Texas A&M Engineering SoundBytes

Dr. John Hurtado, interim dean and interim vice chancellor in the College of Engineering and professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, has been part of Texas A&M since he earned his master's and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. Since then, his career has taken off, including working for Sandia National Laboratories on robots that are now part of a collection at the Smithsonian Institute. He's had great influence, both as a teacher and a mentor.

In this episode of SoundBytes, Hurtado talks about his engineering journey, the challenges he's had to overcome and the importance in promoting a STEM education across demographics.

Learning about how materials change between phases, from solids to liquids to gases, is a hallmark of primary school science class. To the average person. This building block of material science is often thought of in the simplest terms, but what if your home could use the energy involved in these transitions to help passively heat or cool it, just by changing out the molding.
On this episode of Engineer This, Dr. Emily Pentzer, an associate professor in the Departments of Material Science & Engineering and Chemistry, discusses how her research is working to design next generation materials by using simple and scalable techniques.

Did you know that your professional network started developing from the very day you entered Texas A&M? From the people you sit next to in class, to the same professors teaching those classes. All these relationships can blossom into long standing partnerships. Join cohosts Drew & Ritika as they speak with Martha Bellens-Martin '85 to discuss her journey into technical sales and how she continues to build her network and give back to the Aggie Women Engineers Network (AWEN).
Learn more about AWEN: tx.ag/AWEN

The rise in popularity of electric vehicles and aircraft presents the possibility of moving toward a more sustainable future. While advancements have dramatically increased the efficiency of these vehicles, there are still several issues standing in the way of widespread adoption. One of the most significant challenges facing electric vehicles has to do with mass, as most current electric batteries and supercapacitors are incredibly heavy.
Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus, professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, and her team are approaching this problem from the unique angle of utilizing the chemical dopamine to strengthen electrodes.

On this episode of The Study Break, student hosts Ritika and Drew discuss the importance of self-care and mental health, no matter what challenges may arise. From pandemics to anxiety over finals, they are joined by Carmen Mota, a new member of the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) team who serves students out of the Zachry Engineering Education Complex, to stress "We are valuable not because of what we achieve, but because of who we are."