WSU Today: Aug. 23, 2019

Abstract: According to the Annual Energy Outlook 2019 (DOE/EIA), the production of natural gas in U.S. is projected to increase by 28% and 42% in 2025 and 2050, respectively, thanks to the recent explosive growth of shale gas exploration. In fact, the supply of natural gas in U.S. has already exceeded the domestic consumption in 2017.

High abundance and low cost provide a clear motivation and unique opportunity for upgrading natural gas to value-added liquids. For example, the market price of methanol, formic acid, and methyl formate is 9, 13, and 23 times, respectively, as much as that of natural gas (June 2019). In addition, the markets and prices of those liquids are growing.

In current industry, methane can be converted, indirectly, to liquid products via thermal activation through “synthesis gas”, and the indirect conversion approach is thermodynamically inefficient, demanding aggressive reaction conditions such as high temperature (700−1,000 °C) and high pressure (5−25 bar). Alternatively, methane can be directly upgraded to liquid products using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant in varying systems, without the need for high temperature. However, the high pressure is still painfully required to obtain high reactivity.

In this seminar, Mr. Houtaham will discuss an innovative approach called “surface facilitation” to upgrade methane under both ambient temperature and ambient pressure. Enabled by the key research findings, ultra-high reactivity has been achieved unprecedentedly, which is two orders of magnitude higher than the state-of-the-art in the field. The underling working principles for the ambient-pressure upgrading will be elucidated, and the impacts of metal surfaces as well as the solution pH will also be examined.

NEW PROGRAMS

When it comes to better serving the needs of students, and the industry that drives our economy, the development of new and innovative programs is key. Throughout this academic year, we will highlight WSU’s and WSU Tech’s efforts to create degree programs that are responsive to student and industry demand—often developed in tandem with business in an effort to increase social and economic mobility.

One of the newest degree programs available at WSU is the Bachelor of Applied Science in Workforce Leadership and Applied Learning. The program was developed by the College of Applied Studies and optimizes opportunities for students graduating from two-year programs—such as those offered by WSU Tech and other community colleges—to pursue a bachelor's degree. There are only a few programs like it in the country that also take into consideration credit for prior learning for skills acquired in the workforce.

Graduates are prepared for leadership positions in the public and private education sectors, human services, for-profit and nonprofit agencies and many others. The program is grounded in two core principles found in WSU’s Strategic Plan: applied learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Another degree of note is the College of Engineering’s Bachelor of Science in Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering. This hands-on program immerses students in the entire process of designing and producing products in a cost-effective and efficient way. PDME graduates are in high demand by a wide range of employers. In fact, WSU’s PDME students currently enjoy a 100% job placement rate, and many are gainfully employed before they finish their degree. Simply put, if you’re interested in engineering and want a high-paying, high-demand job, you should definitely consider the Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering program.

In addition to full degrees, we also offer additional ways to gain skills and credentials through our increasing number of badges and certificate options. In fact, we’ve recently added an additional 14 certificates and 29 badges to our rapidly expanded offerings.

Badges are self-paced, online courses conveniently designed for students and working professionals looking to develop new skills and gain new competencies related to their careers. They can also be stacked over time and applied toward degree completion. Students who enroll in a badge course by Monday, September 9, 2019 will have the tuition and fees waived for one badge course for the fall semester. To learn more, visit badges.wichita.edu or call 978-7579.  

Certificates are groups of courses, often from different disciplines, that address a special topic, which can be completed on their own or as part of a degree program. We currently offer more than 30 graduate certificates and more than 20 undergraduate certificates. For a full list, visit wichita.edu/certificates.

DIVERSITY INITIATIVES

As the state’s most diverse public university, we are continually looking for ways to increase the number of underrepresented students in Shocker Nation while tailoring curriculum and support to better meet the changing demographics of our student body.  

Our efforts continue to pay off with strong growth over the past five years among:

• female and Hispanic engineering students
• African-American and Native American students
• And racially/ethnically underrepresented students

The university also continues to improve opportunities for women in senior leadership, with women currently holding six out of 10 WSU dean positions. 

It is also taking an even bigger step to increase the number of women – and minorities – among its faculty with a nearly $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant funds a 5-year project to improve the university’s hiring of women and minority faculty, particularly in STEM fields. Included among the many benefits of having a more diverse faculty is the ability to serve a growing diverse student body and surrounding community, and to support greater innovation. 

This is reflected in the recent hiring of Edil Torres-Rivera, the first hire for our LatinX Studies area located in the College of Applied Studies. LatinX Studies will allow the university to better serve our increasing numbers of LatinX students through the hiring of educators with expertise in LatinX needs.

PLACEMAKING

Last spring, you may have seen the numerous pieces of colorful lawn furniture that popped up around campus as part our placemaking efforts to make the campus more enjoyable and inviting for everyone.

Now WSU has an additional, colorful attraction for you to check out in the form of a staircase mural located on the south side of Clinton Hall. Created by fine arts major Sarah Myose, and supported by a grant from the Knight Foundation, the mural is titled “Dreams and Wishes” and symbolizes WSU as a place that has helped countless people turn their dreams into reality.

We want to congratulate Sarah on a job well done and thank her for adding her creativity and inspiration to our placemaking efforts.

Also, keep an eye out for additional art on the electrical boxes near the Food Truck Plaza. Fine Arts faculty member Hallie Linnebur is currently adding her own creative touch to this infrastructure in the form of colorful faces. You can check out the first of her creations near the Love Locks pod.

To keep up to date on campus placemaking, visit wichita.edu/discoverwsu.

BRAEBURN SQUARE

Finally, we’d like to give you a quick update on Braeburn Square.

If you’ve been waiting for the Fuzzy’s Taco Shop to open, the wait is over. The Braeburn Fuzzy’s officially opened on Monday—with the first 50 customers winning free tacos for a year. From all of the Fuzzy’s fanatics in Shocker Nation, we say “Welcome to campus.” We’re excited for this additional dining option—and late-night destination—open to the community.

In addition to tacos, Braeburn Square is expected to add a second restaurant this fall. Journey East Asia Grill will serve Asian fusion in a 2,840-square-foot space next to Meritrust Credit Union. We’ll keep you up to date when more details become available.

And, if you haven’t heard, on Monday, the university announced that the Hyatt Place hotel will break ground next week on the Innovation Campus. The groundbreaking is set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, on 19th Street just west of Oliver—immediately following the briefing. Everyone is invited to attend. The hotel is expected to be ready for occupancy in summer 2020.

We look forward to the role this important amenity will play in drawing prospective students, their families, Innovation Campus visitors and event attendees to campus.

“In curating the show, Ted (Adler), Brenda (Lichman), and I made an effort to showcase the diversity of contemporary clay — from vessels to sculpture; from work rooted in the long ceramic traditions of East Asia to pieces that make the most of contemporary industrial production methods. We also tried to highlight the talent of ceramicists with a Kansas connection. Of the 24 artists whose work will appear in the show, five — Doug Casebeer, Trisha Coates, Julia Galloway, David Hiltner, and John Neely — either live in Kansas or were born or educated in the state."

Gurshtein said one of the most exciting features of the exhibition will be an installation by Chinese artist Yewen Dong, who will create a work of clay art on one of the museum gallery walls over the Labor Day weekend.

In addition to the exhibition, the Ulrich Museum will also bring two highly-regarded ceramicists, John Neely and Pattie Chalmers, to campus to do workshops with students in WSU’s thriving ceramics program, and to speak to the general public. Two other programs are also planned – a panel discussion with Chalmers, Coates, and WSU’s Ted Adler; and a public talk by the prominent collector Louise Rosenfield and Ceramics Curator Garth Johnson of the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, NY.

“The Ulrich is proud to be part of the growing trend of museums erasing the long-standing divisions between fine art and craft, giving audiences the broadest possible range of creative practices,” Ulrich Museum Director Leslie Brothers said.

In support of the Empty Bowls fundraiser and in partnership with the WSU Ceramics Guild, the Ulrich will offer interested patrons the opportunity to buy some of the works on view. All proceeds from sales will be divided between the artists and the Kansas Food Bank.

The exhibition is organized by the Ulrich Museum of Art and co-curated by Ted Adler, associate professor of ceramics media at WSU; Brenda Lichman, a Wichita-based studio potter, educator, and founder of Empty Bowls Wichita; and Ksenya Gurshtein, the Ulrich’s curator of modern and contemporary art.

Funding for the exhibition is generously provided by Emprise Bank and Fidelity Bank.

John Neely’s visit to campus is organized by the WSU Ceramics Guild and generously supported by the WSU Art and Design Advocates.

Yewen Dong’s project for the exhibition is generously supported by the WSU Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Participating artists include:

Darien A-Johnson, Lesley Baker, Peter Beasecker, Doug Casebeer, Pattie Chalmers, Sam Chung, Bede Clarke, Trisha Coates, Yewen Dong, Adam Field, Julia Galloway, Perry Haas, Trey Hill, David Hiltner, Kyle Johns, Michael Kline, Liz Lurie, John Neely, Brooks Oliver, Virgil Ortiz, Liz Quackenbush, Jane Schellenbarger, Malcolm Mobutu Smith, Russell Wrankle

Related events (all events take place at the Ulrich Museum unless otherwise noted):

John Neely ceramic workshop – 9 a.m.-noon and 1:30-4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept. 12-13, Henrion Hall

John Neely artist talk, A Potter’s Journey  -- 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Friday, Sept. 13

Artist Talk, Curious Vessels: Navigating Clay Currents

Louise Rosenfield and Garth Johnson

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program, Thursday, Sept. 26

Pattie Chalmers ceramic workshop – 9 a.m.-noon and 1:30-4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 8-9, Henrion Hall

Pattie Chalmers artist talk, Explaining Myself to Myself – 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Friday, Nov. 8

Clay Currents Panel Discussion on Contemporary Ceramics --1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9

The event will feature Chalmers, Trisha Coates, and WSU’s Ted Adler, and hosted by Curt Clonts, artist and KMUW radio presenter.