Texas A&M Engineering SoundBytes

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, will forever live in the minds of many, especially those who aided in the rescue and recovery operations. Dr. Kem Bennett, senior professor in the Wm Michael Barnes '64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and vice chancellor and dean emeritus in the College of Engineering, was among those who arrived in New York with Texas Task Force One. That harrowing experience challenged the team and further instilled the need for the training facility designed and opened in 1998 — the now world-renowned Disaster City.

Since its opening, Disaster City has trained people representing every U.S. state and territory and more than 100 countries. Bennett shared his experiences with Disaster City, and how the training program impacted the team's time at Ground Zero, as well as how that experience influenced training since. 

Please note that this episode includes content describing destruction at Ground Zero and recovery efforts that some listeners may find disturbing.

What is industrial and systems engineering? Learn about the Wm Michael Barnes '64 Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University and hear directly from students in the program. 

Successfully juggling responsibilities can be difficult as a student. The commitment can be challenging, but the rewards are worth it.  On this episode of The Study Break, hear how civil engineering senior Logan Welsh balances his obligations in engineering and the Corps of Cadets.

Those walking across the graduation stage are beginning a new chapter of their lives as new graduates, new hires and new engineers. On this episode of Just a SEC, our student hosts are joined by Sabrina Pardoe and Claire Riordan from the Class of 2020 to discuss what it's like to be someone with a job lined up after graduation as well as someone who had to successfully pivot and find a career after a bit of searching.

Plastic waste is plaguing our planet, filling landfills and oceans with trash. However, research at Texas A&M University is working with bacteria that feed on wastewater sludge to harness a byproduct of this process — materials that can be used to develop biodegradable bioplastics. On this episode of Engineer This!, our hosts talk with Dr. Bella Chu, professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and doctoral student Fahad Asiri, to learn how they are finding ways to innovate the plastics industry, ranging from aquaculture to medical fields to the plastic bottles we use every day.

How much do you actually know about the field of nuclear engineering? On this episode of the Study Break, senior Kaya Mariello describes how her passion for healthcare and the field of nuclear engineering intersect and the many opportunities open to nuclear engineers.

Read more about her internship at UT Health Science Center - San Antonio: tx.ag/CareerPath

In this episode, Kaya mentions the ETAM process. Learn more about Entry to a major here: tx.ag/ETAM

With the rise of remote learning due to COVID-19 came the challenge of combating remote cheating methods. On this special episode of SoundBytes, student host Drew DeHaven talks with Dr. Angie Hill Price, associate dean for undergraduate programs at Texas A&M Engineering, about what academic dishonesty is and how Aggie engineers can uphold their honor code in the virtual classroom.

COVID-19 has brought with it new stresses and a heaviness shared by people throughout Texas A&M Engineering and the world. On this episode of Just a SEC, our student hosts are joined by SEC representatives Baylee Becka and Justis Morales to discuss the importance of mental health awareness and the upcoming mental health campaign hosted by the Student Engineers' Council.

Learning about how materials change between phases, from solids to liquids to gases, is a hallmark of primary school science class. To the average person. This building block of material science is often thought of in the simplest terms, but what if your home could use the energy involved in these transitions to help passively heat or cool it, just by changing out the molding.

On this episode of Engineer This, Dr. Emily Pentzer, an associate professor in the Departments of Material Science & Engineering and Chemistry, discusses how her research is working to design next generation materials by using simple and scalable techniques.

Did you know that your professional network started developing from the very day you entered Texas A&M? From the people you sit next to in class, to the same professors teaching those classes. All these relationships can blossom into long standing partnerships. Join cohosts Drew & Ritika as they speak with Martha Bellens-Martin '85 to discuss her journey into technical sales and how she continues to build her network and give back to the Aggie Women Engineers Network (AWEN). 

Learn more about AWEN: tx.ag/AWEN