University Team News

Oilman Harold Hamm, CEO of Continental Resources Inc., told a University of Oklahoma dean last year that scientists studying links between oil drilling and earthquakes should be dismissed, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. Bloomberg, citing emails obtained through a public records request, said Hamm indicated he wanted to see some scientists at the Oklahoma Geological Survey, which is based at the university, let go. Scientists have said the reinjection of drilling and fracking wastewater into disposal walls could be tied to earthquakes. Bloomberg said a university spokeswoman denied any interference from Hamm, who has been a donor to the university. Bloomberg said no changes were made to the university's team of scientists.

Clemson University has recently taken the lead for making strides in large-scale wind turbine energy testing and construction, as the organization is in the process of completing their revolutionary new testing facility, the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI). This multimillion-dollar testing site is capable of performing unprecedented trials on large-scale wind turbines due to the help of HYTORC’s advanced and reliable industrial fasteners, the HYTORC Nut and the HYTORC Washer. The CURI building originally served as a U.S. Navy warehouse used to store nonhazardous materials, and upon completion the facility will become a multimillion-dollar testing site capable of performing unprecedented trials on large-scale wind turbines.

The World Ferry Safety Association (WFSA) has announced the results of its Second Annual international student design competition for a Safe Affordable Ferry. The goal of the design competition is to elicit new approaches for ferry design in the developing world as well as to encourage designers to enter this arena for which there is a need and a developing market. Ms. Roberta Weisbrod, WFSA’s Executive Director, said: “The Sewol disaster reminds us that these are all our children. The top prize of $5,000 is to be awarded to the student team from the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, which designed a double-hulled vessel using such standard and affordable features as mild (low carbon…

MOre than 100 young people from 11 universities from six countries on three continents gather to take part in the European International Submarine Races. The event organizers are celebrating National Women in Engineering Day by highlighting the strength the involvement of women had in teams. “Twenty percent of the participants are women, and we celebrate the complete equality of roles in the teams,” says Race Director, Prof William Megill. “Some will have taken a very active role in the design of their submarine…

Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK) announced that it has been welcomed on board as one of the sponsors of the Bath University Team (BURST) for this year’s European International Submarine Race (eISR) to be held July 7-11, 2014 in Gosport. AEUK said it decided to sponsor the team due to the technical expertise and promise that they have shown, and the sponsorship has enabled the team to purchase valuable tools and materials required in the run up to the races themselves. Graduates and Senior Management from AEUK have already made visits to the University to meet the team and learn a little more about the project and what they are working on. A company spokesman for AEUK said, "AEUK chose to sponsor the BURST team due to their passion and enthusiasm when we visited them at the University.

The theme of the 4th International RoboBoat Competition, sponsored by The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Foundation and the Office of Naval Research (ONR), was “The Four Elements.” Teams of students designed and built autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) that faced challenges involving earth, air, fire and water. The competition was held at The Founders Inn and Spa, Virginia Beach, VA, June 8-12, 2011 and included 15 teams representing colleges and universities around the world.