Step on the gas: New fuel cell design adds control, reduces complexity

When Princeton University engineers want to increase the power output of their new fuel cell, they just give it a little more gas – hydrogen gas, to be exact. Though the simple control mechanism was previously thought impossible, Jay Benziger, a professor of chemical engineering, and Claire Woo, who graduated in 2006, showed it can work.

Stock options may cost shareholders much less than previously thought

Controversial stock options for company executives may be much less costly to shareholders than current mathematical models suggest, according to research presented Jan. 5 by Tim Leung of Princeton’s Department of Operations Research and Financial Engineering.

At the annual meeting of the American Mathematical Society, Leung demonstrated that, in one scenario, stock options were worth about half of what they would be valued if one were to calculate their worth using a conventional method.

New machine forges research partnerships, a billionth of a meter at a time

Princeton’s newly acquired e-beam writer functions on a scale of billionths of a meter, but its reach extends across campus and beyond, enhancing the University’s nanotechnology facilities and enabling collaborative interdisciplinary research projects.

Socolow named to national ‘Grand Challenges’ committee

The National Academy of Engineering has named Robert Socolow, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, to a prestigious international committee to identify the greatest challenges and opportunities for engineering in the 21st century.

The committee’s membership also includes two graduates of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Wesley Harris *68 and Jackie Ying *91.

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Former associate dean Richard Golden *54 dies

Richard Golden, former associate dean for administration of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, died Jan. 24 at his home in Princeton at age 76.

During his time at the University, Golden served as the school’s chief operating officer as well as the editor of EQuad News. He oversaw the addition of the 70,000-square-foot J-Wing and the Friend Center for Engineering Education, which opened shortly after his retirement.

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Princeton Engineering to host leadership conference for black alumni

Princeton alumni from engineering and the sciences will gather on campus April 27-28 for a conference focusing on leadership and diversity in academia and industry.

“Leading Change in Science and Technology: A Princeton Engineering Conference for Black Alumni” will feature panels on current engineering research and education at Princeton, strategies for increasing diversity, connections between student leadership and leadership in the real world, and the interplay between technology and entrepreneurial endeavors.

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Energy executive urges bolder action on global warming

The truth about carbon emissions in the United States is far more than inconvenient, it’s terrifying, David Crane, a 1981 Princeton graduate and the chief executive officer and president of NRG Energy, told a standing-room-only crowd.

“The time to debate the cause of global warming is over,” said Crane, whose company owns power plants and is the nation’s 10th largest producer of electricity. “The time to decide what to do about it is now.”

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Check out EQN -- a new engineering blog from Princeton

The new blog EQN highlights faculty, students and alumni who, through innovation and leadership, are changing the world. You can email entries, share them on your favorite social bookmarking sites or subscribe to the blog's RSS feed.

Alumni in the news

From earning CEO of the Year to serving on the Cleaner Fossil Fuels Committee of the World Energy Council, Princeton Engineering alumni are making a difference and are being recognized for their work.

Alumni news

Princeton engineers receive accolades

A Fluids Engineering Award for 'outstanding contributions' to turbulence and fluid mechanics, the Schawlow Prize for laser research, and teaching accolades from the student Engineering Council are just a few of the honors recently bestowed on Princeton Engineering faculty.

Awards and honors

Princeton Engineering seeks website input

The School of Engineering is planning a complete redesign of its website. Your input about the current site and your ideas for a new site are an important part of the design process. Please take a minute or two to share your thoughts with us.

Complete survey

Photos by: Denise Applewhite, John Jameson and Teresa Riordan

Princeton Engineering News is emailed to alumni of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and others who request to be added to the distribution list. Alumni who want to unsubscribe, please send a message to alumrecs@princeton.edu with the word Engineering in the subject line. For non-alumni who want to be added to or removed from the list, please send email to eqn@princeton.edu.