Ethan Shirley, a member of the Pantanal Partnership teaches a class to Brazilian students at a school in Congas. The U-M Water Systems team, which is part of the Pantanal Partnership organization on the UM campus, conducts a series of workshops in a village of Congas, on the edge of Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the word.  University of Michigan students teach kids from a local school the importance of clean drinking water and will build a sand based water filter together. They hope that the kids will in turn educate their parents about the water issues and that better water sanitation will help alleviate a number of serious diseases that plague the area.  Congas, Brazil.    Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Multimedia Producer

A group of Brazilian students in Congas is very excited to see American students at their school. The U-M Water Systems team, which is part of the Pantanal Partnership organization on the UM campus, conducts a series of workshops in a village of Congas, on the edge of Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the word.  University of Michigan students teach kids from a local school the importance of clean drinking water and will build a sand based water filter together. They hope that the kids will in turn educate their parents about the water issues and that better water sanitation will help alleviate a number of serious diseases that plague the area.  Congas, Brazil.    Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Multimedia Producer

UM student Kaitlin Ma breaks down the construction schemat of a sand based water filter for a group of Brazilian students in a small rural town of Congas. The U-M Water Systems team, which is part of the Pantanal Partnership organization on the UM campus, conducts a series of workshops in a village of Congas, on the edge of Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the word.  University of Michigan students teach kids from a local school the importance of clean drinking water and will build a sand based water filter together. They hope that the kids will in turn educate their parents about the water issues and that better water sanitation will help alleviate a number of serious diseases that plague the area.  Congas, Brazil.    Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Multimedia Producer

A Brazilian student smiles during a workshop at a school in Congas  conducted by the University of Michigan students. The U-M Water Systems team, which is part of the Pantanal Partnership organization on the UM campus, conducts workshops in a village of Chumbo, on the edge of Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the word.  University of Michigan students teach kids from a local school the importance of clean drinking water and will build a sand based water filter together. They hope that the kids will in turn educate their parents about the water issues and that better water sanitation will help alleviate a number of serious diseases that plague the area.  Congas, Brazil.    Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Multimedia Producer

Brazilian students in Chumbo rinse off the sand that will be used in a water filter. The U-M Water Systems team, which is part of the Pantanal Partnership organization on the UM campus, conducts workshops in this school in Chumbo, on the edge of Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the word.  University of Michigan students teach kids from a local school the importance of clean drinking water. They will also build a sand based water filter together. They hope that the kids will in turn educate their parents about the water issues and that better water sanitation will help alleviate a number of serious diseases that plague the area.    Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Multimedia Producer

A Brazilian student at a school in Congas drinks water out of a water fountain. The U-M Water Systems team, which is part of the Pantanal Partnership organization on the UM campus, conducts workshops in this school in Congas, on the edge of Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the word.  University of Michigan students teach kids from a local school the importance of clean drinking water and will build a sand based water filter together. They hope that the kids will in turn educate their parents about the water issues and that better water sanitation will help alleviate a number of serious diseases that plague the area.    Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Multimedia Producer

Ethan Shirley talks to Brazilian students at a school in Chumbo as they check out hair of a bee under a microscope. The U-M Water Systems team, which is part of the Pantanal Partnership organization on the UM campus, conducts workshops in a village of Chumbo, on the edge of Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the word.  University of Michigan students teach kids from a local school the importance of clean drinking water and will build a sand based water filter together. They hope that the kids will in turn educate their parents about the water issues and that better water sanitation will help alleviate a number of serious diseases that plague the area.  Chumbo, Brazil.    Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Multimedia Producer

Grace Hilbert (center) Michigan Engineering student checks on the Brazilian middle school students who are labeling the water they brought from their home wells near Pantanal. University of Michigan students will test the water for bacteria and other pollutants. The Water Systems team, which is part of the Pantanal Partnership organization on UM campus, conducts workshops in a village of Chumbo, on the edge of Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the word.  University of Michigan students teach kids from a local school the importance of clean drinking water and will build a sand based water filter together. They hope that the kids will in turn educate their parents about the water issues and better water sanitation will help alleviate a number of serious diseases that plague the area.    Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Multimedia Producer

umengineering:

The 2013 class of Michigan Engineering graduates entered the next phase of their lives with the Commencement Ceremony held Saturday, May 4 at Crisler Arena. The ceremony included laughter, tears and applause from students, friends and family - and an unexpected twist for many from the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering David C. Munson Jr.

“As many know, we offer alternatives to the traditional handshake here at Michigan Engineering. Fist bumps, hugs, high fives and yes, even chest bumps, are acceptable,” said Munson during the ceremony.

“Just remember, I’m old. I’m very, very old,” he added, laughing.

True to his word, the dean delivered dozens of chest bumps, as well as taking “selfies” (self-portraits with students via mobile devices), doing the do-si-do and even receiving a Hawain lei from one student. Students and families unaccustomed to the Dean’s friendliness were ecstatic about the performance, and conversations on Twitter using the #UMCOE13 hashtag showed their surprise.

Tweeted Maruping Mangwedi ‏(@Maru_123): “The Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Michigan, David Munson Jr, is so very cool #UMCOE13.”

> Watch video of the ceremony

Follow the conversation and add your own memories by using the #UMCOE13 hashtag.

Charlie Feng takes a nap during finals period in the Duderstadt Center on May 1, 2013.

Photo: Joseph Xu, Michigan Engineering Communications & Marketing

www.engin.umich.edu

North Campus on April 22, 2013 

Photo: Joseph Xu, Michigan Engineering Communications and Marketing

www.engin.umich.edu

Star Wars and Star Trek models mysteriously show up on North Campus on April 22, 2013. 

Photo: Joseph Xu, Michigan Engineering Communications and Marketing

www.engin.umich.edu

Students, staff, and faculty attend the Michigan Engineering Design Expo, showcasing the achievements of students in engineering design and prototyping, and demonstrating their applications of studies that solve real life problems on North Campus on April 18, 2013. 

Photo: Joseph Xu, Michigan Engineering Communications & Marketing

umengineering:

What’s the deal with fracking, and how is it affecting our water?

A few U-M players are trying to figure that out, and they held a town hall-style meeting last night to discuss it. Watch the meeting and check out this short documentary on the future of fracking and how it may affect you.