| Orientation Issue | Volume 146 | Wednesday, August 24, 2016 | theavion.com |
SOAR HIGHER,
CLASS OF 2020
Welcome to the Greatest Aviation and Aerospace University On Earth
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Inside this Issue:
Construction Updates - A2 Welcome from the SGA President- A4 Hurricane Safety - A6 & A7 Special VFR Productions - B3
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Letter from the Interim President Dear Students: To the incoming freshmen, welcome to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and to those of you are returning, welcome back. I hope all of you have had a great summer either working, participating in internships, athletic events, engaging in volunteer work, or the many other things that consume your time and energies. I am certain you are enthusiastic about pursuing your studies and other activities with your fellow students, and I look forward to meeting and working with as many of you as possible. I have been meeting with groups of students throughout the summer and based on their comments we have made some changes. We will con-
tinue to do so to make your experience the best possible from the day you arrive until you graduate with one, or two, degrees! I have been involved with Embry-Riddle on the President’s Advisory Board or Board of Trustees for 17 years. Thus I have come to know the institution and watched it evolve into a first-rate university, known for its focus on aviation and aerospace and the various disciplines that surround the industry, and now becoming known for its research. You will become part of the research success we are enjoying. Research is a major theme for this year. There are “maker spaces” for students to try out ideas and design devices, vehicles,
drones, rockets, robots and other things; some of which are entered into competitions and see success. But, in spite of an emphasis on research, it is critical for you to know that the faculty are—and will always be— committed to providing the best possible instructional guidance and current knowledge as they work with you in the classroom. Like all universities today, both teaching and learning will also be your responsibility along with the faculty. You may question your role in teaching; students at ERAU interact with one another in projects, team activities, etc. – experiences in which you both teach and learn together. I was asked to introduce myself through this mes-
sage, and I will be brief with the hope that I can meet you in person instead of on paper. I have degrees from the University of Wisconsin, College of Arts and Sciences and the University of Washington School of Medicine. I spent 24 years in Seattle, leaving my departments of Biological Structure and Medicine as a full Professor and Associate Dean of Research in the School of Medicine to join the University of Florida as Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School. I then left for the University of Georgia as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, after which I became the President of the Ohio State University. I then spent several years
at the University of South Florida as Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation, Research Innovation and Global Affairs and then Senior Vice President for University of South Florida World and International Research. You may question how Embry-Riddle fits in my background as a biomedical scientist. ERAU is another new experience regarding subject content, but all universities have much in common – the desire to prepare students for the best possible futures and to serve society through education and research. Embry-Riddle, in my view, does both in a superlative manner. It is an exciting place to be; the institution is always changing and to
a large part this is because of you and is a result of you. The talents, skills, ideas and work products you bring to the University and create while you are here advance the University, making the degrees we award now and have awarded in the past increase in value. Embry-Riddle is widely known and highly respected by the industry, and you will add to this reputation and make a difference during your years here. Have a wonderful year and please know I welcome the opportunity to talk with you and attend your events to provide any information you might find helpful. Sincerely yours, Karen A. Holbrook Interim President
Construction Corner: First Update for Fall Jaclyn Wiley Editor-in-Chief This is the first update of the Fall Semester for the various construction projects going on around campus. These updates are monthly and are an attempt to communicate directly with the student body as a way to decrease student confusion and frustration. This article was written with the assistance of Rodney Cruise, the Vice President for Administration and Planning. The primary goal of all the construction projects on campus are to improve the quality of student life. Increasing the number of parking spots, decreasing the crowding of the residence halls, and creating stateof-the-art spaces for both research and relaxation are some of the ways this goal is being accomplished. As it stands, there are three active construction projects on or associated with the Embry-Riddle
Image Courtesy: Rodney Cruise
Left: A rendering of the new Student Union, as seen from the Henderson Welcome Center.
Daytona Beach Campus. They are the new dormitory, the new Student Union and the John Mica Engineering and Aerospace Innovation Complex. New Dormitory The new dormitory, which has not yet been named, has been under construction since early spring 2016 and is scheduled to be finished by spring 2017. It was conceived of when the Housing Department was forced to put three students, rather than the standard two into rooms in certain dormitories in the 2015-2016 academic year. This over-crowding was due to an unforeseen number of students enrolling at Embry-Riddle. The new residence hall will feature laundry rooms on every floor, separate toilets and showers for each suite to ensure privacy, and dedicated social spaces on each floor. These social spaces are programmable, and can be used for multiple purposes, including personal gather-
ings and club meetings. Parking Parking has also been a major focus of student complaint. Embry-Riddle has answered these complaints by creating more parking lots and spots all over campus, including in front of Doolittle Hall and the new dormitory, as well as spending over three million dollars on the reorganization its current parking lots, making sure that the spots are lined in the most efficient way. Students have suggested creating parking garages, but when studied and considered, the Student Government Association found that these structures were very expensive, with each space costing between $12,000 and $14,000. One way to combat the costs of the garage would be to increase the price of parking drastically, which is objectionable from both the perspective of the student and the administration. The New Student Union The new Student Union
Image Credit:PQH Group Above: The new dormitory, which has yet to be named, as viewed from the side that faces the Student Village. This dormitory will have multiple social and programmable spaces and a laundry room on each floor.
will be a one-of-a-kind building that will assume many purposes. Not only will it contain restaurants and an event space for students to enjoy, but also provide study and research space in the form of a library with hundreds of seats. The restaurants in the new Student Union will include a Qdoba Mexican Eats and a Starbucks. The building is quite complex and had to be specially designed and engineered to be able to withstand hurricanes while still having a large glass windows and skylight. It also had to be able to hold hundreds of students, and the amenities they want, comfortably. Due to the highly unique nature of the new Student Center, the design and construction processes take much longer than other projects around campus. Vertical construction is expected to
begin within the next two months, and the building will not be complete until 2018. To learn more about the Student Center, visit http:// sites.erau.edu/studentunion/. Micaplex The John Mica Engineering and Aerospace Innovation Complex, also known as Micaplex, is the flagship facility in the planned Embry-Riddle Research Park. The Research Park is a 90-acre site located across the airport from the main Daytona Beach Campus, on South Clyde Morris Blvd. The Micaplex is named after Florida Congressman John Mica, who has been a “tireless supporter of Embry-Riddle, and the aerospace and transportation industries.” This was stated by Embry-Riddle’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mori Hosseini, in a news release earlier this year. The Micaplex will house many lab facilities on its
50,000 square foot grounds, with focuses ranging from Advanced Dynamics to Computation Science. Additionally, the Micaplex will hold a significant amount of leasable space which companies can use for research, development or other business needs. Another attractive aspect is the space dedicated for the incubation of ideas and start-ups. This environment will encourage students from all majors to gather and share ideas. These students could then potentially team up to work on a project or start-up together. The Embry-Riddle Research Park will draw aerospace business and interest to the university and the Daytona Beach area, for the benefit of all. More information about the Micaplex and the Embry-Riddle Research Park can be found at http://erau. edu/micaplex/index.html.
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Student Activities is now Student Engagement Karin Gollin Executive Director of Student Engagement & Student Union Welcome! There are so many good things happening this year! Student Engagement is our new department, created from the merger of Student Activities with the Student Center. We are getting ready for our new student union, and our full name is Student Engagement & Student Union. Throughout everything we do we want to create opportunities for students to be engaged, to learn, and to build community. The infographic on the right shares our mission, our programs and our three-area structure. One way to understand our department is that we have two primary sides of the house – an operations side and a programming side. The orientation & communications side provides a third area that links the two. This fall there are lots of great activities and programs for you to
check out. A few to mention in the early part of the semester: “The Departure Lounge Presents” : We invite you to wind down every Thursday afternoon 4-7 p.m. on the Student Center’s Flight Deck. We will have different offerings each week – including trivia, bingo, open mic and music. It is a time for students, faculty and staff all to connect. Homecoming Weekend this year will be Oct. 6-8. We’ll also be celebrating Embry-Riddle’s 90th Anniversary! We are joining with the Alumni office to create three days full of fun events – block party, competitions, aircraft displays, and a huge Homecoming Concert on the Quad on Saturday, Oct. 8. Dear World is coming to campus on Oct. 12. This is a national story-telling project, where all members of our campus community can get their photo taken with a message that they write themselves. We put these pictures all together, and our campus story gets cre-
ated in the process. Come share your message! Looking ahead to the spring, some things to watch for are our Student Leadership Conference in late January and our huge Super Bowl Party in the Student Center. Blue & Gold Week, our campus spirit week, moves to the spring semester and will happen right after spring break. The annual Air Jam competition, a campus-wide day of service, a carnival and concert and lots more will be part of this special week. We hope you will find ways to get involved on campus – whether through student organizations, attending events or participating in programs. For first-year students, we have an Emerging Leaders program. Our programs for student organizations include leadership development programs, event-planning training sessions and more. We look forward to serving the ERAU student body. Stop by the UC and meet the department!
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Welcome to EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University. We hope that all of our new students are settling into their new surroundings. To our returning students—welcome back! We hope that your summer was fantastic. The fall 2016 semester finds ERAU in a state of change. We are welcoming one of the largest freshman class the institution has ever had. We are also starting to see the construction of the new Student Union. Notable changes on campus start with the new residence hall that will be ready to open by spring 2017. The Micaplex Research Park has made great progress over the summer and is on track to be open by Spring 2017. The new Student Union has
been a topic of conversation between the SGA and upper administration the entire summer and the start of construction is going to be underway very soon. The SGA will be holding a Town Hall about the Union and any other concerns student have on September 20th in the Henderson Welcome Center.
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We hope that all of our new students are settling into their new surroundings. To our returning students—welcome back!
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Dustin Gibson SGA President
The Student Government is also involved in many different projects on campus to make your student experience the best that it can be. The Student Representative Board is a
Free, anonymous screenings and resources online at ERAU.EDU/DB/COUNSELING
group of elected students whose main purpose is to represent the students in their respective college. This group also works to address student concerns surrounding topics like food, financial aid, parking, and campus safety. Additionally, the Student Court would like to remind everyone to order their parking decal through ERNIE. Remember that everyone needs to part in the appropriately colored-lot! Feel free to stop by the SGA office for free coffee and candy. We would love to hear any input you might have for us. We here in the SGA hope you have an enjoyable student experience. If you have any feedback on how we might make your experience better please let us know. Thank you.
Jaclyn Wiley Editor-In-Chief
In July, Embry-Riddle appointed a new Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Karen Gaines. She was appointed after Dr. William Grams, the former Dean, announced his plans to retire in spring 2016. Dr. Grams had led the college since 2007, and has been associated with EmbryRiddle since 1980. “From a large field of highly qualified applicants, the search committee was extremely impressed with Dr. Gaines’ background as a scholar-administrator and her proven record of leadership as the chair of a large department with diverse research interests,” said Dr. Maj Mirmirani, Dean of the College of Engineering and chair of the search committee, when asked about the choice by the Department of Communications. “We found Dr. Gaines to be a compassionate lead-
er with an inclusive style of management. Her clarity of vision and grasp of the challenges and opportunities she will be facing made her the right person to advance the success and continued expansion of the College of Arts & Sciences.” The College of Arts and Sciences is responsible for most of the general education, which is usually a part of the coursework for new students during their first two years at Embry-Riddle. It also contains five academic Departments, three ROTC units, and multiple majors. “I feel very comfortable in an environment where we’re giving a basic education, and then developing students in a very intricate fashion to progress towards what they want to accomplish in their career. I love that about this university… I love what Embry-Riddle does,” said Dr. Gaines. Dr. Gaines discussed her plans for the COAS, which included growing the college’s number of majors and research influence,
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as well as strengthening the existing degree programs. “We have a lot of opportunity to grow.” By doing so, Dr. Gaines aims to not only increase the reputation of the school, but also the opportunities of the students. “Another aspect that is near-and-dear to me is the advancement of women in science and math.” Dr. Gaines is currently exploring degree programs that would potentially attract more women, as well exploring into the possibility of creating a campus-wide organization, similar to the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) groups that are found on campuses around the country. This group would have a focus on providing mentorship opportunities to women around campus. Dr. Gaines’ office is located within the Dean’s Suite, on the fourth floor of the COAS. For more information, go to http://daytonabeach.erau.edu/college-arts-sciences/.
Wellness Center Complex, Bldg. 20 Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 386-226-6035
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Campus Safety and Security Kevin Mannix Director, Campus Safety and Security Welcome to Embry-Riddle. With the start of the new academic year, the Campus Safety & Security Department is here to assist you with a variety of services that will help you adjust to campus life. Our officers patrol the campus twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week. You can reach us by calling 386-226-6480, or by visiting our twenty-four hour Communications Center located in the Safety Services office at the front the Student Center. This is also the location of the campus Lost & Found. Our Administrative and Crime Prevention offices are located in Mod 3 by McKay. Do you have any special request for room unlocks, study groups, clubs & organizations, or events? Send us an e-mail at daytona.safety.request@ erau.edu, or call our Administrative Office at 386-2266490. You can also file an incident report here. For emergencies or to report a crime in progress dial 386-226-SAFE (7233). We encourage you to program these numbers into your cell phone. When reporting an emergency or crime in progress, provide as much detailed information as possible about the
situation. Use one of the emergency phones located throughout campus and in all of the residence halls. Simply push the button and you will be connected to our Communications Center. Do not let the emergency label be confusing when you need us – you can use them anytime you need assistance. We enjoy a beautiful campus and share the responsibility to keep it safe and secure. Call us whenever you see a suspicious or hazardous condition. At Embry-Riddle we stress personal safety and crime prevention. Many crimes are crimes of opportunity. Do not leave any property unattended or in an unsecured office or dorm room. Always lock your door, even if you are leaving just for a second. Never leave valuables where someone passing by could easily see them. Burglaries and thefts can occur at Embry-Riddle and practicing crime prevention could have prevented almost every one of them. You CAN protect yourself from becoming a victim! Do not forget to meet the Student Crime Prevention Practitioner (SCPPs) assigned to your residence hall. The SCPPs are fellow students who can assist you in a variety of ways and provide you with information on the various crime prevention programs and resources
available to you. Remember all vehicles on campus must be registered. View the Parking & Traffic Handbook online for parking rules and regulations at https:// embryriddle.t2hosted.com/ cmn/index.aspx. Do you have a bicycle or motorcycle? You will increase your chance of recovering a sto-
len bike by registering it with the University. It is also strongly recommended to lock up your bike when not in use. Don’t have a lock? No problem! You can lease a Kryptonite U-Lock for as little as $36 for bicycles and $60 for motorcycles. At the end of the rental period, upon returning the lock, you are credited the amount
of the lock back on your student account. Visit the Safety Services office for more information on the Lease-ALock Program today! Have you signed up for Rave emergency notifications? It’s fast, easy, and most important, it’s FREE! Just sign in to your main ERNIE Homepage and click on the Rave (Emergency
Notifications) near the bottom of the page under Tools. Check out our web site at http://daytonabeach. erau.edu/about/safety/ index.html. Working together as a team we can make the campus a safe and secure environment for everyone. Campus Safety & Security - It’s In Your Interest!!
Student Crime Prevention Practioners (SCPPs)
Photo Courtesy/Campus Safety The Student Crime Prevention Practitioner Program, also known as the SCPP Program, is a program created and overseen by the University’s Department of Safety & Security. The SCPP Program is fully staffed by Embry-Riddle students. The program provides an array of services to students, staff, and community as a whole. Services include high-profile security at on campus events such as various Speaker Series. The program also provides a late night Safe Ride service in which charters students to and from any location throughout campus. This service begins after 7 pm and can be requested by calling the Safety & Security Department. The SCPP also provides daily campus wide patrols. A Student Crime Prevention Practitioner’s duty is to serve the community and help create a safer campus climate. This includes personal safety, crime and theft prevention, and escorts. All these services are accessible by contacting the University’s Department of Safety & Security.
Technology for Your Success Brian Zipse Technology Services Students at Embry-Riddle have the latest and greatest technology tools designed to support academic success: a modern and cutting edge internal information portal (ERNIE) and learning management program (Canvas). ERNIE provides students with access to what’s important to them. You can check your schedule, read the latest University news and find the resources you need. Logging into ERNIE presents you with many key features in the gold bar at the top of every page. Some features include: Yammer: The “Y” icon takes you to Yammer, Embry-Riddle’s own
social network. Join public groups or create your own to stay plugged into the ERAU community. OneDrive: Clicking the cloud icon takes you to OneDrive, which provides users with 1 TB of personal cloud storage that you can access from anywhere. Share files with others for viewing and editing, store your personal stuff for school or work or even submit an assignment to your Canvas course directly from OneDrive. Be sure to review your OneDrive privacy settings to make sure you keep private things private. Team Sites: The globe icon grants you access to any private team sites you might be belong to. Email: Clicking the envelope opens up your online Outlook for all your
email needs. Favorites: The star icon will open up a list of all the pages you select as favorites. Click add to favorites in the top right corner to add to your list. Information Technology is a good place to start and, while you’re there, subscribe to the I.T. announcements to get the latest news on your home page. Settings: Finally, the gear icon will help you manage all of your settings for your ERNIE and ERAU account. One highlight is the continued integration with Microsoft Office 365, a cloud-based system that provides you with access to email and calendar, file storage and sharing, web conferencing and instant messaging. Once inside Office 365, users have access to even
more applications like Office Online by clicking the small white grid in the top left corner. Another great benefit is the ability to download free Microsoft software. Click on the gear icon and choose Office 365 Settings to get started. In addition to those inside ERNIE, there are plenty of other tools available to help members of the ERAU community. Lynda.com: With an amazing online library of more than 3,700 learning courses for people at all experience levels, Lynda can be a generous resource for those looking to learn technical skills, creative techniques, business strategies, and more from your computer, tablet, or mobile device. Access lynda. com through the tools section in ERNIE.
Mobile App: Download the ERAU app for convenient access to your classes and coursework, news and events, maps, directories, sports, videos and more. Computer Labs: Students needing access to a computer can head to the Hunt Library, the Lehman Building’s room 371, as well as the College of Business’ room 123 to visit a computer lab. You can also visit the Information Technology ERNIE page to check on computer availability. A comprehensive list of labs is available at daytonabeach.erau.edu/about/ labs with lab hours varying throughout the year. Personal Computer Help: Having trouble with your own Mac or PC? Support services are provided through the ResNet support office, located on the first floor of the
Student Village. Support technicians will provide a “best-effort” level of support and are here to help you free of charge. Contact IT Support to schedule an appointment. All of these services and more are available as Information Technology helps welcome all new and returning students to campus. Be sure to visit the Getting Started section on the Information Technology ERNIE page to explore all of the services that will help you achieve a successful fall semester. Please feel free to contact us for 24-hour support, seven days a week by calling 386-226-6990 or send us an email at ITsupport@erau.edu. You can even chat us at erau.edu/ chat. For self service, visit erau.edu/tech-support.
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Hurricane Safety
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Hurricanes: A Beginner’s Guide
Jaclyn Wiley Editor-in-Chief
Florida is a great place to live, but it has some hazards. These hazards range from alligators (which will ignore you as long as you leave them alone) to extreme heat (airflow is key to keeping cool), to the elderly while driving (always be aware). The most dangerous of the Florida hazards is the hurricane. The Avion Newspaper is the dedicated to spreading information to the students of Embry-Riddle, especially information that can influence their safety. For this reason, the Avion Newspaper has partnered up with the Embry-Riddle Meteorology Department and the Department of Campus Safety and Security to provide a guide to understand what hurricanes are, how they can be dangerous, how Embry-Riddle is keeping its students and its property safe, and how you can keep safe during the storm. What is a Hurricane? For the six-month period from June 1 to November 30 every year, massive, westward-bound storm systems form from groups of thunderstorms over the north Atlantic Ocean. Some of these systems grow so large, with winds so fast, they become classified as hurricanes.
A hurricane is defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as, “an intense tropical weather system with a well defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or higher.“ Storm systems in the North Atlantic Ocean form due to the temperature differential between the water and the air, which is greatest during late summer. The differ-
mph at the system’s center, the storm is classified as a tropical depression. These storms are not named, though they are tracked by multiple weather agencies around the world. A storm earns a name when it becomes a tropical storm; a storm system is considered a tropical storm when its winds reach 50 mph. The name is from a predetermined list of names
Left: An artist’s depiction of storm tide and storm surge. The normal tide is 2ft, but with the added 15ft of storm surge, the storm tide is 17ft.
Image Credit: National Hurricane Center
lack of names starting with those letters. A storm is officially a hurricane when its winds reach 75 mph. Hurricanes are separated into one of
Image Credit: NASA Above: Hurricanes of Categories 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes, with the winds to potentially causes billions in damage.Hurricane Fran, a major Category 3 hurricane, caused $3.2 billion in damage in 1996.
ence in temperature causes water from the ocean to evaporate and form clouds, which eventually form into storms. Storms come together and form into systems. When the winds of a storm system reach 20
published each year by the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO). There are 21 names on the list, alternating male and female in alphabetical order. The letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are skipped, due to the
five categories by wind speed, according to the Saffir-Simpson Scale. The wind speed and potential damage are directly related, as many of the dangerous phenomena that are associated with hurricanes, like
storm surge and tornados. A hurricane is considered a major hurricane when its winds reach over 111mph, which corresponds to a Category 3 or higher hurricane. These hurricanes are the most dangerous and damaging to life and property. Hurricane-Related Hazards Besides the high winds and levels of rainfall, hurricanes can also bring on other hazards, like storm surge, storm tide, tornados, rip currents, and flash floods. Storm surge occurs when the high winds of the hurricane push ocean water onto the coast, causing flooding. The larger and more intense the storm, the worse the storm surge, usually. Storm surge is the most damaging product of hurricanes, since it is so dangerous to life and property. Storm tide is the rise in water level during a tropical storm or hurricane that is caused by a combination of the natural cycle of the tides and the unnaturally high storm surge. This high tide can result in flooding, and when com-
bined with the high winds, can result in large, highly damaging waves. These waves then batter the coastline and cause large amounts of damage. Tornados can also result from hurricanes, though they are usually smaller than those seen in the mid-western United States. Despite their small size, these phenomena are a significant threat to health and property. Rip currents are the result of the large waves caused by the storm. When these waves hit the coast, they cause large, dangerous currents that lead away from shore. These currents can pull even the strongest swimmers out to sea. Flash floods occur when the high levels of rainfall lead to rapid and massive increases in water level. These floods are often very destructive and deadly. Many of the deaths associated directly with hurricanes are due to drowning in flash floods, rip currents and storm surge. For more information, visit the WMO website.
The Uncertianty of Predicting the Paths of Hurricanes Jaclyn Wiley/The Avion Newspaper Image Credit: The National Hurricane Center
This chart, based of data from the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center gives information about each category of tropical cyclone, including a tropical depression.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) provides graphics to those in the danger zone for tropical storms and hurricanes, in order to convey forecast information. In order to portray the uncertainty that comes with trying to predict nature, the path of a storm is modeled by a cone. This cone does not indicate the potential size of the storm, but rather the potential error in the prediction.
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Keeping Safe During a Storm
Jaclyn Wiley Editor-In-Chief
Hurricanes are a part of life in Florida. They can’t be stopped, so instead inhabitants of the coastal Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico must prepare. Preparation is the key to safety; having a plan and knowing how to execute it is absolutely essential. Hurricane Safety – The Embry-Riddle Plan Embry-Riddle has a sophisticated response plan formulated for hurricanes. This plan was created by a coalition of Embry-Riddle security personnel, emergency response planners, and meteorological experts. This coalition is called the Emergency Operations Team. Throughout hurricane season, June 1 to November 30, Campus Safety and Security monitor the weather forecasts for the Atlantic, where hurricanes form. If a tropical cyclone forms, Campus Safety and Security are watching it, carefully. If a storm develops into a potential threat, Campus Safety and Security informs all of the student body, as well as those in charge of emergency response. The details of the Embry-Riddle response to each level of storm can be found in the chart adjoining this article. The campus will be closed and evacuated once the winds of the coming storm reach 75 mph, classifying it as a tropical storm. Not only does this mean that students are moved to safer locations, but also that the campus is empty. The
This flowchart is a guide for navigating hurricane season and how to respond to the threat of a tropical storm, or the presence of one. Please note that this is not an official document from an official office. Jaclyn Wiley/The Avion Newspaper
emptiness of campus is broken only by the members of the Campus Safety and Security Department. The Campus Safety and Security Department has two 12-hour shifts during a hurricane, and stay on that schedule until the sever weather has passed. The on-campus buildings are secured by Campus Safety and Security personnel, once they have returned from securing their own families and homes. Once the severe weather is over, the Cam-
pus Safety and Security Department inspects the campus for damage and relays that damage to the public within 24 hours of the storm ending. The Embry-Riddle Flight Department also has to decide whether or not it would be wiser to fly the fleet of aircraft to a safer airport or to secure the planes and hope for the best. This decision is based on a number of factors, including the projected path of the storm, the estimated intensity, and time until landfall.
The decision to fly out the fleet or not must be made days in advance of the hurricane making landfall, due to logistical and safety challenges. Larger storms have higher winds and, therefore, a higher chance of damaging the fleet, and must be fled, but smaller storms can be weathered on the Flightline. Evacuation Guide for Resident Students Hurricanes are unique natural disasters in that they can come with a weeks warning or more. This
Jaclyn Wiley/The Avion Newspaper This chart details the response that Embry-Riddle will undertake for a tropical storm and each category of hurricane. This chart was reproduced from one similar on the Campus Safety and Security Department ERNIE page. To see the original, log onto ERNIE and search for “Campus Safety and Security.” The chart is in the “Disaster and Emergency Management/Reecovery Plan.” For more information, contact Campus Safety and Security.
warning is vital for the safe removal of innocents from the storm’s path. During the early part of the Fall semester, the Resident Advisors (RAs) will hold meetings with their wings of the residence halls and discuss the evacuation plans for each student. These plans are accounted for by Embry-Riddle so that all students are known to have a plan that they can execute. Students from Florida or nearby states are encouraged to go home, unless that home is also in an evacuation zone. In that situation, they are advised to go inland, away from the coasts and the path of the storm. These students are also encouraged to bring as many international and outof-state students as they can with them when they leave. Students that do not have anywhere to go or anyone to go with are evacuated to one of the more than 35 Volusia County hurricane shelters, or are given the option to volunteer at Halifax Hospital. Many students have volunteered at the hospital during past hurricanes, since the hospital cannot evacuate and needs as many hands on deck as possible. Please contact the Department of Residence Life or the Department of Campus Safety and Security for more information about the evacuation procedures for residential students.
Knowledge is the Key to Safety The most important thing is to stay informed. Check the weather, check the news, check the radio, even check Twitter and Facebook. All of these places can provide crucial, lifesaving information. Another important thing to know to stay safe is the official language of the storm forecasters and emergency officials. They will use terms like “tropical storm warning” or “hurricane watch.” Knowing these terms is vital to a safe experience during a tropical cyclone. A tropical storm watch is issued when winds of 39 mph or higher, tropical storm conditions, are possible within an area. A tropical storm warning is issued when a tropical-stormforce winds are anticipated within 24 hours for a certain area. A hurricane watch is issued when winds of 75 mph or higher, hurricane conditions, are possible within an area. A hurricane warning is issued when a hurricane-force winds are anticipated within 24 hours for a certain area. This information will help to keep you safe during a hurricane or tropical cyclone. Make sure to check out supplemental materials to ensure that you know everything you need to stay safe during a severe weather situation.
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Student Life
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Honors Program: Better Than Ever Dr. Geoffery Kain Director With 90 new students admitted for Fall 2016, the Embry-Riddle Honors Program begins its 14th year with established opportunities and successes that have benefitted the entire campus and the surrounding community. We have: 350 total students from a majority of the campus’ degree programs
80 faculty from 18 academic departments involved in Honors teaching experiences An Honors Student Association that is increasingly organized, active and service minded. A high concentration of the most active undergraduate researchers on campus An Honors Series that draws in speakers and performers of both the highest national and inter-
national caliber and routinely fills the auditorium to capacity. This year’s first event (Oct. 5) features Heather Knight of Carnegie-Mellon displaying the prowess of her comedic, stand-up “independently-minded, audience-interactive” robot named Data. A slate of unique, interdisciplinary Honors seminar courses on a range of topics and taught by faculty from multiple colleges and departments.
A consistently stellar retention and satisfaction rate among our students. A comfortable Honors Center that serves as the communal and intellectual hub for Honors Program students. As this past year ended, we witnessed many of our students receiving prominent awards, heading off for prime internships or study abroad opportunities and moving into PhD or Mas-
ter’s degree programs at major universities. Some moved straight into employment with NASA, SpaceX and various other notable organizations. Our goal is, and alw ays has been, to attract and retain the very best students at Embry-Riddle. Then our mission becomes challenging our students, providing them with imaginative and unique opportunities, allowing them to exercise
and grow their leadership potential, and helping them feel that they are able to plug into a rather closeknit community of like-minded individuals. For the faculty, our goal remains to encourage excellent and innovative teaching, afford greater stimulation through freedom to design meaningful and demanding courses and to allow for greater overall satisfaction via the Honors classroom experience.
Jack Taylor/The Avion Newspaper The last Honors Series event of the Spring 2016 semester was a performance by the Irish band Caladh Nua. The Honors Program sponsors the Honors Series events, which are usually a guest speaker giving a lecture, or a musical performance by a talented group, like Caladh Nua. The Honors Program is 14 years old and currently has over 350 students in the program, with 90 incoming freshmen; it is still growing strong and bringing ERAU pride.
ERAU Pep Band and Drum Line Kevin Wade, Et Al ERAU Pep Band Are you not quite ready to give up that instrument you learned in high school? Do you want to support Embry-Riddle in the coolest way possible? If so, then join one of only a handful of musically inclined clubs on campus: the Pep Band and Drumline here at ERAU! We perform for the: Women’s Volleyball team, Men’s and Women’s Basketball team, and anything else that requires our unique brand of “renta-mob with instruments” (Cancer support walks, Golf tournaments). As a member of the pep band you would attend practices twice a week (as long you don’t have a prior academic commitment) on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:45-8:00pm, with drumline members beginning practice at 6:00 P.M. You would regularly perform and cheer on the Embry – Riddle Eagles at games and have the opportunity to enjoy some non-instrument time with your bandmates (such as:
midnight trips to Steak and Shake after games, homecooked dinner nights, etc.). Transportation to and from games (and even to and from our out-of-band activities) will be provided by members of the band with a vehicle, so don’t worry if you think you can’t get off campus. Please feel welcome to join us for our first practice on September 1st (Thursday) at 6:45pm. Auditions will be held but do not feel discouraged if you feel you aren’t good enough, many of our pep band members are very musically talented and more than willing to help anyone willing to put in the effort to improve; all while contributing to our sound at games and practices as well as having a blast with new friends! If you do not have your instrument with you at this time you can still sit in or pick up one of the Pep Band’s own instruments yourself. As one of the louder clubs on campus we have our very own special building. It is located across Clyde Morris Blvd. in the second
modular (aka mobile unit/ trailer) behind the ROTC building. If the directions are too confusing or you struggle to find the building, you can meet up with one of our members inside of the Student Village main entrance around 6:30. They will be wearing a blue, yellow and white jersey with Pep Band @ ERAU in white and yellow on the front. If you cannot make it to the first practice you can come any Monday or Thursday at 6:45. Look for our table at the activities fair and find us on ERAU Connection or look us up on Facebook. Scholarships are available to active Pep Band Members!!! If you have any questions please email Eric Sabol: SABOLE@my.erau. edu or ask anyone roaming around campus in a blue, yellow and white jersey as described above. We love having new members that are dedicated to performing and look forward to meeting everyone that comes to the first/second/twenty -ninth practice.
The Avion Newspaper Andrew Lichtenstein Former Editor-in-Chief Are you a rocket nut who would do just about anything to stand on a launch pad? Would you like to fly with an air show pilot at over 200 mph? We thought so. The Avion Newspaper is Embry-Riddle’s official campus publication, by students, for students. We publish twelve times per semester, with weekly distributions every Tuesday. We are always looking for reporters, photographers, advertising representatives, copy editors, and layout designers. If you do not have any reporting experience, that’s okay! The Avion will train you. One of the biggest assets to a college student is an ability to write. The Avion creates better communicators, and we are always willing to lend a hand. Our photography staff has in film and digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) equipment. We use the most up-to-date canon products. Whether you are brand new, simply need a refresher or are a seasoned veteran, the Avion will ensure you have the tools you need, to bring the best news to the most passionate university in the world. Additionally, the Avion
attends national collegiate journalism conferences every semester, each moving from venue to venue throughout the country. Here, Avion staff members learn about reporting, photography, online content, social media, business, and managing an entire publication. In addition to regular campus news, the Avion covers a variety of off-campus events including rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and air shows throughout the great state of Florida. We maintain continuous relationships with SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, the United States Air Force, NASA, various air show and airport authorities. The Avion is grateful to these organizations, who regularly grant us media credentials to ensure we provide the student community with the most up-todate content available. You will also read movie and food reviews throughout the semester. Write a review of the movie and the Avion will cover up to $10 per ticket. The publication will also accept restaurant reviews (no chains please), and will reimburse up to $25, excluding alcohol. Please save an itemized receipt to ensure your reimburse-
ment. The publication is also able to reimburse for gas spent on rocket launches and air shows. You may bring any requests for reimbursement to the Avion office; our location is at the bottom of this article. The publication also maintains a rigorous online presence. Please see our website, theavion.com. You can also visit us on Facebook and Twitter. If you are interested in covering events, reporting or photography please come to the Endeavor conference room, every Tuesday at 7 p.m. to start contributing to the Avion! Here, we review the story list for that week and determine our coverage for the next issue. We also layout the paper every Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Avion Office. We use the very latest software and computer technology to create the best designs. We also enjoy going out for dinner afterwards on the Avion’s dime. If you love to eat, stop by! If any of the above interests you, please stop by our office in the Student Center (SC110), between WIKD and Touch N Go Productions. Feel free to send me an e-mail to editor@ theavion.com should you have any questions.
Greek Life Sigma Sigma Rho Page
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Rachel Sydow Recruitment Chair Sigma Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on Dec. 10, 1998 at St. John's University in Queens, NY by 10 Distinguished Ladies. These Founding Mothers came together to form an organization unlike any other: one based on sisterhood, society, and remembrance. As a South Asian based sorority, we hold true to the heritage and values of South Asian women, however our sisterhood is vast and diverse. Since Embry-Riddle’s Xi Chapter was founded in 2011, we have crossed -or initiated 8 classes of wonderful women at our univer-
sity who take pride in academic and community achievement. Please join us during our recruitment week, Sept. 13-21. Each evening you will have the opportunity to learn about our sisterhood, get to know our sisters, and give back to our philanthropy, domestic violence awareness and prevention. Visit us at the activities fair on Sept. 13 or contact the recruitment chair, Rachel Sydow, at sydowr@my.erau.edu. Don’t miss your chance to join our sisterhood and rock blue, black, and silver! Ladies of all backgrounds and cultures are welcome. If you are not able to make our recruitment events, keep an eye out for more opportuni-
ties to learn about our sisterhood. Sigma for Society is our annual philanthropy week in October, where you will have the opportunity to sign a pledge to end domestic violence, share your story or kind words with a survivor, and participate in the Mr. and Ms. Distinguished show. Feel free to reach out to us whenever you see our letters around campus. As the newest sorority on our campus we are small in number, but the bond of sisterhood is strong, and we are ever-growing. Mann, Atman, Dharam is a motto we hold dear to our hearts, come and meet us so we can tell you what it's all about!
Photo Courtesy/Sigma Sigma Rho The Sigma Sigma Rho Sorority, Xi chapter, which is the newest sorority at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Noel Castro Vice President Welcome! My name is Noel Castro, Vice-President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, first off, congratulations on being accepted as a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University! You have made the right decision to join our community, and with a degree from here you can excel in your future career, but not without great networking and social skills to land great jobs, internships, and more. Joining the Greek community at Riddle is a great way to gain those skills during your time as an undergraduate student. There are eight fraternities on campus, all heavily active in both the Embry-Riddle commu-
nity and in the Daytona Beach area. Specifically about Sigma Alpha Epsilon, we have over 331,000 alumni across the nation, gives students the opportunity to network with brothers from a variety of professions. Currently we are the largest social fraternity in the United States. In SAE, you will be given opportunities at leadership and face challenges you will meet head-on, but grow from. We are a selective organization, only allowing members that reach academic and social standards that we hold dear in our memorized creed, The True Gentleman. The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all
emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe. - John Walter Wayland. If you are up to this unique challenge, contact me at castron1@my.erau.edu.
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A11 Greek Life Sigma Sigma Sigma: Eta Tau Chapter August
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Jansyn Johnston President In 1898, eight women from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia came together to build a sorority based on the values of hope, faith, love, wisdom and power. Over the next 118 years,
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the sisterhood has grown from eight members to over 100,000, residing in more than 110 college campuses and 90 alumnae chapters all over the world. The current Sisters of Sigma Sigma Sigma continually strive to uphold the values and goals of their early founders. The
Eta Tau chapter, which is located at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, lives and breathes their mission to empower women to change the world. This organization is comprised of pilots, engineers and everything in between, and currently holds the highest average grade point average of all
Photo Courtesy/Alpha Xi Delta The sisters of the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority at Disney’s Epcot. Alpha Xi Delta is one of the three sororities at Riddle.
Alpha Xi Delta: Theta Omicron Chapter Tabitha Salt PR Vice President First of all, I would like to welcome back all of my classmates for another fantastic year! I would also like to congratulate all of my new classmates on becoming Eagles! My name is Tabitha Salt, and I am a sister of Alpha Xi Delta, one of the three Panhellenic Women’s Fraternities on campus. When I first came to Embry-Riddle, I had no clue what to expect from my college experience. After moving away from my home in Holmfirth, England, leaving my family and friends, and settling in a new country, I was a completely overwhelmed fresh-
man. However, everything changed when I joined Alpha Xi Delta. These ladies welcomed me into their sisterhood with open arms and became my home away from home. My sisters became the first people I call when I want to either laugh or cry. My sisters and advisors helped me to grow into the strong, confident woman that I am today, something that I never thought that I could be. Alpha Xi Delta is now so dear to my heart; I could have never imagined that I could be so close to and trust every one of åmy sisters. As an organization, we believe in helping women “Realize Their Potential” through edu-
cation, leadership and personal growth. Our philanthropy is Autism Speaks, and we raise money through our annual Walk Now for Autism Speaks, Xi Man Competition and Light it up Blue baseball game. As a national philanthropy, we have raised over 3 million dollars in just a few short years! Joining Alpha Xi Delta has changed my life forever and has been the best decision I have ever made. If you are interested in making unbreakable bonds that will last a lifetime, I encourage you to come out to the Activities Fair and Meet the Greeks to learn more about all the Fraternities and Sororities that call campus their home!
three sororities at the aviation-based school. This 3.18 cumulative average is even higher than the all-female average for the Daytona Beach campus. Although academics do come first in Tri Sigma, another passion for these women is their philanthropy. Every year, the chapter works together to host events like the Halloween Fashion Show and Farmer’s Market to support their main philanthropy, the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation. The Foundation provides educational and leadership opportunities for women and also founded the Robbie Page Memorial Fund which supports play therapy for children in hospitals. Sigma Sigma Sigma is also welcoming the addition of March of Dimes to its list of philanthropic partners, which aims to decrease the number of premature births each year. Throughout the school year, the Sisters of the Eta Tau chapter
participate in events like Mile of Dimes, March for Babies, and World Prematurity Day to raise money for the cause. One of the sorority’s main visions is to provide young women with experiences that will empower them to change the world. The organization offers many leadership opportunities in the form of service trips, conventions and academies. The Service Immersion Trip allows Sisters to travel internationally and gain skills in project management, communication and team development. The Dunham Women of Character Institute is for the sorority’s younger members and focuses on developing good character and professionalism. Eta Tau’s current President, Jansyn Johnston, attended the Tri Sigma National Convention this past summer in Chicago. When asked about how the experience affected her, she said, “After attending Convention, I
am truly inspired by all of the empowered Tri Sigma women. The women I met were from all corners of the country, but we all shared the bonds of sisterhood. These women lived their Tri Sigma values, gave back to the Foundation and inspired me to follow in their footsteps. While at Convention, I learned that in Tri Sigma, you are never alone no matter where you go in life. I learned that our sisterhood is about helping others and giving back to the community. Lastly, and most importantly, I learned that with Tri Sigma as my guiding star, I will continue to grow as a leader and change the world.” The Eta Tau chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma is a prime example of what being a member of a Greek-Lettered organization is all about: changing the world while making lifelong friendships along the way.
Photos like this are taken by Embry-Riddle students. Photography gear and launch pad access are just a few of the special benefits that students can recieve by joining the Avion.
Photo Credit: Trey Henderson/The Avion Newspaper
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Department Spotlight: Special VFR Productions
Jaclyn Wiley Editor-in-Chief
On the first floor of the College of Aviation, near the set of doors facing the construction site for the new Student Union, is a small office that holds one of the most unique departments at Embry-Riddle. This department is called Special VFR Productions, and they are helping to revolutionize the way Embry-Riddle students learn how to fly. Special VFR Productions produces videos and other graphic content for the Flight Department, as well as the Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that are used to teach students and the public. These videos bring together live footage and computer animation to more effectively teach students how aircraft work and how to fly them. Special VFR Productions also produces the Flightline News, a news broadcast that features news from the Flight Department. These programs can be found at https://www.youtube.com/ user/ERAUSpecialVFR. Special VFR Productions was formed out of need. In the late 2000s, flight instructors noticed that Embry-Riddle flight students were looking up instructional videos produced by a flight school in North Dakota. At that time, the Embry-Riddle Flight Department had not produced any digital con-
tent, and still relied heavily on paper flight manuals and textbooks. Mark Avellino, an Embry-Riddle graduate and flight instructor, brought forward this information to the Chairman of the Flight Department, and suggested they make their own video. “We go back and look at it and it’s pretty primitive… But it was better than anything we had,” said Avellino, recalling the first instructional video that Special VFR Productions created. “[UND] did those videos years ago… 10 years ago.” The Chairman of the Flight Department approved the video, and Special VFR Productions kept creating content. Eventually, Special VFR Productions decided they needed a full-time 3D animator, since, according to Avellino, “If you can use 3D animation, especially in aviation, it improves your ability to get across information to students… You can take an engine and kind of explode it, see all the individual parts, see how they fit together and how they work.” “Our first big project was Aviation 101,” said Avellino. Aviation 101 is a MOOC, the first that Special VFR Productions created. It is not rigorous enough to replace pilot ground school, but does provide a good starting point for people who want
Image Courtesy/Special VFR Productions Abive: A screenshot of the main logo of the Aviation 101 course, which was created by Special VFR Productions. This course is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that is still available online for free.
to learn more. “The intent was to stimulate interest in aviation, so we put it out on the internet for free. It’s still up there.” According to Avellino, aviation students at Embry-Riddle will probably recognize some of the Aviation 101 content, since many teachers in the College of Aviation use the videos in their classes as supplementary teaching materials. “[The videos] complements what they’re doing in the classroom because, if you’ve ever tried to draw something on the board and explain how it works, it’s not going to be that effective, unless you’re an incredible artist.” “To show a video of a 3D flight instrument, which you can take apart and look at the insides and see how it works, it makes it so much easier for the students.” Special VFR Productions is currently working on a program called PACE, or Pre-Activity
Computer Exercises. “The intent is that the students go through these assignments; they watch the videos and do the quiz at the end.” These quizzes must be answered 100 percent correctly before the student can advance, so students can take the quiz, and watch the associated video, as many times as necessary. “The intent is to get the students to understand the material… We just want them to learn the information.” “Then [the students] show up for their activity, whether it’s a flight or a simulator activity, and they’re going to be a lot more knowledgeable and prepared for the activity than they would be otherwise, if all they had done was read a book.” Special VFR Productions has, “quite a bit of camera equipment. We had to figure out how to use it in a plane, which was quite a challenge.” The small size of the air-
plane cockpits and the mobile nature of the machine itself made it difficult to operate cameras effectively. The reason why Special VFR Productions put the cameras in the cockpit was, “to show the student what they’re going to do when they get in that airplane for their flight. They can see the exact procedures they’re going to have to execute, what it’s going to look like in the airplane.” Other information in the videos include tips on how to better perform a maneuver or telling them to what standards they will be held. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback; a lot of students this is great. The flight instructors love it too, because it lets them skip over some of the fundamental basics stuff because [the students] show up and they already know it.” Aviation 101 and the other products of Special VFR productions help students to, “get through
their courses quicker, cheaper, and with a better understanding of what they have learned.” “We looked – we looked hard,” replied Mark Avelllino when asked if Special VFR Productions had any corresponding departments at other flight schools. Though the University of North Dakota did do some videos in the 2000s, there are no competitors for flight instructional videos that Special VFR Productions knows about. “Embry-Riddle is the only flight school out there with a film production studio.” This one-of-a-kind Department is helping Embry-Riddle maintain its unparalleled position among flight schools, by producing some of the highest quality flight instruction videos and MOOCs in the world, and also helping students learn to fly in an easier and less expensive way than they would without them.
Don’t Let Back Pain Get You Grounded Dr. Alesha Fleming Chiropractic Physician There is a growing prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders that can arise from long periods of sitting, with neck and back pain being some of the most commonly reported problems. In fact, news outlets such as Forbes and The Huffington Post have even suggested that sitting is just as bad for your health as smoking1,2! About forty percent of young adults spend most of their time at work sitting1. Many of these individuals may experience significant benefits from imple-
menting basic ergonomic changes in their workspace. For pilots, there is not much that can be done to adjust your working condition to help prevent the onset of many types of joint and muscle pains. Recommendations made for other individuals with desk jobs do not apply. It is not possible to alter the height of your computer or adjust the different knobs and rudders to accommodate your size. It is also not possible to recommend spending some of your time at work standing, or taking breaks from sitting to walk around the office. This makes preven-
tion of back and neck pain in pilots a bit more complicated to manage. The good news is that prevention, though slightly more elusive, is not impossible! The most common problem I see in young pilots is lower back pain. This is probably not surprising, as from what I hear, planes can be very cramped, leaving little room for adjustments. Since modifying the workplace is not an option for pilots, here are some things that can be done to prevent the onset of back and neck pain. 1. Stay hydrated. This is especially important for longer flights. Dehy-
dration has some adverse effects on your body, including decreasing the pliability of the discs in your spine, making them less likely to tear and turn into disc herniations. 2. Exercise regularly. There are numerous health benefits associated with regular exercise. Virtually all organ systems can be positively affected by engaging in just a few minutes of physical activity each day. Focusing on core strengthening exercises will allow your body to withstand significantly more stress before tissue damage occurs.
3. Practice proper lifting and ergonomics in other aspects of your life. Most patients who visit our office with back pain experience the onset of these symptoms while performing their usual daily activities. Something as simple as bending down to tie your shoes or reaching for a plate from your kitchen cabinet can be “the straw that broke the camel’s back” and sends pain shooting down your spine. Practice good posture throughout the day and avoiding slouching as you sit at your desk or walk across campus. If you need to do any heavy
lifting, lift by bending at your knees, and not at your waist. Finally, avoid activities that cause you to bend and twist at the waist simultaneously. Disc injuries in the low back are most commonly associated with this combination of movements. Following these simple recommendations can significantly decrease your risk of falling victim to potentially debilitating back pain. For more information on injury and disease prevention, you may directly download my eBook for free at www.nhwchiro. com/free-ebook.
Space
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ERAU Students, Faculty Attend 2016 Space Congress Space Congress is a threeday conference that invites all of the major players in the current space initiatives to gather and discuss their plans for the future. Attendees included representatives from NASA, Space Florida, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US Air Force, as well as private companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Orbital ATK. Embry-Riddle was also represented at Space Congress, with multiple students and professors attending the conference, as well as an event sponsorship from Embry-Riddle Worldwide. One of the professors that attended was Dr. Diane Howard, Associate Professor in the Commercial Space Operations Program. The theme of the 44th Space Congress was “The Journey: Further Exploration for Universal Opportunities.” For a full schedule of the events that happened, visit http://commons.erau.edu/
space-congress-proceedings/ proceedings-2016-44th/ Notable speakers included the first Director of the NASA Mars Program and “Mars Czar,” Professor Scott Hubbard, current Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, the Commander of the 45th Space Wing Launch Group, Colonel Eric Kryskowiak, and multiple astronauts. Perhaps the most famous speaker at the conference was Apollo XI astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon. Dr. Aldrin advocated space exploration and a sophisticated plan to travel to Mars and establish a permanent human presence. Mars was a common topic at Space Congress, since NASA released its “Journey to Mars,” plan outline in 2014 and has officially adopted the Red Planet as its goal. One of the panels covered the progress of the Journey to Mars, and included panelists from NASA’s Mars Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), the
Orion Program, and Ground Systems Development & Operations (GDSO). The NASA Journey to Mars plan has multiple phases, divided by proximity to the Earth. These stages are low-Earth Orbit, Deep Space, and Mars, and each will have specific missions take place that will further knowledge and prove important concepts for the eventual colonization of Mars. Another panel at the conference was “Transformational Space Legislation,” which was a familiar topic to Dr. Howard. She teaches classes on the history of Space Law and Policy in the United States and Abroad, as well as Commercial Space Flight Regulation and Licensing.“ thought that [the panel] represented the issues at hand as well as possible, considering that the room wasn’t filled with space lawyers… It was a good overview.” Many of the Embry-Riddle students that attended Space Congress were members of the Commercial Space Operations degree
program. This program has a history of attending career-relevant events. “I saw [multiple students] at the event, and not only did they get to see us, they got to meet people that are actually in the industry, at all different levels. Some of them are retired, some of them are in it now; just talking to these people, if you glean on piece of insight from a day’s worth of conversation, that’s one piece of insight you didn’t have before.” Groups of Commercial Space Operations students travel to Washington DC over Spring Break every year for March Storm, an annual citizen’s lobbying effort that advocates a Citizen’s Space Agenda. Another group of students from the CSO degree program traveled to the Mojave Air and Space Port for an externship program during Spring Break of 2016. This program was organized by the new Director of the Commercial Space Operations program, Dr. Justin Karl.
The 2016 Space Congress was a great learning and networking opportunity for Embry-Riddle students, as well as the hundreds of professionals that attended. Dr. Howard suggests that any student or person with
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If you glean on piece of insight from a day’s worth of conversation, that’s one piece of insight you didn’t have before.” -Dr. Diane Howard
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Jaclyn Wiley Editor-in-Chief
an interest in space should attend an event like this. “I think anyone here on the Space Coast that has any interest whatsoever in space should take advantage of all the amazing things that we have under our fingertips, just because we are here on the space coast.” One event on the Space Coast that is especially close to home for Emb-
ry-Riddle is the Space Traffic Management Conference (STM). This conference will be held at Embry-Riddle, and offers students a great opportunity to learn and meet people in the space industry. The call for papers has been posted. She continued, “You show up and you get your face known, so next time you [go to a conference] … and some of the same people are there and they recognize you, you become more and more of a known quantity and they realize also that yours is not a passing interest. And that’s what you want. You want to learn but you also want to establish your credibility.” The Space Traffic Management Conference will take place from November 16 to 18, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The date of the next Space Congress has not been decided at the time of the publishing of this article. Make sure to check their websites for more information.
The James Webb Space Telescope Andrew Bronshteyn Webmaster Scheduled for October of 2018, NASA will be hauling 7.15 tons of pure science 1 million miles away from Earth. With a primary mirror 2.75 times larger than the Hubble Telescope’s, the James Webb Space Telescope (or JWST) will be the largest and most precise telescope in space. Running $3 billion over budget, many years past schedule the project was nearly cancelled in 2011. NASA plans to launch the JWST on an Ariane V launch vehicle in just two more years. Once in space, the solar panels and high-gain antenna will deploy. After a week in space, it will unfold the tennis-court-sized sunshield – to protect it from the light and heat from the sun and Earth – deploy the telescope, and all of the focusing mirrors. Then, for the next six months are a series of instrument tests, optimizations, and adjustments. What the telescope will look at first is currently to-be-determined by NASA
and its affiliates. The telescope will be located at the 2nd SunEarth Lagrange point, one million miles away from us. It will be effectively using the Earth as a shield, as the point where it orbits always has Earth between it and the sun. It will still need its sunshield to protect itself and the sensitive technology inside, however. Unfortunately, this also means that it is beyond the reach of repairs, meaning that the engineers building it are being very careful and double-checking everything. In fact, each of the eighteen mirrors are individually checked, and doublechecked, and they will be checked as a whole when they are all assembled together. A lesson learned from the expensive Hubble mishap, caused by a simple error in imperialmetric conversion. The mirrors, despite being incredibly large (21 feet in diameter when deployed), are quite light thanks to being made out of beryllium – the lightest alkaline metal on the
periodic table. The mirrors are coated in a thin (100 nanometer) layer of gold to aid in the reflection of red and infrared light. Despite covering such a massive area, the amount of gold used has a similar mass to that of a golf ball. The point of using gold is it’s highly reflective nature, and ability to reflect red and infrared light, which are the primary light frequencies that its sensors will be using. But what are it’s goals? NASA gave the mission four distinct goals that they want the JWST to accomplish before the end of its lifespan: “1) Search for the first galaxies or luminous objects that formed after the Big Bang. 2) Determine how galaxies evolved from their formation until the present. 3) Observe the formation of stars from the first stages to the formation of planetary systems. 4) Measure the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems and investigate the potential for life in those systems.” –
JWST.NASA.Gov Speaking of its lifespan; the engineers are building it to last no less than 5.5 years, with the goal that it lasts for 10. With its incredibly advanced sensors, it will look deeper and more clearly than the Hubble can. The sensors are special, not only in their accuracy and precision, but because they will operating only 50 Kelvin above absolute zero. That’s -370 degrees Farenheit! Whereas, the outer layer of the sun-
shield will be at a cozy 185 degrees Ferenheit: a 555 degree difference. On board the spacecraft, the advanced scientific instruments include: the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) made by the University of Arizona and Lockheed Martin, the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) made by the European Space Agency, the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) made by the MIRI Consortium, and the Fine Guidance Sen-
sor/ Near InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (FGS-NIRISS) made by the Canadian Space Agency. The James Webb Space Telescope it taking a long, arduous journey to completion and launch, one that is not yet finished. But when the Telescope finally reaches its intended location, the knowledge that it beams back to Earth will make all the hard work worthwhile. No doubt, countless a thesis will be based on the data that it sends back.
Image Courtesy:NASA An artist’s rendition of the James Webb Space Telescope, which will look into deep space to find information about the early formation of galaxies. The JWST is projected to be launched in 2018, on an Ariane V launch vehicle.
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Jaclyn Wiley Editor-in-Chief
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Zachary Fedewa Advertising Manager