The science of locating sound has come a long way... from tin cans, to holographic microphone arrays. In this special publication from the National Academy of Engineering, Purdue acoustics experts Yangfan Liu, Stuart Bolton, and Patricia Davies discuss the history and future of acoustic source localization.

Issam Mudawar, the Betty Ruth and Milton B. Hollander Family Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been named the 2021 recipient of the Allan Kraus Thermal Management Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for 35 years of pioneering accomplishments and international leadership in high-heat flux thermal management of electronics and its impact on the cooling of computers, data centers, hybrid and all-electric vehicles, defense electronics and space vehicles.

Frank Lee is probably the only refrigeration technician in history to perform his job in zero gravity! After 25 years of service as an engineering technician (on the ground) at Purdue's Herrick Labs, Frank helped to test a new zero-gravity refrigerator prototype for NASA by embarking on a series of parabolic test flights.

Surgeons may soon be able to localize critical regions in tissues and organs during a surgical operation, thanks to a soft, thin, stretchable biosensor that can be 3D printed, developed by Chi Hwan Lee.

A key lesson from the COVID pandemic is the inherent risk of spreading disease through indoor air recirculation. One way to mitigate that risk is to incorporate outdoor air; however, dehumidifying that air requires huge amounts of energy. Purdue University engineers have proposed a system that combines new membrane technology with the latest HVAC systems, to make 100% outdoor air systems economically feasible – especially in warm, humid climates.

Transportation in the next decade is poised to undergo a dramatic transformation with the mass deployment not only of electric vehicles but of autonomous transportation systems of all types. Check out this article about the future of autonomous transportation, and how an online Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering can help you take advantage of this opportunity.

While North America may be rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic, much of South America is still in the trenches fighting the disease. In Ecuador, Purdue alum Vicente Adum (MSME '02) is part of a team called OpenVenti, who designed and manufactured an open-source ventilator, donating hundreds of them to Ecuadorian hospitals where they are still very much in need.

Congratulations to all of our Purdue ME students who made the Spring 2021 Dean's List and received Academic Honors. This site will allow you to print a custom certificate to mark the occasion!

En'Urga Inc has received a $125,000 grant from NASA to develop a hyperspectral imager, to help with combustion research at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Jay Gore will oversee the Phase I experiments at Zucrow Labs.

As Purdue's oldest engineering school, Mechanical Engineering has had its fair share of legends, lore, and unforgettable characters. In this excerpt from a 1995 booklet, we share some of the more interesting stories gathered from the recollections of students, professors, and alumni from the past 150 years.