While many institutions are actively and successfully recruiting women and minority students into the underrepresented fields of science, mathematics, and engineering, the faculty and financial resources to train adequate numbers of students must be found. Severe shortages already exist in some professions. (MSE)

Recent establishment of degree programs in quality and reliability at several leading American academic institutions provides evidence that quality is making ivory tower in-roads. One critical difference in the orientations of U.S. and Japanese firms is in the shouldering of responsibility for product/service quality and reliability. (MLW)

Describes composite materials and related industries. Discusses the few courses at the undergraduate level, the few schools offering the courses, alternatives to these courses, job opportunities, and future trends. (YP)

Discusses visual fatigue as a result of using video display units and reviews four typical methods of gathering self-report visual fatigue symptoms that appear within the human factors literature, including unstructured inquiries, forced-choice questionnaires, statements with Likert scales, and quasi-standardized health questionnaires. (33…

Describes an introductory course on data, statistics, and probability given to first-year electronic engineering students at the University of Hull (United Kingdom); it is taught via workshops using spreadsheets. The four components are data and graphs, random data and statistics, probability distributions, and probability and events. (AEF)

In response to declining enrollment and industry concerns about entry workers' skills and competencies, Drexel University (PA) has revamped its engineering curriculum to create a "technical liberal arts degree" that incorporates elements of other disciplines. Other institutions are experimenting with this and other approaches to…

Conducted a study to identify the factors that predict persistence and success in baccalaureate engineering programs. Reports that the variables that contributed significantly were freshman achievement test scores in algebra and chemistry, high school grade point average, degree of focus of science interests, motive for engineering choice, and…

In order to investigate interpersonal skills between librarians and engineering personnel, 140 surveys were distributed to engineering special librarians. Responses were used to evaluate interaction and potential communication barriers. Results indicated that library awareness problems and communication difficulties can be overcome through…

Examines production and cost structures of 28 Turkish universities to estimate their economies of scale and scope. Estimates multiproduct cost functions for teaching and research, examining social, health, and engineering sciences departments across 186 college faculties. Average incremental and marginal costs are highest for graduate instruction…

Presents an annotated bibliography of 48 outstanding children's science books. Entries are grouped under six headings. The appropriate age range is noted for each book. (BB)

A study at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) found a positive relationship between freshman (n=262) decidedness regarding academic major and both anticipated adjustment (prematriculation) and actual adjustment (postmatriculation), more academically than socially. Comparison with another study suggests the relationship is stronger in…

Reports on 15 tasks, as outlined by the Pipeline Implementation Committee of the American Society for Engineering Education, that are within the sphere of influence and the responsibility of university engineering deans for sustaining a vital corps of engineering practitioners and professors in an era of increasing technological change. (JJK)

Reviews the mathematics utilized in the design and construction of suspension bridges, in general, then illustrates these mathematical concepts by examining data associated with the Mackinac Bridge, which connects the two peninsulas of Michigan. Emphasizes the strong interest factor these gigantic structures have for students by attaching a sense…

Discussed is the idea that fundamental engineering research must be funded in both universities and industry to maintain U.S. competitiveness in the global market. The importance of an adequate level of fundamental engineering research in universities, industry, and government to which the education of undergraduate students, graduate students,…

Described is a senior project course that is intended to prepare graduates for solving problems in a real engineering environment. Students in electronics engineering technology may choose between an independent study option and a structured course in which they design and implement a project in a specified field. The scheduling, evaluation, and…