- Che-courtesy-list - ecn.purdue.edu

A message re effective communication
by Varma, Arvind 22 May '12

22 May '12

Dear Colleagues, In the Chronicle today, there is an interesting letter, copied below, re effective communication - important in teaching and research presentations. I enjoyed reading it and share it with you, highlighting two key sentences, realizing that most of you know all this well. Arvind Varma The Chronicle of Higher education May 21, 2012 To Succeed in Communication, Keep Aristotle's Lessons in Mind To the Editor: Leonard Cassuto's advice rings true across the disciplines and venues where Ph.D. holders are called upon to be effective transmitters of knowledge in addition to being creative generators of that knowledge ("Teaching Ph.D.'s How to Reach Out,<http://chronicle.com/article/Teaching-PhDs-How-to-Reach/131776/>" The Chronicle, May 6). While my hope is that a course in communication may be valuable in that endeavor, it will succeed only insofar as the leaders of that course remember the founding principles of effective communication-well described by Aristotle (The Rhetoric) and taught continuously since in speech, communication, and rhetoric courses. These elements remain the abilities to create, organize, develop, support, adapt, and present messages. Professor Cassuto's advice points out the essential role, often overlooked in advanced work, of the last two elements: thoughtful and intentional adaptation, and a powerful, audience-centered presentation. Too often we get vocabulary that remains trapped inside insider jargon, and a presentation hiding behind dreary reading of PowerPoint slides. "Communication" is the message received, and message adaption and presentation are the transmitter elements that make it happen. Here's to an idea with great potential! Raymond Zeuschner Professor Emeritus Communication Studies California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Calif.

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Computer Labs Reserved on Tuesday, May 22nd
by Harrington, Michael P 18 May '12

18 May '12

The computer labs in FRNY 1033 and 1022 will be reserved this coming Tuesday for workshops. The computer lab in FNRY G023 will be available as well as the four computers in FRNY 1014 and the printer in that room. -Mike Harrington ******************** Mike Harrington Computer Facilities Manager Chemical Engineering Purdue University 765-494-6428 mph(a)purdue.edu

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New Cylinder Procedures in Forney - Please Read
by Davis, Linda S 18 May '12

18 May '12

Che Faculty, Staff and Students, Currently, safety issues exist in Forney concerning high pressure gas cylinders. Several, but not all, include: 1) Inadequate space in the shipping and receiving area (G134) to segregate oxidizers and flammables. Fire code specifies a minimum distance of 20 feet. 2) Not-in-use flammable gas cylinders stored in laboratories - above the limits set by the fire code. 3) Flammable gas mixtures (hydrogen and other) stored in laboratories without flammable gas detectors. In conjunction with REM, the ChE safety committee has designed and installed a large, secure, and sheltered cylinder storage area external to Forney. The storage area is located on the northwest side of Forney facing the civil engineering building. Cages for flammable and non-flammable gases are separated by an approved fire resistant barrier. Separate cages for incoming cylinders, return cylinders and stored cylinders are provided. Starting on Monday, May 21, all gas cylinders will be picked up and returned utilizing the new storage area. The new cylinder handling procedures are described in the attached document. Each research group will be given a key to access the cages, and Jason Davenport will be assigning the keys starting on May 21. We are also asking each research group to move not-in-use cylinders out of their laboratories and into the new storage cages. This is important for all gas cylinders not just flammable and toxic gas cylinders. If a laboratory fire occurred in Forney, the safest situation is to have high pressure gas cylinders stored remotely. This is an important safety improvement for the Forney laboratories! We appreciate your time and commitment to making the change successful. Thank you. Linda For the ChE Safety Committee Linda S. Davis Industrial Education Director Chair, ChE Safety Committee (https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE/AboutUs/Safety.html) School of Chemical Engineering Purdue University lsdavis(a)purdue.edu<mailto:lsdavis@purdue.edu> (765)496-1710

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A thank you note
by Litster, James Donald 17 May '12

17 May '12

Dear graduate students As Prof Varma said in his message, I am leaving the DGS role to spend more time on research and teaching, as well as some other projects like improving my basketball and soccer skills. Undoubtedly, the most rewarding part of the DGS job was getting to know all of you at least a little bit, and some of you very well. The graduate students are the life blood of any school and this is especially true at Purdue Chemical Engineering. Grad students are both the research engine and the front line teachers. Without you, the place would be very hollow. I especially want to thank several generations of GSO office holders I have worked with for the fine job you have done representing graduate student interests and developing the academic and social fabric of the school. I will remain on the teaching roster for CHE69700 - Teaching Experience. This will give me a chance to continue to interact with many of you and hopefully help develop your collective passion for education. I remain in the DGS role till the end of June so please do keep dropping by (especially those of you about to receive reminder emails from me about your preliminary exams). All the best Jim L Jim Litster, PhD Professor of Chemical Engineering Professor of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy Director of Graduate Studies in Chemical Engineering Purdue University Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering, Room 1053 480 Stadium Mall Drive West Lafayette IN 47907-2100 USA +1 765 496-2836 (phone) +1 765 494-0805 (fax) jlitster(a)purdue.edu

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Additional ChE Safety Awareness Training Dates - May 24 and June 4
by Davis, Linda S 16 May '12

16 May '12

ChE Faculty, Staff and Students, Two additional sessions of ChE Safety Awareness Training have been scheduled: * Thursday, May 24, 1:30 -2:30 pm, FRNY 3062B * Monday, June 4, 1:30 - 2:30 pm, FRNY 3062B Safety training dates are also provided on the ChE Safety web page: https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE/AboutUs/Safety.html. Please ensure that all new employees in your research labs attend one of these sessions. Thank you. Linda Linda S. Davis Industrial Education Director Chair, ChE Safety Committee (https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE/AboutUs/Safety.html) School of Chemical Engineering Purdue University lsdavis(a)purdue.edu<mailto:lsdavis@purdue.edu> (765)496-1710

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Safety Update: Peroxide Formation in Laboratory Solutions and Reagents
by Davis, Linda S 11 May '12

11 May '12

ChE Faculty, Staff and Graduate Students, Peroxide formation in chemical solutions and reagents poses a significant hazard in our laboratories. Peroxides are unstable and can explode spontaneously. Common organic chemicals such as tetrahydrofuran and diethyl ether have the propensity to form peroxides when stored over time. Peroxides are formed by the reaction of the chemical with oxygen in the head space of the chemical container after the container is opened. Adam Krajicek from REM has shared this document: http://www.uta.edu/campus-ops/ehs/chemical/docs/peroxide-forming-chemical.p… which explains the hazards, classification, and guidelines for safe use and disposal of peroxide-forming chemicals. The ChE Safety Committee recommends that all laboratories review their chemical inventories to check for the presence of peroxide-forming chemicals and take the necessary actions described in the attached document. Thank you to Vinod Kumar for proposing this update. Please contact me or any member of the ChE Safety Committee if you have any questions. Thank you. Linda Linda S. Davis Industrial Education Director Chair, ChE Safety Committee (https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE/AboutUs/Safety.html) School of Chemical Engineering Purdue University lsdavis(a)purdue.edu<mailto:lsdavis@purdue.edu> (765)496-1710

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A brief report
by nwyho＠ecn.purdue.edu 10 May '12

10 May '12

Dear Prof Varma, I have not come to visit you for a while. I did have an unexpected health problem at the beginning of March. It was totally my fault by not listening my doctor's advice to get a Shingle shoot. Unfortunately, I did get Shingles. From the medicine for the shingles, it also gave me some stomach problem. I had never have any stomach problems for the last 10 to 20 years. Fortunately, now it is over and I am fully recovered. I did worked a lot at home since early April by communicating with companies interested in using the Purdue Yeast for cellulosic ethanol and for applying funds from Federal agencies to cover the research cost in my lab at Purdue. One good thing is that we do have much improved yeast for cellulosic ethanol production. It is good for me to establish GTA; now there is no Federal grant to support cellulosic ethanol research at the university level but there are Federal Grants, bigger ones also, to support bioenergy companies. GTA is working hard to apply those. I will try to make an appointment to see you when ever your time permits. Best regards, Nancy Quoting "Varma, Arvind" <avarma(a)purdue.edu>: > Dear Colleagues, > > I am writing to inform that Dr. Raj Chakrabarti will leave his > faculty position at Purdue and join CMU on August 1, 2012. As many > of you are aware, his wife is a CMU faculty member - this move > permits them to be in the same location. > > Please join me in wishing Raj the very best for the future. > > Arvind > > Arvind Varma > R. Games Slayter Distinguished Professor > Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Head of Chemical Engineering > Purdue University > >

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Dr. Raj Chakrabarti
by Varma, Arvind 10 May '12

10 May '12

Dear Colleagues, I am writing to inform that Dr. Raj Chakrabarti will leave his faculty position at Purdue and join CMU on August 1, 2012. As many of you are aware, his wife is a CMU faculty member - this move permits them to be in the same location. Please join me in wishing Raj the very best for the future. Arvind Arvind Varma R. Games Slayter Distinguished Professor Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Head of Chemical Engineering Purdue University

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Two School PhD Alumni receive 2012 DOE Early Career Research Awards
by Varma, Arvind 09 May '12

09 May '12

Dear Colleagues, I am delighted to inform that two recent School PhD alumni have been named recipients of the 2012 DOE Early Career Research Program Award. They are among 68 recipients chosen based on peer review of about 850 proposals (i.e. 8%). Aditya Bhan (PhD, 2005), Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota, completed his PhD under the direction of Prof. Nick Delgass. Aditya received the NSF CAREER Award in 2011. Jamey Young (PhD, 2005), Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Vanderbilt University, completed his PhD under the direction of Prof. D. Ramkrishna. Jamey received the NSF CAREER Award in 2010. Pl join me in congratulating Aditya and Jamey, as well as their thesis advisors, on their recognition, which also brings credit to Purdue and our School! Best, Arvind Arvind Varma R. Games Slayter Distinguished Professor Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Head of Chemical Engineering Purdue University

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DARPA 2012 Young Faculty Award for Bryan Boudouris!
by Varma, Arvind 09 May '12

09 May '12

Dear Colleagues, I am delighted to inform that Bryan Boudouris has been selected to receive a DARPA 2012 Young Faculty Award! The financial details of his winning proposal titled "Radical Polymers for Nanostructured, Next Generation Thermoelectric Devices" are being negotiated and will be finalized by June 30th or earlier - the award is typically $300,000 for 3 years. In the second annual competition last year, 39/407 applicants (i.e. <10%) received the award. The details of the 2012 awards are not announced yet. Bryan is receiving this YFA just a few weeks after he was named recipient of an AFOSR Young Investigator Research Award, for $120,000/year for 3 years. A most impressive aspect of these recognitions is that Bryan is currently only in the first year of his faculty appointment - he joined our School in August 2011! Pl join me in congratulating Bryan for this latest recognition in support of his research programs! Best, Arvind Arvind Varma R. Games Slayter Distinguished Professor Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Head of Chemical Engineering Purdue University

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