UPCOMING EVENTS IN SACRAMENTO REGION

Chair - Dr Warren Smith

TOPIC: Fragile Genes & Autism – The Fragile X Family of Disorders: What Our Children Can Teach Us

DATE: Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

TIME: 6:00 p.m.

VENUE: California State University, Sacramento in the University Union Ballroom

Dr. Paul Hagerman will discuss current research using adult stem cells to develop models explaining neuronal dysfunction and develop targeted therapies for fragile X disorders.  Fragile X syndrome is the leading known genetic cause of autism, which is an inherited form of mental impairment.  It may also cause neurodegenerative disorders with features of dementia and loss of movement.

Hagerman is a leading expert in Fragile X syndrome and focused on the molecular genetics of neuro developmental and neurodegenerative diseases.  He received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University School of Medicine.  He currently works in the UC Davis Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and Neuro Therapeutics Research Institute (NTRI) Sacramento.

This lecture will be presented by the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Excellence.  The Topics in Regenerative Medicine Lecture Series is funded through a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) grant in collaboration with the UC Davis Stem Cell Program.  This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please visit the Center for STEM Excellence website at Current Lecture Information <www.csus.edu/stem/ STEM%20Lecture%20Series/Current%29Lecture.html>.  Directions and a parking permit can be located on the postcard link on this page.

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California Smart Grid Center Lecture Series

IEEE Sacramento Valley Section * CSUS Construction Management Program * Association of Energy Engineers

Topic:  LEED Construction Challenges: Maximizing Energy Efficiency with Controls

Speakers:
Justin Reginato, Assistant Professor of Construction Management –Sacramento State University;
Brian Lynaugh, Special Project Executive – Direct Digital Controls, Inc. in Sacramento;
Linda Hafar, Director of Sustainability and Plant Operations – Sacramento State University

The presentation will address leveraging intelligent infrastructure to improve how the LEED Gold building control system operates.  There will also be a discussion about the risks general contractors face when constructing a building that qualifies for Gold or Platinum certification along with relatively lower and higher cost LEED point options.  The primary component of Sacramento State University’s Smart Grid grant from SMUD, which is the installation of an open protocol energy management system that optimizes HVAC systems in older buildings, will be highlighted as well. After the presentation guests will participate in a tour of the facility to further examine its energy efficiency features.

  
Speakers Biographies:
Mr. Reginato has 10 years of experience as a design engineer, construction manager and estimator.  He is also an accredited LEED Green Associate.  Most recently, he worked with HMH Builders, which is one of the Sacramento region’s greenest contractors.  Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Construction Management at Sacramento State University with a focus on building estimating and scheduling.

Mr. Lynaugh has over 30 years of experience in the controls industry and held positions in the areas of engineering, programming, performance contracting, energy auditing, technician resource and project management and sales.  Now, he is the Special Project Manager for Direct Digital Controls, Inc. in Sacramento, which concentrates on system integration of major control systems such as Johnson Controls, Honeywell, TAC, ALC, Liebert and ModBus systems. 
Ms. Hafar is a registered mechanical engineer, certified energy manager and green building engineer.  She is passionate about sustainability and has been engaged in energy conservation and other aspects of sustainability for more than 25 years.  She is both the manager of the Smart Grid project and Director of Sustainability and Plant Operations at Sacramento State University.

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Parking structure III is the closest to the WELL.

Topic:  PG&E Electrical High Voltage and High Current Tests labs and Smart Grid Support Testing

Speaker:  David Bradley, Supervising Electrical Engineer - ATS, Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Date: Friday, Sep  30th, 2011

Time: 12:00 to 13:30 pm

Venue: 2nd floor Orchard Suite II and III, University union, Sacramento State University

PG&E has a unique test facility and organization located at the San Ramon Technical Center, called Applied Technology Services (ATS).  ATS is a multidisciplinary team of 100 engineers, scientists, and technicians committed to delivering practical solutions to the most challenging utility problems. ATS also provides high value services that help clients proactively avoid future problems by specifying equipment, materials and methods that are best practices in the industry.  This facility consists of a High Voltage Dome capable of testing to 720,000v, a High Current Yard capable of testing to 80,000a, and an in construction Distribution Test Yard with 3 simulated 21,000v distribution circuits for utility field simulations.

Overview of these test facilities and numerous test projects will be discussed.  Also a discussion regarding the recent and near term testing associated with Distribution Automation systems and equipment associated with a new Smart Grid.  Testing has been done on such equipment as Intelligent Line Reclosers, Commercial scale Inverters, Underground fault sensors, and Automatic Fault Location and Service Restoration systems. Specific discussion regarding a proposed joint effort of the California Smart Grid Center, Sacramento State Electrical Engineering, and PG&E to look at the impacts of Volt-VAR control of the power distribution system, and the integration of renewable resources Distributed Generation (DG) at high penetration levels into the distribution system.

SPEAKER BIO:

Mr.  David Bradley P.E. ,  Supervising Electrical Engineer ,  is the lead for the Electrical unit of ATS consisting of 19 Electrical Engineers and Technicians. ATS Electric has completed numerous projects including equipment testing and acceptance, event recreation, and incident investigations.  Mr. Bradley’s unit has experience in Distributed Generation, Distribution Automation, and Inverter equipment. They have completed numerous Control System and Integration projects as well as Data Acquisition projects .

  
Mr. Bradley joined PG&E in 1980 and has held a variety of Engineering and Operating positions.  He has over 25 years of experience as a Distribution and Transmission Engineer and Supervisor.  He has also served as PG&E’s Manager for its Vegetation Management program, and Manager for New Customer Connections.  He has a total of 31 years of utility operations background. Mr. Bradley holds a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City, SD.  He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of California.  He is a member of the IEEE – Power Engineering Society.

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Topic:Net Zero Solar Community Technical and Economic Integration

Speaker: Gerald Braun Renewable Integration Program Director, University of California at Davis

Date: Friday, Sep 16th, 2011

Time: 12:00 to 13:30 pm

Venue: Hinde Auditorium, Sacramento State University

New technologies, tools and solutions are changing the landscape of energy grids globally and in California. More renewable power plants are feeding in at the high voltage transmission level. Most of the new ones cannot be dispatched by grid operators in traditional ways. To further challenge planners and operators, electricity grids designed for radial power flow out from the center are being used to collect electricity at the fringes, resulting in bi-directional power flow in distribution circuits. More power is feeding in from behind utility meters as “feed-in” tariffs and solar net metering tariffs are implemented and expanded. Most of the new sources behind the meter could not be dispatched even if tools and experience existed to make it possible. An increasing number of pilot and commercial projects around the US will help generate the necessary tools and experience to control and protect the more complex and dynamic local grids of the future.

One such project is on the UC Davis Campus. The (130 acre) first phase of this mixed housing and commercial development will combine advanced energy efficient design features with a high efficiency solar electricity system sized to meet all of the initial phase’s electricity needs. Already home to 800 students, it is being expanded to provide housing for 2,000 students, an education center of Sacramento City College for Los Rios Community College District, recreation and study facilities for residents, and a village square surrounded by neighborhood-serving retail. Over the next few years, 343 single-family homes will be built for sale to faculty and staff. Ultimately, the project will provide housing for more than 4,000 people. West Village experience will shed light and offer solutions to grid impacts utilities must accommodate as solar electricity capacity is interconnected with utility distribution circuits in larger amounts and in localized net zero configurations.

SPEAKER BIO:

Mr. Gerald Braun, Renewable Integration Program Director with the University of California at Davis, leads projects focused on the integrating principles and technologies of sustainable 21st century energy systems. His team’s work is helping meet California’s aggressive goals for renewable energy deployment. Gerry’ comprehensive knowledge of energy markets and utilities and clean energy supply technologies is derived from decades of experience with leading firms and agencies such as Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Bechtel, BP Solar, Standard Solar, Southern California Edison Company, the US Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission. He has directed major US and California energy R&D programs and has also held senior executive, marketing and business development roles in global and local solar companies. He holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and completed US Navy professional training in nuclear engineering. He holds two advanced degrees in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Topic: Renewable Resource Integration

Speaker: Jim McIntosh, Director, Executive Operations Advisor , California ISO

Date: Friday, May 13th, 2011

Time: 12:00 to 13:30 pm

Venue: California Suite, University Union, Sacramento State university

Today’s discussion will be focusing on the challenges that the CAISO faces in our support of the policy initiatives that are dramatically changing our generation mix.  The discussion will review the impact to CAISO relative to these initiatives and changes to the grid that will or need to occur to support these proposals.  The rapid increase in wind and solar generation has already impacted the day to day operations of the Control Room and as the penetration levels increase we also have increased complexity in how we operate the Grid from hour to hour.  He will spend some time discussing the impact also at the distribution level relative to home solar, plug in electric vehicles, and proposed demand side responses.

SPEAKER BIO:

As California ISO Director and Executive Operations Advisor, James McIntosh is working to solve the operational challenges of renewable resource integration.  He is also involved with creating renewable interconnection standards to meet grid reliability requirements. Mr. McIntosh oversaw the design of the critical asset wing of the new ISO control center and brought on line the first renewables dispatch desk in the United States. In helping to create the most modern control center in the world, Mr. McIntosh also facilitated a unique partnership with Google.

Prior to joining the ISO as the Director of Scheduling in 2000, Mr. McIntosh worked for Pacific Gas and Electric Company for 29 years in various capacities including grid operations, hydro system, steam plant operations and substation operations. He is certified by NERC as a Reliability Coordinator.  He is currently on the Advisory Board for the University of Montana Power Engineering School.

Mr. McIntosh currently serves as Vice Chairman of WECC’s Joint Synchronized Information Subcommittee. Between 2005 and 2010, Mr. McIntosh represented the ISO on the NERC Operating Committee and is the past Chair of the NERC Interchange Authority Subcommittee. In addition, he has served as the ISO representative to the WECC Operating Committee and he represented WECC on the NERC Variable Generation Task Force. Mr. McIntosh is the past Chair of the WECC Interchange Subcommittee. 

Mr. McIntosh is a 30-year member of the American Power Dispatcher’s Association.  He holds a B.A. in Business Management from Saint Mary’s College.

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Topic: To Each His Own: How engineers, scientists and doctors are using your own cells to create personalized stem cell medicine

Speaker: John Chapman, Ph.D., President and Founder, Stem Cell Partners, LLC
                 Adjunct Professor, Sacramento State Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Date: Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Time: 6:00 pm onwards

Venue: University Union Ballroom III, Sacramento State university

Dr. Chapman will describe how treatment with autologous stem cells offers potential benefits beyond those of standard medical care, including the potential for repair and/or regeneration of damaged organs. Autologous cell therapy is at the forefront of the emerging field of regenerative medicine. In autologous therapy, a patient’s own cells are the therapeutic agent for treating serious diseases and injuries. The most common sources of therapeutic cells are blood, bone marrow and, surprisingly, fat tissue. Cellular therapy presents exciting challenges and opportunities for engineers and scientists to work with physicians to create new tools to remove, purify, expand, activate and deliver cell products.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Center for STEM Excellence website at http://www.csus.edu/stem/eventsRegenSecond.stm.

Directions and a parking permit can be found on the postcard link on the site.

Questions can be directed to The Center for STEM Excellence at (916) 278-2789 or e-mail stem@csus.edu .

For more information on the Topics in Regenerative Medicine lecture series, contact Dr. Thomas Peavy at trpeavy@csus.edu.

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IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS)

PRESENTS

Topic: GOING VIRAL: Using Viruses and Bone Marrow Stem Cells in the Fight Against Diseases

Speaker: Dr. Donald Kohn, Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics & Pediatrics (UCLA)

Date: Tuesday 19th April 2011

Time: 18:00Hrs

Venue: Redwood Room, University Union, CSUS

The next presentation in the Topics in Regenerative Medicine lecture series at Sacramento State, is the third of four lectures on regenerative medicine to be held this academic year. The title of the talk is "Going Viral: Using viruses and bone marrow STEM cells in the fight against diseases" presented by Dr. Donald Kohn, Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics & Pediatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Bone marrow from diseased patients can be removed and the damaged gene within the hematopoietic stem cells (the progenitors for blood and immune cells found in the bone marrow) can be repaired by using retro-viruses to deliver the corrected gene. These stem cells can then be transplanted back into the patient with a greater probability of transplantation success (limited immune response) as compared to donor cells since the modified stem cells were derived from the host. Dr. Kohn will talk about his research on using viruses to deliver genes to the hematopoietic stem cells and methods to ensure that the viral vectors his team uses are both effective in delivering the corrected gene and safe for use in the clinical setting. In addition, he will discuss his current clinical trials using these new and improved virus vectors to cure a severe immune deficiency disorder (SCID) and sickle cell anemia.

Presented by the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Center for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Excellence, the Topics in Regenerative Medicine lectures are funded through a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) grant in collaboration with the UC Davis Stem Cell Program. This event is free and open to the public. The postcard/parking permit advertising the event is attached. Please forward it along to all interested parties.

Contact Information:

The Center for STEM Excellence
Ph no: (916) 278-2789
E-mail: stem@csus.edu .

For more information on the Topics in Regenerative Medicine lecture series, contact Dr. Thomas Peavy at trpeavy@csus.edu.

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Topic: Smart Grid Cyber Security

Speaker: Dr.Erfan Ibrahim, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

Date: Friday, April 8th 2011

Time: 12:00 noon to 14:00 Hrs

Venue: 1001 Mariposa Hall , CSUS

Dr. Ibrahim's presentation is entitled, An Overview of Industry Drivers and Overview of Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Views and R&D Program. He will discuss projects of the Department of Energy on cyber security primarily focused on the National Electric Sector Cyber Security Organization Resources (NESCOR).

Speaker Bio:

Erfan Ibrahim is a Technical Executive in the Intelligrid program area of the Power Delivery & Utilization Sector. He manages the Security Program within Intelligrid that covers transmission, distribution and end use cyber security issues.  In October 2010, Dr. Ibrahim was made the EPRI lead on the Department of Energy funded NESCOR (National Electric Sector Cyber Security Organization Resources) project – a 3 year public private partnership established to secure the electric sector. He also leads the Intelligrid research program that focuses on the communications and systems management for the utility Smart Grid with particular emphasis on Home Area Networks (HAN), Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Internet based Wide Area Networking.     

Before joining EPRI, Dr. Ibrahim founded and managed The Bit Bazaar LLC (TBB), a full service IT and business consulting firm, offering services to clients in the High Tech, Financial Services, and Energy sectors.  At TBB Dr. Ibrahim focused on communications and cyber security issues with a particular emphasis on aligning the IT goals of his clients with their business goals for sustained competitive advantage.

Prior to establishing The Bit Bazaar LLC, Dr. Ibrahim’s career included the following positions: VP of Sales & Marketing at Jyra Research, Product Manager for Network Management at Pacific Bell Network Integration (now AT&T), Science and Math Lecturer at National University, Nuclear Fusion Research Engineer at UCLA and Plasma Physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Lab.

Dr. Ibrahim received a Ph. D. in Nuclear Engineering from University of California Berkeley, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas Austin, and a B.S. Honors in Physics from Syracuse University (Suma Cum Laude).

Dr. Ibrahim is a Phi Beta Kappa, a Tau Beta Pi, Who’s Who amongst American Colleges & Universities and Who’s Who amongst IT professionals.

Email: eibrahim@epri.com

Website: http://intelligrid.epri.com/

This event is free and open to the public. Please forward it along to all interested parties.

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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
Engineering & Computer Science Career Day 2011

Date:      Friday, 11th March 2011

Time:      8:00am to 15:00pm

Venue:   Ballroom, University Union, CSUS

Career Day 2011 hosted by the College of Engineering and Computer Science will be on March 11th. We have 50+ companies attending the daylong event in the University Union Ballroom (8 am to 3 pm). We also have a series of seminars where you will get hiring info and networking opportunities.
         - 57 companies attending career day
                   - 26 Civil Engineering majors
                   - 21 Construction Management majors
                   - 21 Computer Engineering majors
                   - 24 Computer Science majors
                   - 25 Engineering-Electrical & Electronic majors
                   - 23 Mechanical Engineer majors
                   -  7  Mechanical Engineer Tech. majors

1356 openings

Major companies:   Accenture / Chevron / GE Energy / FBI / Lattice Semiconductor / SMUD and many more. Please click on the link below to see the complete list of companies:    http://www.ecs.csus.edu/career/career-day/job-fair.php

Companies can register for the career day 2011 by clicking on the link:    http://www.ecs.csus.edu/career/career-day/

Please click on the link below volunteer for the career day 2011:    http://www.ecs.csus.edu/career/help/

How to get the most out of career day?   http://www.ecs.csus.edu/career/career-day/career-day.html

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California Smart Grid Center Lecture Series

Topic: Smart Meters and Smart Grid: An Electrical Consumer Perspective

Speaker: Prof. Patrick E. Mantey, UC Santa Cruz

Date: Friday, 18th Feb 2011

Time: 12:00 to 13:30 Hrs

Venue: Forest Suite, 2nd floor, University Union, CSUS

“Smart meters” are being installed by utilities across the world. In the electrical system deployments of “smart meters”, much of the consumer reaction, as indicated by extensive press coverage, has been highly negative. This is very unfortunate. This talk will not address the causes of this negative reaction, but rather will address the potential benefits to the consumer of “smart meters” and a truly “smart gird”.

For the user to respond effectively to variable energy pricing, such as Time-of-Use (TOU) and Critical Peak Pricing (CPP), exacerbated by the tiered structure of rates created by the utilities and the PUC, and with the increasing presence of renewable sources in the consumer’s micro-grid, requires that the user know what energy is being used – and by what appliances -- and also what is the instantaneous cost of that energy. Load shedding and load shifting are two strategies available to users who have the right information, and with local storage complementing the renewable sources, this adds to the dimensionality of their decision space. We will focus on the information that “smart meters” can provide to consumers, emphasizing the value to the residential customer and to small businesses, farms and agribusiness who desire to minimize their cost of energy. In addition to time-management of energy use to minimize costs, some other potential uses of smart meter data benefitting the consumer will be mentioned.

On the other side of the “smart meter”, the distribution system of the utility is also of real interest and concern to the consumer. Power quality and voltage affect equipment life, as well as the consumer’s environment. Service interruptions, and the time to identify their causes and to effect restoration, are of great interest to consumers. With the full deployment of “smart meters”, utilities have a revolutionary increase in data available about the distribution system operation, and this data can be used (“mined”) to identify potential and developing problems, localize points of failure, and reduce time required for service restoration.

This event is free and open to the public. The postcard/parking permit advertising the event is attached. Please forward it along to all interested parties.

Speaker Bio:

Patrick Mantey is Jack Baskin Professor of Computer Engineering, Director of CITRIS and Director, Information Technology Institute, at the University of California at Santa Cruz, and was founding dean of the Baskin School of Engineeering at UC Santa Cruz. His research and publications are in the areas of digital signal processing, sensor systems and networks, measurement databases, real-time monitoring and control, image and multimedia systems, geographic information systems, image processing, document systems and decision support systems. The REINAS project he led (1992-97), funded by the Office of Naval Research, pioneered the use of a sensor network using Internet protocols to gather data from a diverse and geographically distributed network of meteorological sensors. Prior to joining the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1984 to launch its first engineering program, he was a senior manager at IBM (Almaden) Research. Earlier at IBM Research, he was on the team for a major research study of electric power systems operations, management and reliability, where he worked on power system architecture for reliability, with results and publications that included new methods for dynamic control of generation and line flows, and tools and algorithms for distribution system monitoring and protective relaying. He received his B.S. from University Notre Dame, M.S. from University of Wisconsin and Ph.D. from Stanford University, all in Electrical Engineering. He is a member of Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi and a Fellow of the IEEE.

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Topic:              Voltage Regulators and Reclosers
Speaker:         Paulo Albuquerque, Regional Power Systems Engineer
Date:               Thursday, December 9, 2010
Time:              6:00pm – 8:00pm
Venue:            Hinde Auditorium – Sacramento State, University Union, 1st Floor

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IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS)

PRESENTS

Topic: A Capacity for Healing: Treating injuries with electricity

Speaker: Dr. Min Zhao, Professor of Dermatology and Ophthalmology at UC Davis

Date: Thursday 18th Nov 2010

Time: 18:00Hrs

Venue: Redwood Room, University Union, CSUS

Electrical signals may offer a powerful clinical tool in wound healing and regeneration. Electric fields were detected at human skin wounds over 150 years ago and occur naturally at wounds and damaged tissues. The endogenous electrical signals regulate cells division, migration and perhaps differentiation.

Applied electric fields have been shown to control regeneration polarity in flatworms, in limb and tail regeneration in amphibians, and in ocular lens regeneration in rodents. One unexpected finding is that the electric fields play an overriding guidance role in directing cell migration in epithelial wound healing. Electrical signals also guide stem cell migration and division. The use of molecular, genetic and imaging techniques has provided significant insights into cellular and molecular responses to this “unconventional” signal.

Presented by the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Center for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Excellence, the Topics in Regenerative Medicine lectures are funded through a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) grant in collaboration with the UC Davis Stem Cell Program.
This event is free and open to the public. The postcard/parking permit advertising the event is attached. Please forward it along to all interested parties.

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Speaker:         Koullis Pitsillides, Owner of EndoSomatic Systems, Inc.
Date:               Thursday, November 4, 2010
Time:              6:00pm – 8:00pm
Venue:            Hinde Auditorium – Sacramento State, University Union, 1st Floor

EndoGearTM was designed to address the unique challenges of physiological measurement in animal species in their own environments with minimal experimenter intervention after implant. The benefits of the system are applicable to familiar laboratory species such as dogs, pigs and rabbits, and have been put to the test in exotic species for comparative physiology studies in alligators, giraffes and fish. Compact size, flexible configuration for multiple probes and low battery powered operation make this fully implantable device compelling for long term measurements.

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Sacramento Clean Tech Showcase

Date:      Tuesday, October 26 2010
Time:      9:00am to 6:30pm
Venue:   Sacramento State | University Union

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Topic:                Smart Grid Cyber Security Issues
Speaker:           Isaac Ghansah
Date:                  Friday, October 29, 2010
Time:                 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm 
Location:          Sacramento State University, Union 
                           Foothill Suite, 6000 J Street Sacramento, CA 95819 
 
Abstract:

The smart grid will use automated meters, two-way digital communications technology, and advanced sensors to save energy, improve electricity efficiency and reliability. Use of these systems exposes the electrical grid to potential cyber security and privacy risks.

For instance, there have been media reports of fears that a hacker could gain control of thousands, even millions, of meters and shut them off simultaneously; or a hacker might be able to dramatically increase or decrease the demand for power, disrupting the load balance on the local power grid and causing a blackout.

This seminar will discuss smart grid security and privacy issues with the view to answering the following key questions among others

Attendees will receive up-to-date comprehensive view of the smart grid cyber security landscape, including the recent Stuxnet malware which was specifically designed to attack SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems.

Speaker:

Isaac Ghansah is the cyber security lead for California Smart Grid Center and co-lead of the R&D group for NIST SGIP (Smart Grid Interoperability Panel) CSWG (Cyber Security Working Group). He is responsible for coordinating meetings regarding R&D issues for smart grid cyber security. This group produced the R&D chapter in NISTIR 7628 specifying Smart Grid cyber security guidelines. Dr. Ghansah also participates in Open Smart Grid meetings, is currently doing research on smart grid cyber security issues for California Energy Commission, and is also Director of the Center for Information Assurance and Security (CIAS) at CSUS. CIAS is a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Security Education, designated by National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. His recent research interests are in smart grid cyber security, computer forensics, network security, and dependable distributed systems. He has been teaching and doing research in the areas of Computer Networks, Distributed Systems, and Computer Interfacing for more than 23 years, all at California State University Sacramento (CSUS), where he is Professor of Computer Science and Computer Engineering. He received his PhD in Computer Engineering from Iowa State University.

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Topic: Breathe Easy: Using STEM Cells to Cure Respiratory Diseases Speaker: Dr. Martin Birchall Date: 21st Oct 2010 Time: 18:00 – 19:00 Hrs Venue: Redwood Room, University Union, CSUS

The Sacramento State STEM Public Lecture Series welcomes Dr. Martin Birchall from the University College London. His talk titled "Breathe Easy: Using STEM Cells to Cure Respiratory Diseases" will address his research to cure respiratory diseases by transplanting tissues and organs derived from stem cell technologies.

Breathing is one of the most fundamental functions of mammalian life. The respiratory tract represents the interface between the body and the atmosphere around us, and thus represents a first line of defense against inhaled challenges such as potential allergens, pollutants and cigarette smoke. Sequentially, it is responsible for filtering, humidifying air (nose), speech and protecting the respiratory tract from inhalation of ingested materials and saliva (larynx), conducting air and mucus (tracheobronchial tree), and gas exchange (alveoli). Disorders affecting these functions can have devastating effects on the quality and duration of life.

Currently, conventional treatments are severely limited to cure respiratory disorders. Regenerative medicine has considerable potential to bridge this gap between what present therapy can achieve and the restoration of normal functions. For example, the larynx is a complex organ responsible for protecting the lungs from aspiration. Complete replacement will require the ability to engineer complete neuromuscular units, but since the larynx is small, this should be achievable. However, the respiratory organ on which regenerative medicine has had the most impact is the trachea. In 2008, Birchall's group (in collaboration with Macchiarini), restored normal function (and life) to a 30-year-old mother whose tracheobronchial tree had been damaged by tuberculosis. A stem-cell based, tissue-engineered airway implant was prepared and transplanted with immediate normalization of lung function. In 2010, they grafted a trachea into an 11-year old boy that had congenital tracheal stenosis (born with narrow airway) which has had excellent early results. Great progress is being made using stem cells to cure respiratory diseases; however the future will depend on a more complete understanding of stem cell biology in normal and diseased lungs.

 
Presented by the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Center for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Excellence, this free lecture is supported by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Speaker Bio:
Born in Lancashire UK, Martin Birchall received his medical degree from the University of Cambridge and then trained in London, Liverpool and Brisbane to further specialize himself as an ENT surgeon (ear, nose and throat). He subsequently studied at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School and was the first surgeon to be awarded a Wellcome Trust Clinical Leave Fellowship in 2001.   As a senior ENT lecturer in Bristol, he was appointed the Chair of Head and Neck Surgery in Liverpool in 2003 and subsequently became the inaugural John Farndon Professor of Surgery in Bristol in 2006. He has since moved to take up a position as Professor of Laryngology at University College London and to work as a consultant specializing in disorders of the voice and throat at the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital in 2009. His clinical and research interests are in laryngeal disorders including laryngitis, stenosis, tracheostomy, vocal cord paralysis, problems with swallowing and lumps in the throat, and advanced endoscopic and outpatient procedures.

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Contact Information:

STEM Scholars Series
Sharon Puricelli
Coordinator, Center for STEM Excellence
E-mail: stem@csus.edu
(916) 278-2789

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From National Defense to Household Utility: Local Engineering Breakthroughs in Autonomous Technology
October 5th 6pm CSUS

From National defense to household utility, autonomous technology breakthroughs are freeing up human interaction from mundane & risky tasks and leading us to a more efficient & safer world. Local experts will be providing insight into the latest trends in autonomous technology and applications: how autonomous technology helps, when does it hinder, and can we become too dependent on autonomous technology?

  
Date:                     Tuesday October 5, 2010
Time:                     6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Location:               Sacramento State University, Union
                               Ballroom 3 6000 J Street Sacramento, CA 95819
 
Panelists:
Dr. Jose J. Granda                 Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering., CSUS
                                               NASA spokesperson, Recognized expert in Mechatronics, UAV controls

Dr. Ronald A. Hess               Professor, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, UC Davis
                                               Recognized authority in automatic control and vehicle dynamics

Dan Freidfeld                         CTO and Founder, Visicon Technologies
                                               Recognized expert in automation of medical devices
 
Cost:

General Admission:  EARLY BIRD $15 includes $6 CSUS parking pass   Register By September 29th 
$15 AFTER Sep 29 with no parking pass
Student $5 (will verify at check in—please have student ID)
Student Members of IEEE are Free (student ID & proof of membership at check in)
For more information visit www.sarta.org

SARTA’s HiTEC Engineering Connect Program 
In 2009, SARTA leadership along with the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), and Sacramento State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science launched SARTA’s latest technology initiative: HiTEC (High Tech Engineering Connect).  HiTEC is engineering focused forums for engineers, organized by engineers.

Supported by

             PlanarMag                                    Kollabra Consulting                       Akros Silicon                             Synapsense

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Topic: Watts on the Horizon: Smart Grid delivers electricity efficiently Speaker: Emir Jose Macari Date: 21st Sep 2010 Time: 18:00 – 19:00 Hrs Venue: Redwood room, University Union, CSUS

Abstract:

Dr. Emir Jose Macari, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Sacramento State, will deliver the first presentation of the fall 2010 Sacramento State STEM Scholars Lecture Series. His talk, titled "Watts on the Horizon: Smart Grid delivers electricity efficiently," addresses the role of the California Smart Grid Center in developing technological solutions to managing peak power demands and aiding in energy conservation projects in the Sacramento region.

In mid 2008, Sacramento State launched an important initiative that would leverage on three major components from the College of Engineering and Computer Science: The only Power Engineering program in the state of California, the Center for Information Assurance and Security (Cyber Security) and the Center for Clean Energy. These three programs: power electrical engineering, communications networking and cyber security, and clean energy technology (solar, wind and biofuels) form the main components of what has come to be known as the Smart Grid.

During the summer of 2009, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) along with partners at Sacramento State and Los Rios Community College System formed an alliance called the Sacramento Smart Grid Initiative and began to work to propose various projects to transform the Sacramento Region into a Smart Grid hub. Late last year the US Department of Energy announced the award of $127.5 Million to SMUD and its Smart Grid partners helping to fund this transformative initiative for our region. This year, the California Energy Commission announced the award of $2 Million to support the formation of Sacramento State's California Smart Grid Center and soon thereafter, the US Department of Energy announced the award of an additional $1 Million to the Center for the development of a well educated Smart Grid workforce. Dr. Macari will discuss this major initiative, explain the fundamentals of the Smart Grid and outline the various projects that are underway in our region.

Speaker:

Dr. Emir Jose Macari is Dean of Engineering and Computer Science at the California State University, Sacramento. Prior to coming to Sac State he was Dean of Science and Technology at the University of Texas at Brownsville. Dr. Macari worked at the National Science Foundation as Program Director of the Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology in 2001-02. He is the recipient of numerous national and international honors for his contributions to science and engineering education and research, including being elected to the National Academy of Engineering of Mexico in 2003 and Mexican Academy of Science in 2006. Dr. Macari received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1989 where he worked on a NASA sponsored project that resulted in experiments aboard three Space Shuttle missions to test granular materials in a microgravity environment.

For more information please visit www.csus.edu/stem

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Topic: Smart Grid Technology Implementation

Speaker: Chris Knudsen

Date: Wednesday, June 30^th, 2010

Time: 12:00 (noon) – 2:00 pm

Venue: Alumni Center, Sacramento State University

Abstract:

The power grid was designed more than 50 years ago and until recently, has not been changed much. Due to the growing demand of energy, there have been many new innovations where the new technology is making it possible to increase the efficiency. By changing components of the electric grid, it can be made to be smarter and more efficient than it was before. A smart grid delivers electricity from suppliers to consumers using two-way digital technology to control appliances at consumers' homes to save energy, reduce cost and increase reliability and transparency.

This seminar will cover the issues with smart grid technology implementation and answers the following key questions:

Due to smart grid’s implementation, other issues need to be considered such as system stability and many legislative issues.

Attendees will benefit from a comprehensive update on smart grid initiatives and electrical grid changes associated with the smart grid rollout.

Speaker:

Chris Knudsen is the director of the Technology Innovation Center at Pacific Gas & Electrical Company. Chris is responsible for integrating advanced technologies into PG & E’s electric grid as well as leading labs and pilot programs to facilitate development of nascent Smart Grid systems. Chris is also the chair in the Open Smart Grid Technical Committee within UCAIug, a non-profit corporation focused on assisting users and vendors in the deployment of standards for real time applications. Chris has been highly engaged in the NIST process, leading a diverse coalition of industry stakeholders to converge standards around elements of Smart grid. Chris is an ideal candidate for the Smart Grid Interoperability Projects Governing Board (SGIPGB) because of his area of expertise in renewable resources integration into the energy system.

Chris has over 20 years of experience in communications technology development, networking, company start-up, and senior management. Chris is an exceptionally strong technical leader with broad experience in wireless data network, AMI systems, internet data, radar processing, telecommunications, wireless consumer products, and electronic intelligence systems for military applications. Chris’s work experience includes Intel, Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital, vice President of Hardware Engineering for Metricom’s Ricochet, and founder of a start-up company focused on developing an energy efficient home automation system. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Davis and Master of Technology Management at Santa Clara University.

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