Mining engineering professor Dr. Braden Lusk has been named as the recipient of two prominent awards: the J.W. Woomer Award and the International Society of Explosives Engineers President’s Award.

The J.W. Woomer Award is a national award presented by the Coal & Energy Division of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration to a recipient in recognition of engineering achievement by young professionals within the industry. Only one individual is recognized annually with this award.

Dr. Lusk will receive the award at this year’s Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration conference to be held February 19-22 in Seattle, WA. His award will read, “In recognition of his dedication to mining education and his engineering accomplishments, especially noting his contributions towards explosives and blasting engineering and in developing rational methods of mine seal design.”

“Dr. Lusk is a well deserving recipient of this award,” says Department of Mining Engineering Chair Rick Honaker. “He is an extremely dedicated and talented engineer who has contributed significantly to the science and processes of explosives and blasting in the mining industry. His work in blast mitigation has greatly enhanced the knowledge of the impacts of blast events on local structures including private dwellings. We are very pleased that his contributions are being recognized with this award.”

Says Dr. Lusk about being named this year’s J.W. Woomer Award winner, “The award means a lot to me. I have a passion for the mining industry and I work really hard to help out in any way I can. This award reflects appreciation for my hard work. It is quite an honor to be recognized in this way.”

In addition, Dr. Lusk recently received a President’s Award from the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) at their annual awards banquet. According to the ISEE website, “The President’s Award is presented to those who have contributed their time and talent to the organization—for commendable volunteer effort to the Society.”

“I was very surprised to receive this award,” said Lusk.   “It is something I’ve been watching for many years, but thought I was still several years from even being considered for it.  I was honored to receive it.”

Dr. Lusk joined the mining engineering faculty in 2006 and teaches its blasting courses. He gained national exposure with a recurring role on the Discovery Channel’s show The Detonators and his current research areas include blast mitigation, environmental justice and waterside dam security.

On Sunday morning, as the caravan of students was returning to Lexington on I-75N, a part broke on the vehicle Tom was driving, sending it into the opposite lane where it collided with a tractor trailer. The crash took not only his life, but also the life of freshman engineering student Bradley Hall.

In the days following the accident, Tom’s friends shared story after story with Rob and his wife, Valerie, about their son’s heart and character. “There were so many people who told us about things Tom did for them,” Rob says. “Those stories gave us a clear picture of someone who really lived his faith.

“Any parent would have been proud of Tom,” Rob shares. “Once he earned a B in calculus, and I fussed at him because he was so good at math that the B was likely due to not putting enough time into his studies. But as his friends and those he touched said things like, ‘Tom helped me with my homework,’ or ‘he came to visit me in the hospital’ or, ‘I dropped out of the church and he was the only one who would call me,’ I understood that my son spent his life doing things more important than calculus.”

The impact Tom had on those who knew him inspired Rob and Valerie to create a scholarship in Tom’s memory. The Thomas B. May Memorial Scholarship will furnish approximately $3,000 per year to an engineering student starting with the fall 2012 semester. Once the scholarship is fully endowed, the yearly amount will be $4,000.

“Receiving a scholarship does so much for young people,” explains Rob. “It increases their self-esteem and confidence and allows them to avoid getting buried under student loan debt. Education is important, but not everyone can pay for it.”

Director of College Advancement, Jeff Snow, notes the poignancy of the Mays’ gift when he says, “Sometimes philanthropy is born from painful events. Tom was a model student and human being with an innate drive to serve others. Whether volunteering to help students during freshman move-in or answering a call to gather a group of students to respond to a pressing need, people who knew Tom knew he would answer the call with enthusiasm. We anticipate that this scholarship will touch others’ lives through Tom’s remembrance.”

While Tom’s servant heart and keen mind impacted people wherever he went, no portrait of the young man would be complete without his love for corny jokes. In fact, when his family developed memorial cards displaying a list of Tom’s quintessential habits, “Tell a corny joke to someone” and “Make up a corny joke and tell it” share space with “Offer to help before knowing the need” and “Pray.” Tom’s influence continues to spread globally, as the cards have found their way to every continent except for Antarctica.

The May family legacy began when Tom’s father, Rob, received a B.S. in civil engineering in 1974. Tom’s older brother, also named Rob, received a B.S. in electrical engineering in 2000 and Tom’s youngest brother, Scott, is currently pursuing a degree in computer science (Tom’s two sisters also attended UK). Because the Mays are funding an endowed scholarship, Tom’s presence in the College of Engineering will remain in perpetuity.

“We believe Tom’s life deserves to be remembered and the scholarship is consistent with his character as a servant,” Valerie summarizes. “I remember how relieved I was when Tom was awarded scholarships and we believe it would make Tom happy to know he was helping people.”

For information regarding how you can make your own contribution to the Thomas B. May Memorial Scholarship, please contact Jeff Snow in the Office of Engineering Advancement at (859) 257-9191 or jnsnow@engr.uky.edu.

The annual Ablation Workshop is a three-day meeting point for scientists working on topics related to aerothermodynamic ablation, a process that protects spacecraft or missiles from intense aerodynamic heating through surface vaporization and chemical transformation. The meeting is steered by the Air Force Office for Scientific Research (AFOSR), NASA and Sandia National Laboratories. This year’s emphasis will be on coupling of material response and aerothermal models including gas-surface interactions and related uncertainty quantification. There will be a follow up session of the ablation code model intercomparison from the previous workshop as well as an initial session targeting an experimental case study for a research material.

“This workshop is an excellent opportunity for space and defense agencies and companies to get an update from the latest development in university research,” says Martin. “Researchers will also be able to better understand the specific problems that the space and defense technology industry faces. I foresee participants pooling their knowledge for the benefit of all.”

For registration information, please contact Geaunita Caylor at (859) 257-2820 or gcaylor@engr.uky.edu.

“Our research group is investigating the application of AI techniques to decision-support tools for academic advising” said Guerin.  “We surveyed STEM and non-STEM majors about an experimental text-based explanation system, and collected data related to perception of the advising process.  In this study we’ve compiled answers to questions related to perceived utility of the advising process and the kinds of information that students wish to obtain from academic advisors.  In this poster we compare and contrast answers given by STEM majors and non-STEM majors, and analyze how student GPA and number of semesters attended influence their answers.”

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Dr. Syed Nasar

Dr. Syed A. Nasar, Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering at the University of Kentucky, passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2012 after a long illness. 

Dr. Nasar was widely considered the world’s leading authority on electric machinery. His pioneering contributions to education, research, development, and design greatly influenced the field for more than 50 years. He is best known for his research in linear electric machines and novel rotary motors. Dr. Nasar also made significant contributions to the understanding of the edge-effect phenomenon in linear machines. Applications of his work ranged from artificial heart pump drives to transportation systems and electromagnetic launchers.

Syed Abu Nasar was born in Gorakhpur, India on December 25, 1932. He earned his M.S. from Texas A&M University in 1957 and his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1963. Both degrees were in electrical engineering.

After a brief tenure at Gonzaga University, he joined the University of Kentucky in 1968 as an associate professor of electrical engineering.  By 1970, he was promoted to full professor. Over the years, he served the EE department in numerous leadership roles beginning as Director of Graduate Studies (1981 – 1988) and culminating as department chair (1989 to 1997). In recognition of his research activities, he was named a University Research Professor for the 1979-80 academic year.  At the time of his retirement in 2002, he held the James R. Boyd Professorship of Electrical Engineering. 

In addition to being a prolific researcher, Dr. Nasar was an outstanding educator. He guided the M.S. theses and Ph.D. dissertations of more than 40 students who have gone on to distinguish themselves in industry, academia and government.  He also hosted numerous visiting researchers and post-doctoral visitors from around the world.  He was the founder and editor-in-chief of the international journal Electric Machines and Power Systems, through which he established and maintained a forum for dissemination of information for the electrical machine community. Dr. Nasar authored or co-authored more than 100 journal papers, 50   talks and 33 books, which have been translated into eight languages.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) bestowed upon Dr. Nasar the prestigious Nikola Tesla Award recognizing the individual who has made outstanding contributions to the generation and use of electric power.  He was recognized “For leadership in the research, development, and design of linear and rotating machines, and contributions to electrical engineering education.” In addition, he was named a Life Fellow of the IEEE “for contributions to the understanding of electromechanical systems, and in particular, to linear electric motors”.  He was active on national and international steering committees abd working groups and as a reviewer for IEEE.  Dr. Nasar was also a Fellow of the IEE (United Kingdom) and a member of Eta Kappa Nu and Sigma Xi.

The National Science Foundation continuously supported his research program for 35 years and he received research grants from NASA, General Electric, and The Ford Motor Company. He was the holder of five U.S. and international patents. His knowledge and expertise led more than 60 companies and organizations to seek him out as a consultant. 

Dr. Nasar and his late wife, Sara, were well known for their generosity to community programs and charitable organizations.  They were actively involved with the UK International Hospitality Program. Over the years, they served as a host family to dozens of international students, opening their home and welcoming them to the UK community.

When asked about Dr. Nasar’s impact on the college, Dr. Thomas Lester, Dean of the College of Engineering, said “Dr. Nasar is the father of the modern Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UK.  He had an unequaled eye for quality in the faculty members he hired and mentored.  His significant research and the publications of his work set a standard for others in the department to emulate.”

Dr. Lee T. Todd, UK President Emeritus, remembers Dr. Nasar’s impact in a more personal sense, as a key mentor for a young engineering professor, “Dr. Nasar took me under his wing when I was a young Assistant Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department at UK. Even though he was not the Department Chair at the time, he strongly urged me to submit my tenure case after only a few years on the faculty. He was concerned that no EE Professor had gained tenure in the previous seven or eight years. As a result of his guidance, support and encouragement I received tenure that year. He kept track of me throughout my business career and wrote me encouraging notes frequently as well as during my term as President of UK. His tremendous research record set him apart as an outstanding faculty member. He was someone I greatly admired and someone I was very fortunate to have as a mentor during my career. “

Dr. Nasar is survived by his two daughters Naheed (Francis) Bleecker of Brookfield, WI and Sajida Syed of Cary, NC and four grandchildren; Yusuf, Safeeyah and Aliyah Quereshi and Rabiya Syed.  

A joint appointment between the two departments, while rare, is evidence of growing collaboration between the College of Engineering and the College of Medicine. While his teaching responsibilities are fulfilled within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Wenk meets with cardiac surgeons, pathologists, radiologists and other doctors specializing in muscle mechanics to better apply computational mechanics to heart disease–the leading cause of death in the United States for men and women according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

While working for an exhaust manufacturer in Detroit as part of a co-operative education assignment for Purdue University, Dr. Wenk obtained a glimpse of where he wanted to take his graduate studies. “During my co-op experience, I got my first look at the finite element method. I was intrigued by the many ways it could be used and wanted to not just be able to use it, but understand everything about it,” he explains.

Dr. Wenk chose the University of California-Berkeley because they were, and continue to be, strong in computational mechanics. There, he immersed himself in the finite element method, applying it to biomedical projects. He devised numerical models of arteries, then, continued with more models of the vascular system. “I’ve always been fascinated by the human body,” Dr. Wenk says. “If the wall of a pipe is deemed too thin, engineers can always thicken it to ensure it doesn’t fail under high pressure; but the pipe itself doesn’t do anything in response to the pressure. In the human body, systems actively respond to stimuli and perform certain actions. For example, if the pressure is too high in your arteries, your body will produce new cells to thicken the wall. As an engineer, I have to recognize that the body itself is an active agent and tap into what it naturally does in order to generate accurate models.”

During his post-doctoral work, Dr. Wenk moved away from the vascular system and began to focus on the heart. “As an engineer, I look at the heart and say, ‘This is a pump. It is taking fluid and circulating it by contracting.’ Using the finite element method, I can approach the heart similar to how I might approach modeling a car or a bridge. The reason is that the heart obeys the laws of physics just like everything else. The basic principles of solid mechanics aren’t any different just because the heart is composed of tissue; therefore, I take fundamental engineering tools and create models that allow us to predict what kinds of surgical treatments will be the most effective,” he says. His hope is that in the near future cardiac patients will receive treatment plans specifically based on computational models of their own heart made possible by imaging data.

In addition to his interesting and exciting research, Dr. Wenk is becoming acclimated to a new state, new university and new job. His wife, Dr. Christine Trinkle, also teaches in the mechanical engineering department, specializing in micro-fluidics and micro-scale design and fabrication. For leisure, he enjoys biking, hiking and camping. “I’m a big outdoors guy. This is a beautiful area and I’m looking forward to visiting a few of central Kentucky’s hiking staples like Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge State Park,” he says. “Plus, I’m glad to be back where there is seasonal change! Coming from the San Francisco Bay area, I’m glad to see fall colors again.”

One aspect of the grant involves researching high wall stability and the effects of ground vibrations upon it—typically due to blasting. The team, led by Dr. Perry, plans to monitor high walls (any vertical face at a mine) for displacement and correlate it with ground vibrations that might have caused the movement. Aided by seismographs, blast records and a laser scanning able to create a point cloud of the wall, Dr. Perry will be able to create a model able to inform mining engineers about the vulnerability of their high walls relative to their blasting amplitude.

The other part of the grant is intended to investigate the benefit of LED lighting technology in underground coal mines. LED lights have the potential to give engineers a different picture of what they see compared to normal incandescent or halogen lighting. The team will incorporate a bank of LED lights onto roof bolting machines and determine if the different quality of light allows technicians to identify places where extra roof bolts are needed.

“Both parts of the grant are designed to increase the level of safety at underground and surface mines,” says Dr. Perry. “We hope our findings on high wall stability and LED lighting can prevent any unfortunate and unnecessary accidents.”