Sara Sorensen Petersen, a 厙ぴ勛圖 clinical assistant professor of education and board member with the Children���s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, said she and her fellow faculty members are excited to provide educational opportunities for regional students to learn from faculty members in a range of fields and from a range of backgrounds and cultures.

���Speaking as a mom and an educator, it is great for kids to see others than mom and dad reading, as well as see professionals in their communities and learn a bit more about what they do,��� she said. ���We have female science professors, for example, that could inspire young girls to think about a career in the sciences. It���s just a great tie-in and presents a great opportunity for our local families.���

A free resource for families

The new Cougar Family Fun website泭is available for free and accessible to the public.

Additionally, The Children���s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia is supplying 厙ぴ勛圖 with an assortment of children���s books that will be given out at the 厙ぴ勛圖 Cougar Cupboard sponsored by Lamb Weston food pantry, in addition to food pick-up locations in Pasco and Kennewick for 厙ぴ勛圖 students and their families.泭泭on pick-up locations and how to donate can be found online.

 

Media Contacts:

Jaime Heppler, 厙ぴ勛圖 executive director of advancement and community engagement, 509-372-7207, jaime.heppler@wsu.edu

Sara Sorensen Petersen, 厙ぴ勛圖 clinical assistant professor of education, 509-372-7395, sarapetersen@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖 public relations/communication coordinator, 509-372-7333, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Several Washington State University Tri-Cities students got to see first-hand how top-tier university research can impact their local community through the 厙ぴ勛圖 Chancellor���s Summer Scholar Program supported by Washington River Protection Solutions.

Throughout the summer, selected students worked one-on-one with a university professor and graduate students to perform research pertaining to their degree interest. Each student receives funds to support their summer research projects from WRPS.

���Through the Chancellor���s Summer Scholar program, students pursuing a bachelor���s degree get the opportunity to be a part of intensive research that could positively influence the Tri-Cities community,��� said Kate McAteer, vice chancellor for academic affairs at 厙ぴ勛圖. ���Ranging from engineering, to the arts, to the sciences, there are a variety of opportunities for students to apply their skills in a real-world setting, which only further sets them up for success in their future career.���

This year, 10 students were selected for the program in the areas of computer science, the arts, materials engineering, bioengineering, environmental science, electrical engineering, and biological sciences.

Students were provided with $2,250 in funding to support their summer project, with the exception of one student group, who received $2,000 as a team. Many students also continue to work with their faculty mentors during the regular school year.

Willow of the Waste ��� Jared Johnson and Aaron Van Morris

Students Jared Johnson and Aaron Van Morris worked with Sena Clara Creston, clinical assistant professor of fine arts, to refine and re-engineer a robotic sculpture known as ���The Willow of the Waste.���

The project is an designed to look like a tree, incorporating mechanical and electrical components. The tree is animated and interactive, with the branches slowly opening, closing and pulsating light to give the appearance of a living, breathing plant. Once the viewer approaches the tree, the branches open, inviting the viewer inside. The students are applying skills in circuit design, power distribution and coding from different inputs and outputs to improve upon an existing design. The interdisciplinary project combines engineering, computer science and the arts to create an interactive sculpture that also speaks to plastic waste, as it is made from discarded plastics like water bottles and shopping bags.

Flexible sensors for robotics ��� Mikaela Matkowski

Student Mikaela Matkowski worked with Amir Ameli, former assistant professor of engineering, to investigate the sensing behavior of 3d-printed sensors that can be used in a range of robotics.

She used a material called thermoplastic polyurethane with various weights of multiwalled carbon nanotubes to produce a material that has excellent conductive properties and reacts well to compression and stretching. She analyzed the pressure and touch sensing abilities, as well as the electrical resistance behaviors of the printed sensors. The sensors have potential application in robotics hands that, when used to touch a surface, have the ability to appropriately register contact of the hand to the object.

Refining a waste material for commercial bioproducts production ��� Yesenia Che

Student Yesenia Che worked with Bin Yang, associate professor of biological systems engineering and doctoral student Xiaolu Li to find a seamless and cheaper way to refine a high-value product in the biofuels creation process that is used for many commercial products.

Lignin, a primary material comprised in the cell wall of plants, is a large waste product in the biofuels creation process. Vallinin is a valuable product derived from lignin that can be used for a range of bioproducts. It is currently used in various fields, including food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. The price for the material, however, tends to be unstable due to cost and complicated procedures required for producing the material from lignin. Che worked with Yang to use a bacteria that degrades lignin and allows for the easier refinement and production of vallinin that doesn���t require the use of the whole plant cell for extraction ��� a process known as a cell free system. This process may lead to an effective technique for the production of natural vanillin at low cost.

Identifying nutrient limitations in Cascade Mountain Range for understanding nitrogen fixation ��� Jeannette Lilly

Student Jeannette Lilly worked with Sarah Roley, assistant professor of environmental science, and graduate student Erica Bakker to analyze nutrient limitation in the Cascade Range that could lead to better understanding of where nitrogen fixation occurs in freshwater streams in the Pacific Northwest.

Nitrogen fixation converts nitrogen gas into a nutrient that is essential for all life. While there has been extensive research on nitrogen fixation in the open ocean, estuaries and lakes, comparatively little research has been done on nitrogen fixation in freshwater streams. Nitrogen fixation typically occurs in nutrient-poor streams like those in the Cascades. It may be critical to supporting the food web, including insects and fish, in Cascadian streams. Jeanette established the nutrient status of the study streams, which helps to predict where this process is important.

Finding ways to reduce methane production using bioengineering ��� Tina Tran

Student Tina泭Tran泭is working with Birgitte Ahring, professor of biological systems and chemical engineering, and doctoral student Supriya Karekar on the bioengineering of cow rumen microbiota by bio-augmentation with selected microorganisms to reduce methane production from the rumen.

Ruminants such as cows and sheep are major contributors of greenhouse gas coming from the methanogens inhabiting the rumen. Methane is more than 20 times more potent as a greenhouse gas compared to carbon dioxide. In the laboratory, they are working with rumen model systems and are trying to find ways to mitigate the problems of methane release by substituting methanogens with other and potentially more beneficial microorganisms. The specific focus is on homo-acetogenic bacteria, which potentially could replace methanogens in the rumen while producing beneficial products, which can promote livestock production.

Improving efficiencies of home heating and cooling systems ��� Arturo Gutierrez Larios

Student Arturo Gutierrez Larios worked with Mohamed Osman, professor of electrical engineering, to identify ways to increase the efficiency of home heating and cooling systems through the implementation of better temperature regulations systems.

Gutierrez Larios developed a concept based on what is known as the Internet of Things, where the internet can be extended to an infinite amount of applications through components like sensors and wireless communication between devices. His system implements multiple temperature sensors that are connected through a network, as opposed to utilizing a single temperature sensor as is common in homes today. A temperature controller receives information from the sensors in each room, and the controller sends commands to the network to adjust the airflow of each register based on comparisons made on the calculated temperature differentials. Temperature settings are managed through a smartphone app. The system helps minimize wasted energy in homes.

Studying jaw protusion in fish for insights into evolutionary changes in organisms ��� Ellie Barber and Danielle Ringo

Students Ellie Barber and Danielle Ringo are working with Jim Cooper, instructor of biology, to study why jaw protrusion does or does not occur during the development in fish that could lead to insights into how organisms evolve and when.

Fish develop different feeding biomechanics in their lifespan that determines their economic feeding niche and where they fall on the food chain. Using high-speed filming techniques, the team is working to pinpoint the precise phase during metamorphosis in which the feeding biomechanics of young fish begin to resemble that of adult fish with protrusile jaws. By using gene expression labelling and transcriptome comparative analysis, they hope to gain a clearer insight as to exactly how and why these morphological changes occur in the wild.

Determining impact of fungi on tomato plants ��� Javier Chavez Lara

Javier Chavez Lara is working with Tanya Cheeke, assistant professor of biology, to determine the impact of a type of fungi on the growth of tomato plants, specifically comparing highly-bred tomato plants with less-domesticated wild type varieties.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi forms symbiotic relationships with most plant species by colonizing plant roots to provide the plants with nutrients and water in exchange for carbon. Plants grown in conditions of high fertilization and other agricultural practices reduce the ability of the fungi to colonize their roots. Chavez Lara hypothesizes that the less-domesticated wild-type varieties will have a greater growth response with the fungi than the highly-bred tomato plants. The project will allow for the development of a model system to test mechanisms that regulate the level of the fungi colonization in plant roots.

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Washington State University Tri-Cities undergraduate students will display semester and course research and art projects as part of the Undergraduate Research Symposium and Art Exhibition April 30 – May 3.

Sessions will take place from noon ��� 1 p.m. each day, Tuesday through Friday, in Consolidated Information Center (CIC) 120. The fine arts session will also take place noon ��� 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, in the 厙ぴ勛圖 art gallery in the CIC.

“Throughout the symposium and art exhibition, students have the opportunity to share their research and art projects, and to practice communicating their work to people outside their area of study,��� said Allison Matthews, clinical assistant professor of psychology and coordinator for the symposium.

���This event also highlights the development of research and creative skills through their coursework, as well as undergraduate student involvement in WSU’s larger research initiatives to advance knowledge and pursue discovery,��� she said.

Academic areas highlighted during the symposium include: anthropology, sociology, political science, English, biology, digital technology and culture, fine arts, computer science, history, psychology and engineering.

Some of the projects featured during the event include:

• Investigating the Effects of Nutrient Addition on Mycorrhizal Colonization of Grassland Plants
• The development of a Solid Liquid Interface Monitor (SLIM) ��� the design, of which, has potential to one-day be implemented at the Hanford Site to create three-dimensional scans of waste in Hanford tanks
• A remote-controlled, small-scale airplane that was entered into the SAE Aero Design Competition
• The design of an application that visualizes location-enabled cabs in a map interface, selects the trips from a common list and assigns them to the perfect driver or car to maximize a driver���s profit
• An empirical assessment of an undergraduate teaching assistant training program
• Advanced drawing and sculpture projects from throughout the spring semester

For more information, contact Matthews at 509-372-7146 or almatthews@wsu.edu.

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Washington State University Tri-Cities will confer 352 degrees at its commencement ceremony beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, at the Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd. in Kennewick.

Doors open at noon. The event is free to the public and tickets are not required.

Among those degrees, 308 bachelor���s degrees will be conferred, 32 master���s degrees and 12 doctoral degrees.

Washington state Sen. Sharon Brown will present the keynote address.

Chancellor Sandra Haynes will present the welcome address and introductions and recognitions. Zachary Harper, president of the Associated Students of 厙ぴ勛圖, will present the graduate greeting. Kathleen McAteer, interim vice chancellor for academic affairs, will conduct the presentation of graduates.

Six students were selected to carry gonfalons, which are colorful banners that represent each of the academic colleges, based on their academic excellence. Those students include:

• Alex Arteritano, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences
• Megan Brauner, College of Arts and Sciences
• Ivan Chavez, Carson College of Business
• Olga Maria Sandoval Zazueta, College of Education
• Danielle Young, Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
• Megan Christie, College of Nursing

Kayla Stark, 厙ぴ勛圖 alumna, will sing the national anthem.

厙ぴ勛圖��� commencement ceremony will also be livestreamed on YouTube at .

For more information, visit .