Game Changer Research Aims to Forecast Tornadoes

Dr. Amy McGovern

From an article on Science Nation:


 "Tornadoes claim hundreds of lives and cause billions of dollars in damages in the United States. But the tornado outbreak across the South on April 27, 2011, was startling, even for veteran forecasters such as Greg Carbin at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Okla.
"Through the 24-hour loop here, almost 200 tornadoes had occurred in that period of time and, unfortunately, over 315 fatalities. Primarily Alabama was hit hardest but also fatalities in Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, and Virginia for this event," says Carbin.
As the warning coordination meteorologist at SPC, he would like to see tools that could help predict these killer storms." 



Dr. McGovern and her team of researchers are working to develop the tools necessary to predict these storms.  Read the full story here...

Bradley Pirtle Receives Astronaut Scholarship Award

NORMAN, OKLA. – Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke will present University of Oklahoma (OU) student Bradley Pirtle with a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) during a public presentation and ceremony, September 28, 2011 at 1 p.m. in room 200 of the ExxonMobil Lawrence G. Rawl Engineering Practice Facility at OU. More information can be found here.

Dr. Thulasiraman Begins New "NeTS" NSF Project

Dr. Thulasiraman

Award Date:        August 1, 2011 - July 2014 
Award No.           CNS-1115130     
Proposal No.        CNS-1115130    

Title: 
NeTS: Small: Collaborative Research: Cross Layer Survivability to Cascading Failures in Layered Networks

ABSTRACT:

The objective of this research is to carry out a novel study of network survivability across layers to deal with cascading failures in layered networks. This research will be in the context of IP-over-WDM optical networks, with a focus on multiple failures in the physical (optical) layer and their consequences at the higher layer, namely the IP layer.  Specifically, the broad scope of the project covers i) Survivable logical topology mapping under multiple failures, ii) Logical topology mapping for guaranteed survivability, iii) Logical topology mapping under multiple constraints, and iv) A generalized theory of flows across layers, capacity of survivable logical topologies and related algorithmic challenges.

The intellectual merits of the proposed research lie in developing unifying theories and methodologies that will make significant advances to the understanding of cross-layer survivability issues, and providing the theoretical foundation for future advances in the general area of cross-layer design and optimization.  The research team will build these theories on modern advances in graph theory, mathematical programming and algorithm design. Innovative algorithmic techniques based on advanced data structures and computer algorithms such as approximation techniques will be developed. A generalized theory of cross layer flows that will go well beyond the widely used classical theory of single layer flows will be developed.

Besides the above intellectual merits, the research also has several broader impacts. WDM Optical networks form the critical backbone of all modern communication networks and systems. Modern communication systems consist of multiple physical implementations communicating via layered protocols. As such, a single failure at one layer may lead to cascading failures, i.e., failures at the physical layer lead to failures at the logical layer. Research in this area of cross-layer survivability is still in its infancy. Though IP-Over-WDM networks will provide the context for this research, the theory of cross layer flows and the algorithmic (in particular approximation) techniques that will be developed will have multidisciplinary value spanning several STEM related areas: computer science, electrical engineering, graph theory, mathematical programming, and the emerging area of network science.  Besides extending the frontiers of knowledge in cross layer theory, the research will have significant educational value in training highly skilled researchers for research and development in cutting edge technologies in different areas of information technology. The training program will have a specific focus on training undergraduate students for future leadership in STEM areas.

Dr. Trytten Begins New NSF "SELECT" Project

Dr. Deborah Trytten

Title: The Privilege of Student, Experiential Learning, Engineering Competition Teams (SELECT)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Start Date: Sept 15, 2011
End Date: August 31, 2015

Layman Abstract:
Student, Experiential Learning, Engineering Competition Teams (SELECT) are displayed as the hallmark of engineering programs and are commonly featured in materials shared with prospective students and donors. SELECT provide an opportunity for engineering students to practice engineering technical and professional skills while engaged in competitive, experiential learning, design/build projects. In spite of efforts to increase participation of under-represented populations (URP) in engineering programs, participation rates of URP students in many competition teams are exceptionally low, even when normalized for engineering enrollment. The research literature investigating student competition teams includes only a few papers founded on a research design including a research question, data collection and structured analysis, with only one investigating URP participation from a gender perspective, and none exploring other dimensions of diversity. This paucity is in stark contrast to the wealth of well-structured research examinations of curricular-based team work, although considerations of race/ethnicity and gender are generally absent here as well. The Research Institute for STEM Education will build on a history of qualitative research, supplemented with quantitative data, identifying factors contributing to equity and broadening participation in engineering by addressing the research question: What factors contribute to cultures of inclusion or exclusion within Student, Experiential Learning, Engineering Competition Teams (SELECT)?

Distinguished Lecture Series begins Friday

University of Oklahoma Researchers use NICS to Detail the Inner Workings of Tornadoes

Dr. Amy McGovern

From an article on NICS:

 "Just last month, in a span of 24 hours beginning on April 27th, the southeastern United States saw a rare outbreak of tornadoes which resulted in a combined 344 deaths, according to estimates by the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Not since 1936 have more people been killed in a two-day period due to tornadoes. And that’s not to mention the likely billions of dollars in property damage.
Despite their prevalence in this country, however, and especially in the central United States in an area known as “tornado alley,” there is still much we don’t know about these much-feared funnels from the sky." 


Dr. McGovern and her team of researchers are attempting to unravel some of those inner-workings.  Read the full story here... Recently a new article covering Dr. McGovern's research on using simulations to predict tornadoes was posted here...

Dr. Radhakrishnan Earns "Innovator of the Year" Award

Dr. Sridhar Radhakrishnan was recently awarded with the Innovator of the Year award for his involvement with SoBA.

The Journal Record reported, “Oklahoma is poised to make a big leap forward in the software products industry, thanks to the University of Oklahoma’s Software Business Accelerator. Known as SoBA, the initiative provides a leg up for the university’s graduates, who emerge with real-world entrepreneurial experience that gives them a significant advantage when entering the job market.

Introduced in the fall of 2010, SoBA provides one-of-a-kind opportunities for students to create and design software applications that can be quickly turned into salable products, typically within a semester. Mentors from the university and private sectors work with the students, most of whom are enrolled in computer science degree programs. Others come from a cross-section of university disciplinessuch as business, engineering, graphic design, fine arts, and film and video.”

The SoBA program operates under the umbrella of the OU Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth (CCEW) and constitutes a partnership between CCEW, OU’s School of Computer Science and Information Technology. CCEW’s purpose is to give students the opportunity to take part in real-world entrepreneurial ventures and to accelerate the movement of new technologies into the marketplace, spurring wealth development in Oklahoma in the process, said Jeff Moore, CCEW’s executive director.

“SoBA is OU’s catalyst for the rapid creation and launch of software-based products and businesses in Oklahoma,” Moore said. “In addition, SoBA fulfills an important community outreach function, offering services and resources to existing Oklahoma companies and individuals to help develop their software ideas. This makes it unique in its breadth and level of engagement.”

The first of SoBA’s products is Crowdstory, a mobile social networking application for sharing location-based audio snippets. Crowdstory will launch nationally in March at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas – the premiere event for featuring innovative media applications.

There are a few programs across the country that have a similar concept as SoBA, but none of them leverage community assets as broadly as SoBA does, in that software entrepreneurs are paired with both the seed funding and expertise to propel their products into viable businesses, Moore said.

“The value at stake for Oklahoma’s economy is significant; in addition to the substantial commercial potential for any new software businesses, students receive an unparalleled opportunity to create their own job opportunities through the entrepreneurial process,” he said. “Ultimately, SoBA’s bottom line benefits Oklahoma, where new jobs will be created and the culture of value creation will be strengthened by our young talent. This will give top students compelling reasons to remain in the state, instead of heading to software centers such as Silicon Valley or Austin.”