UC-Davis Professor to be Honored During Design Engineering Technical Conferences (8/15/07) Steven A. Velinsky, Ph.D., P.E., a professor at the University of California, will be honored by ASME next month at the Society's Design Engineering Technical Conferences. Velinsky is being recognized for research contributions in the mechanical design field and professional leadership within ASME's Design Engineering Division and Systems and Design Group. He will receive the Society’s Machine Design Award during the Design Conferences, which will be held in Las Vegas from Sept. 4-7. The award, established in 1958, recognizes eminent achievement or distinguished service in the field of machine design. Velinsky is a professor of mechanical and aeronautical engineering and co-director of the Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology Research Center at the University of California, Davis. A professor for more than 20 years, he has developed new and unique courses in the mechanical design area, and he has been the advisor of a large number of master's, doctoral and postdoctoral students. Through his research, Velinsky has made significant contributions in the areas of robotic systems design and analysis, and design of machine elements and systems. He, together with his colleagues at UC-Davis, has pioneered the application of robotics and automation to highway maintenance and construction. This has included the design and development of numerous robotic vehicles that have been used by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on the state's highways. He has also been involved in the analysis and design of numerous machine elements including wire ropes and cables, air bearings, ball screws, and vehicle power transmission systems and components such as differentials; and he has applied mechanical design methods to biomedical engineering. An ASME Fellow, Velinsky has served on a number of ASME committees, particularly in the Design Engineering Division, since 1985. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1977. He earned his master's degree in mechanical engineering and his Ph.D. in theoretical and applied mechanics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1979 and 1981, respectively. He is a registered professional engineer in California. The ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers in Engineering Conference (IDETC/CIE) are a premier international forum that worldwide leading experts with various design background and experience can effectively showcase and share their newest ideas, cutting-edge researches, developing methodologies and tools among their peers. For more information on the conferences, visit www.asmeconferences.org/idetc07. Energy Nano Conference Set for Santa Clara University Next Month; Nano Bootcamp Canceled A quick reminder and update regarding the Nano activities in Santa Clara, Calif., next month: The Second Energy Nanotechnology Conference will take place from Sept. 5–7 at Santa Clara University. The Nanotechnology Bootcamp, which was originally scheduled to run in conjunction with the conference, has been canceled. The Energy Nano Conference will focus on the state-of-the-art research and development in energy-related materials, nanoscale phenomena, devices, systems, manufacturing, and commercialization. The meeting will consist of plenary talks, invited talks, contributed oral and poster presentations, and exhibitions and will provide opportunities for communication and collaboration among industry, academia, and venture capital organizations. This year, the conference will also include the new Start-Up Company Showcase and Business Plan Competition. For more information, visit www.asmeconferences.org/energynano07. Renew Your ASME Membership and Enter Plasma TV Drawing Two chances remain to win a 42-inch plasma television if you renew your membership early. Renew your ASME membership by Sept. 1 and get two entries in the drawing. And don't forget there's an online renewal bonus: If you renew online by Oct. 1, you'll receive three entries for the drawing. For more information, visit www.asme.org/Membership/ReferMember/ Renew_Early_Win_42_Plasma_TV.cfm.

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