Seminars

Winter 2025

• Week 1 - January 10 - Lara Atkins, the Director of International Programs

  Lara Atkins, the Director of International Programs, will lead a discussion about term abroad opportunities for engineering students

  You will attend to learn more about Union's programs and to hear from Lara and ME students who have enjoyed a term abroad experience.

• Week 2 - January 17- Engineering Ethics

  Engineering Ethics discussion lead by Prof. Cortez

• Week 3 - WEDNESDAY- January 22- Novel Additive Manufacturing Processes for Innovative Design and Functional Production

  PLEASE NOTE* This Seminar will take place WEDNESDAY, January 22. Friday's seminar (01/24/2025) will not be held.

  Guest speaker Dr. Yujie Shan will present Novel Additive Manufacturing Processes for Innovative Design and Functional Production.

  Additive manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized design and production, but it still faces limitations in performance and functionality. This talk will provide an overview of current AM processes and the associated challenges. New techniques, including non-planar layer slicing, defect reduction in photopolymerization, and high-precision post-processing, will be discussed. We will also explore how the integration of advanced computing methods, such as digital twins, AI, and machine learning, can identify and address the limitations of 3D printing. By leveraging these innovations, AM can achieve enhanced precision, material efficiency, and functional capabilities. Real-world applications in 3D printing optics will be showcased, demonstrating how these advancements can solve complex engineering challenges and drive innovation across industries.

• Week 4 - January 31- Consistent Visual-Inertial State Estimation and Efficient Perception

  Guest speaker Chuchu Chen will present Consistent Visual-Inertial State Estimation and Efficient Perception.

  Visual-inertial systems with camera and IMU sensors are increasingly vital for navigation and
  spatial perception in platforms like mobile robots, extended reality (XR), and autonomous
  systems. These systems support applications such as autonomous driving, robotics, and
  augmented reality, enabling robots to sense, reason, and interact with their environments.
  At the core of these systems lies the state estimation algorithm, which is essential for accurately
  estimating the state (i.e., pose) of the sensing platform and understanding the environment.
  Despite significant progress in visual-inertial navigation systems (VINS) and VI-SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) over the past decade, critical aspects of system design remain underexplored, limiting their practical deployment. This talk will present advancements in consistent estimation algorithms, which not only improve the efficiency and accuracy of current methods but also enhance the safety and robustness of next-generation edge devices. Additionally, she will be discussing innovations in scene understanding and multi-sensor fusion, and both
  are crucial for achieving reliable autonomy in diverse applications.

• Week 5 - February 7- Senior Graduation Seminar

  Topics discussed include: the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) exam, departmental honors, and the senior exit survey.

  
  

• Week 6 - February 14- Advising week-No Seminar

  Seminar will not be held this week as it is advising week.

• Week 7 - February 21- Exploring Opportunities in Mechanical Engineering & Energy Performance

  Featured Speakers:

  Scott Janssen, Vice President of Sales & Energy at Danforth.

  Megan Kennedy, specializes in building energy performance and sustainable solutions.

  Dave Ricci, is the Marketing Director for the Mechanical Contractors Association of the Capital District (MCACD).

  The seminar will showcase the John W. Danforth Company's 130+ years of experience in delivering cutting-edge mechanical solutions across various industries. Key topics will include: their innovative approaches to pre-fabrication, virtual design, energy performance contracting, and the responsibilities of interns within the company.

• Week 8 - February 28- Exploring Diverse Career Paths in Mechanical Engineering at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory

  Mohamed Kaid, a recent Union College graduate and current engineer at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), who will provide an overview of NNL, including its mission, the opportunities it offers to Mechanical Engineering students, and his own experiences transitioning from intern to full-time employee.

  Katie Arthur, a Union College alumna with over two decades of experience at NNL, will share insights into her work in structural analysis and advanced steam generator design, her progression into management roles, and key lessons learned throughout her career.

  Jimmy Burns will discuss his unique journey from motorsports engineering to his current role in welding and materials engineering at NNL, highlighting his R&D efforts and how he has successfully applied skills from diverse industries.

  Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable insights into the diverse career paths available in Mechanical Engineering at NNL!

• Week 9 - March 7- Senior Research Projects

  Graduating ME seniors will discuss their research projects

• Week 10 - March 14- MER 498 Elevator Pitches

  MER 498 students will present their elevator pitches.