Civil engineers at Purdue University are helping the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology keep buildings safe from natural and human-caused disasters.

Congratulations to Prof. Jason Weiss, awarded the 2010 College of Engineering Potter Teaching Award, and Prof. Judy Liu, awarded the 2010 College of Engineering Advising Award.

For 35 years, Molly Stetler has supported the faculty and students of the structural engineering group. She is the person behind the scenes making sure that everyone can do what they have come to Purdue to do.

Prof. Ayhan Irfanoglu is among a contingent of experts traveling to Haiti on Feb. 28 to assess building damage and gather data to help determine how to build structures in the future that are better able to withstand powerful earthquakes.

The 2010 Surveying School, a two-day continuing education course in land surveying & geomatics engineering, will be held March 31 & April 1. More information and a registration form are available at eng.purdue.edu/CE/surveyschool

Dr. Srinivas Peeta is a recipient of the 2010 UniSA Distinguished Researcher Award from the University of South Australia (UniSA), awarded by the Australian Competitive Grants and Fellowships Development Committee.

Laura De Leon is an outstanding and tireless leader. Laura has spent the past year as President of the Purdue University Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity (PUHFH). PUHFH regularly funds and constructs a house for and with the Lafayette affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, as well as sending out about six Spring Break trips to work with Habitat affiliates throughout the U.S.

Troy Roder (BSCE '89) has been promoted to the position of Chairman & CEO of Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd., the company's largest subsidiary in its Global Engineering & Construction Group.

Congratulations to Professor Emeritus C. Douglas Sutton, recipient of the 2009 Medal of Honor from the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute. The Medal of Honor, PCI's Highest award, recognizes a member's outstanding service to the institute or contributions to the industry over a long period of time.

Former student Karol Kowalski received the award of the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure for his PhD dissertation titled "The Influence of Mixture Composition on the Noise and Frictional Characteristics of Flexible Pavements" which he completed at the Superpave Center in 2007.

Congratulations to Prof. Jan Olek for his appointment as a member of the Technical Activity Committee (TAC) of the American Concrete Institute. The TAC is responsible for overseeing all aspects of technical activities of the ACI, including activities of all technical committees and all publications.

Purdue Professors Steven Johnson (CE) and Michael Smolen (Center for the Environment) recently traveled to Alaska to establish a Native run program to monitor the seasonal and annual processes involved with beach modification along Hooper Bay.

A new bridge with a deck made of fiber-reinforced polymer composite material is being constructed in Tippecanoe County. The project is part of a federal initiative that encourages the use of materials that speed construction and reduce the life-cycle cost of bridges, and has been tested extensively at the Bowen Laboratory.

Dr. Hongxi Yin, an architect and mechanical engineer with profound knowledge in architectural history & advanced building technology, will share his green building experience on December 1, 2009 from 6:30-8:00pm in ARMS B071. The seminar will focus on the Green Associate and LEED AP exams, and recruiting 5-10 summer interns to work on LEED projects in China.

Three generations of one family share perspectives on Purdue civil engineering.

Prof. Thanos Tzempelikos is the Chair of the 1st International High Performance Buildings Conference at Purdue. The conference will take place on July 12-15, 2010 together with two other major conferences, organized by Ray W. Herrick Laboratories.