News & Events

As engineers and future engineers, you play a vital role in shaping a sustainable future, and Plastic Free July is an excellent opportunity to step up to that challenge. This global movement encourages millions of people to refuse single-use plastics and as engineering students and faculty, your insights can amplify its impact through research, innovative solutions and conscious consumption.

Plastic pollution is a growing crisis. In 2023, over 89 million participants across more than 190 countries took part in Plastic Free July, leading to a reduction of 240 million kilograms of plastic consumption globally (Plastic Free Foundation, 2023). While this achievement is monumental, the reality is that plastic pollution is projected to triple by 2040, if not urgently addressed (Plastic Free Foundation, 2023). As engineers, your expertise in materials science, waste management and innovative design could be instrumental in this fight.

The Role of Engineers in Reducing Plastic Pollution

Engineering plastics are among the most used materials in high-performance applications such as heat and chemical resistance, mechanical strength and flame retardance (Yildizhan, 2021). However, addressing plastic waste involves reducing both commodity and engineering plastics. Mechanical recycling offers one pathway, yet it requires innovations to improve material quality post-recycling. By finding ways to enhance the recyclability of engineering plastics, you can contribute to more sustainable production methods (Rabiu and Jaeger-Erben, 2023).

Resources at the Alma Jordan Library

The Alma Jordan Library is an invaluable resource for those interested in the science and impact of plastics. You can access the Library's online catalogue UWIlinC to search for research materials on engineering plastics, their impact on the environment and sustainability practices to aid in improving recycling processes.

Selected Books and Journal Articles

 

 

 

Plastics Engineering (4th Edition)

Crawford, R. J.; Martin, P. J.

2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plastics and the Environment / edited by R M Harrison, R E Hester

R. M. Harrison editor.; R. E Hester (Ronald E.) editor.; R Khester

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brydson's Plastics Materials (8th Edition)

Gilbert, Marianne

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manufacturing of Nanocomposites with Engineering Plastics

Vikas Mittal

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closed‐Loop Recyclable Poly(ester‐disulfide)s for Potential Alternatives to Engineering Plastic

Chen, Meng ; Yang, Rulin ; Wu, Huiping ; Wang, Qian ; Shi, Chenyu ; Zhou, Shang‐Wu ; Yang, Ding ; Liu, Fang‐Yu ; Tian, He ; Qu, Da‐Hui

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2024-08, p.e202409200

 

Sustainable Waste Management of Engineering Plastics Generated from E-Waste: A Critical Evaluation of Mechanical, Thermal and Morphological Properties

Jaidev, K. ; Biswal, Manoranjan ; Mohanty, Smita ; Nayak, Sanjay K.

Journal of polymers and the environment, 2021-06, Vol.29 (6), p.1763-1776

 

By taking part in Plastic Free July, not only can you reduce your own plastic use but you can also be part of the solution through research, innovation and action. To learn more visit https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/ 

  

 

 

References

Plastic Free Foundation. 2023. Plastic Free July Impact Report 2023. Fremantle: Plastic Free Foundation.

Yildizhan, Fatih Selim. 2021. Engineering Plastics: Market Analysis and Recycling Methods.

Rabiu, Mubarik K., and Melanie Jaeger-Erben. 2023. "Reducing Single-use Plastic in Everyday Social Practices: Insights from a Living Lab Experiment." Resources, Conservation & Recycling 200: 107303.

Engineering Week is just around the corner, and it's a fantastic time to celebrate the ingenuity, creativity, and impact of engineers worldwide. Whether you're an aspiring engineer or already deep into your studies, this week is dedicated to recognizing the importance of engineering in shaping our world. Join us in this celebration and make the most of the resources available to you at the Alma Jordan Library.

What is Engineering Week?
Engineering Week is an annual event that highlights the contributions of engineers and promotes engineering as a vital and exciting career path. This year, it coincides with World Engineering Day on March 4th, a global celebration to raise awareness about the role of engineering in modern life and its contributions to sustainable development.

For more information on the schedule and themes, check out the official websites for World Engineering Day and Engineers Week 2024.

Dive into Engineering Literature at the Alma Jordan Library
As you engage with Engineering Week activities, don't miss the opportunity to explore some of the best engineering books available at the Alma Jordan Library. Here's a curated list of must-read titles that can provide both foundational knowledge and advanced insights into various engineering careers:

Engineer to Entrepreneur by Rick De la Guardia

ISBN: 9780784414415

Publication Date: 2016

Starting, managing, and owning an engineering firm can be a daunting experience. Engineer to Entrepreneur: Success Strategies to Manage Your Career and Start Your Own Firm provides practical steps at key career points to reach professional goals in any engineering discipline. Rick De La Guardia leads aspiring entrepreneurs through the process from undergraduate class choices, through first jobs, to opening an office and running a consulting firm. Divided into three main sections for the student, beginning engineer, and company owner, De La Guardia provides background information, suggested activities, and detailed steps to make the most of each stage of one's career. Personal examples from his own career are used to illustrate real-life issues and decisions facing entrepreneurs as they find their niche, expand their contacts, and launch their firms. Engineer to Entrepreneur will help engineers in any discipline rethink their careers and take charge of their futures.

 

Building a Career in Software by Daniel Heller

ISBN: 9781484261460

Publication Date: 2020

Software engineering education has a problem: universities and bootcamps teach aspiring engineers to write code, but they leave graduates to teach themselves the countless supporting tools required to thrive in real software companies. Building a Career in Software is the solution, a comprehensive guide to the essential skills that instructors don't need and professionals never think to teach: landing jobs, choosing teams and projects, asking good questions, running meetings, going on-call, debugging production problems, technical writing, making the most of a mentor, and much more. In over a decade building software at companies such as Apple and Uber, Daniel Heller has mentored and managed tens of engineers from a variety of training backgrounds, and those engineers inspired this book with their hundreds of questions about career issues and day-to-day problems. Designed for either random access or cover-to-cover reading, it offers concise treatments of virtually every non-technical challenge you will face in the first five years of your career--as well as a selection of industry-focused technical topics rarely covered in training. 

 

Engineering in Perspective by Tony Ridley

ISBN: 9781786342270

Publication Date: 2017

Engineering in Perspective provides a unique look into the career of one of Britain's most widely experienced engineers, Professor Tony Ridley. Ridley analyses key moments from his career to identify the real-world skills required for success. Through this, he examines how important it is that a successful engineer has not only traditional engineering skills but also good interpersonal skills coupled with a deep understanding of social, economic and political factors. Ridley's career case-studies include his time as first Director General of the Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive and working on the creation of the Metro; first Managing Director of the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway; Chairman and Managing Director of London Underground; the development of the Docklands Light Railway; and working through the trauma of the Kings Cross fire. 

 

Women in STEM Careers by Diana Bilimoria (Editor); Linley Lord (Editor)

ISBN: 9781781954065

Publication Date: 2014

Adopting an international perspective, this book draws on current research from the United States, Australia and Europe to examine women's participation, advancement and leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The book explores the nature of STEM careers across industry and academia, and presents the latest thinking on successful individual, organizational and educational initiatives related to women in STEM. Along with a select group of international contributors, Diana Bilimoria and Linley Lord provide a fresh perspective, based on success stories and successful initiatives, augmenting contemporary perspectives on the barriers and issues that women in STEM careers continue to face. Women in STEM Careers is a positive and insightful outlook on gender relations, which will be an invaluable resource for scholars, practitioners and policy-makers in organizations, human resources, academia, and government, as well as for women aspiring to or presently working in STEM fields. 

 

Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering by Ömer Aydan

ISBN: 9780367822309

Publication Date: 2019

The two-volume set Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering is concerned with the application of the principles of mechanics to physical, chemical and electro-magnetic processes in the upper-most layers of the earth and the design and construction of the rock structures associated with civil engineering and exploitation or extraction of natural resources in mining and petroleum engineering. Volume 2, Applications of Rock Mechanics - Rock Engineering, discusses the applications of rock mechanics to engineering structures in/on rock, rock excavation techniques and in-situ monitoring techniques, giving some specific examples. The dynamic aspects associated with the science of earthquakes and their effect on rock structures, and the characteristics of vibrations induced by machinery, blasting and impacts as well as measuring techniques are described. Furthermore, the degradation and maintenance processes in rock engineering are explained. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering is intended to be a fundamental resource for younger generations and newcomers and a reference book for experts specialized in Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering and associated with the fields of mining, civil and petroleum engineering, engineering geology, and/or specialized in Geophysics and concerned with earthquake science and engineering.

 

Food Engineering Handbook by Theodoros Varzakas (Editor); Constantina Tzia (Editor)

ISBN: 9780429171727

Publication Date: 2014

Food Engineering Handbook: Food Process Engineering addresses the basic and applied principles of food engineering methods used in food processing operations around the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Story of Industrial Engineering by Adedeji B. Badiru

ISBN: 9780429461811

Publication Date: 2018

Industrial engineering is the profession dedicated to making collective systems function better with less waste, better quality, and fewer resources, to serve the needs of society more efficiently and more effectively. This book uses a story-telling approach to advocate and elaborate the fundamental principles of industrial engineering in a simple, interesting, and engaging format. It will stimulate interest in industrial engineering by exploring how the tools and techniques of the discipline can be relevant to a broad spectrum of applications in business, industry, engineering, education, government, and the military. Features Covers the origin of industrial engineering Discusses the early pioneers and profiles the evolution of the profession Presents offshoot branches of industrial engineering Illustrates specific areas of performance measurement and human factors Links industrial engineering to the emergence of digital engineering Uses the author's personal experience to illustrate his advocacy and interest in the profession

You can access these books and many more by visiting the Alma Jordan Library or checking their availability through the library's online catalogue; UWIlinC.

Get Involved!
Mark your calendars and get ready to immerse yourself in a week of engineering excellence. Engage in the online events via the World Engineering Day and Engineers Week 2024 websites, expand your knowledge with the recommended books, and connect with the engineering community. The future is engineered by those who dare to innovate, and Engineering Week is your platform to step up and make a difference.

Stay updated with the latest events and resources by visiting the World Engineering Day and Engineers Week 2024 websites, and don’t forget to leverage the vast resources available at the Alma Jordan Library.

Happy Engineering Week!
 

Geological and geophysical calamities affect every continent with a significant human population. The 1556 Shaanxi earthquake in China killed 830,000 people, the 1755 tsunami in Portugal killed 60,000 people, the Vesuvius explosion in 79 AD buried Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the 1949 landslide in Tajikistan killed 12,000 (Guthrie 2013, 388-389).

Geophysical engineering is a field of study that focuses on applying principles and methods of physics to studying the Earth's structure and properties. Geophysical engineers use various techniques to gather and interpret data about the Earth's subsurface, which is valuable for various applications, including natural resource exploration, environmental assessment, and geotechnical engineering. Here are some key aspects of geophysical engineering:

• Exploration and Resource Assessment: Mineral and Energy Exploration: Geophysical methods such as seismic surveys, electromagnetic surveys, and gravity surveys are used to locate and assess mineral deposits, oil, and natural gas reserves underground.
• Groundwater Exploration: Geophysical techniques help locate and characterise groundwater resources, aiding in sustainable water management.

1. Environmental and Engineering Applications:

• Environmental Site Assessment: Geophysical surveys are employed to assess contaminated sites and monitor the movement of pollutants underground.
• Civil Engineering: Geophysical methods are used to study the subsurface conditions, such as dams, bridges, and tunnels, before construction projects, providing vital information about soil and rock properties.

2. Natural Hazard Assessment:

• Earthquake Studies: Seismic surveys and other geophysical methods help study seismic activity, fault lines, and earthquake hazards.
• Landslide and Volcano Studies: Geophysical techniques aid in monitoring the stability of slopes and volcanic activity, providing early warning systems for potential disasters.

3. Methods and Techniques:

• Seismic Methods: This involves sending seismic waves into the ground and measuring their reflections to create subsurface images. It is widely used in oil exploration and earthquake studies.
• Electromagnetic Methods: These methods use electromagnetic fields to detect subsurface structures commonly used in mineral exploration.
• Gravity and Magnetic Methods: Gravity surveys measure variations in the Earth's gravitational field, while magnetic surveys detect variations in the Earth's magnetic field. Both methods are valuable in geophysical mapping.

4. Data Interpretation and Modeling:

• Data Processing: Geophysical data often need advanced processing techniques to filter noise and enhance the signal, improving the quality of interpretations.
• Geophysical Modeling: Specialised software is used to create 3D models of the subsurface based on geophysical data, aiding in visualisation and analysis.

5. Research and Development:

• Instrumentation: Geophysical engineers develop and improve instruments used in data collection, making them more accurate and efficient.
• Innovation: Research in geophysical engineering often leads to the developing of new techniques and methodologies, advancing the field.

Geophysical engineers are crucial in understanding the Earth's subsurface, which is responsible for resource management, disaster prevention, and sustainable development. Their work contributes significantly to various industries and scientific research.

The Staff of the Engineering Division at the Alma Jordan Library has mounted a display highlighting the importance of geophysical engineering in managing geophysical disaster preparedness. Stop by and browse the books on display, and remember... all the books on display are available for checkout.

Selected E-books

Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization 4 by Roberto Quental Coutinho, Paul W. Mayne

ISBN: 9780429103063

Publication Date: 2013

Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization 4 contain 8 keynote Lectures prepared by experts in the field, including the 5th James K. Mitchell Lecture presented by Dr. Peter K. Robertson, and 4 Workshop Lectures and 217 technical papers from 40 different countries. Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization 4 will be much of interest to academics, engineers and professionals involved in Geotechnical Engineering.

 

 

 

Earthquake Engineering: From Engineering Seismology to Performance-Based Engineering by Yousef Bozorgnia and Vitelmo V. Bertero

ISBN: 9780849314391

Publication Date: 2004

This multi-contributor book provides comprehensive coverage of earthquake engineering problems, an overview of traditional methods, and the scientific background on recent developments. It discusses computer methods on structural analysis and provides access to the recent design methodologies and serves as a reference for both professionals and researchers involved in earthquake engineering. With an entire chapter dedicated to seismic resistant design through supplemental damping and structural control, this volume includes important advances in the characteristics of earthquake ground motions, behavior and design of structures, seismic design of non-structural systems, and more.

 

Recent Technologies for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction: Sustainable Community Resilience & Responses by Praveen Kumar Rai, Prafull Singh, Varun Narayan Mishra

ISBN: 9783030761158

Publication Date: 2021

This book explains to governments, decision makers and disaster professionals the potential uses of recent technologies for disaster monitoring and risk reduction based on the knowledge and experience of prominent experts/researchers in the relevant fields. It discusses the application of recent technological developments for emerging disaster risks in today's societies and deliberates on the various aspects of disaster risk reduction strategies, especially through sustainable community resilience and responses. This book consists of selected invited papers on disaster management, which focus on community resilience and responses towards disaster risk reduction based on experiences, and closely examines the coordinated research activities involving all stakeholders, especially the communities at risk. Many regions of the world and aspects of disaster risk and its management are covered. It is described how recent technologies will support better understanding and action to reduce the number and impact of disasters in future. The principal audience for this book is researchers, urban planners, policy makers, as well as students.

Geological/Geophysical Disasters by Richard Guthrie

ISBN: 9048186994

Publication Date: 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Guthrie, Richard. 2013. "Geological/Geophysical Disasters." In Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards, edited by Peter T. Bobrowsky, 387-400. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.

Leake Jennie. 2012. Geophysical Engineering. New Delhi: World Technologies.

Mat, Mahmut. "Geophysics." GeoScience. Posted April 23, 2023. https://geologyscience.com/geology-branches/geophysics/?amp.

 

 

Every year on April 22nd, stakeholders of all backgrounds come together to advance sustainability and climate action in commemoration of Earth Day. This year, the theme “Invest In Our Planet”, highlights the importance of dedicating time, resources, and energy to solving climate change and other environmental issues. Investing in our planet is necessary to protect it and the best way to pave a path towards a prosperous future. To learn more about Earth Day, visit https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2023/

To commemorate Earth Day 2023, the staff of the Engineering, Food, Agriculture, Science and Technology Divisions at the Alma Jordan Library mounted a special display of books on climate change, environmental issues, and renewable energy. The books provide an opportunity for some supplemental reading on this topical issue. Stop by and browse the books on display, and remember... all the books on display are available for check out.
 

Selected eBooks