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2020 in review: BYU College of Engineering highlights

2020 was a great year for the BYU Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering. While it was full of challenges, students and faculty viewed every challenge as an opportunity to innovate.

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In 2020, BYU Engineering students and faculty conducted groundbreaking research, received notable awards and innovated to improve the lives of others.

Below are just a few highlights from the BYU College of Engineering in 2020:

1. Innovating for good 

BYU IT & Cybersecurity professor Chia-Chi Teng teamed up with a BYU Nursing professor to create a bluetooth stethoscope utilized for protecting healthcare workers. BYU Manufacturing Engineering students and faculty 3D-printed masks for first responders during a PPE shortage. BYU Mechanical Engineering students partnered with a non-profit to develop a 99% effective nanofiber mask. A BYU Capstone team developed the “impossible” to help therapists working with children diagnosed with autism.

2. Researching for impact

BYU Information Technology professor Amanda Hughes received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to research social media and AI during the COVID-19 crisis and other emergencies. BYU Electrical and Computer Engineering was selected to work on an NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) for quantum internet. BYU Chemical Engineering received $5.8M from the U.S. Department of Energy and external funding to research CO2 power cycles.

3. Making a mark

The BYU Engineering Cybersecurity program, established in 2018, ranked number ten in best schools for bachelor degrees in cybersecurity, according to Cyber Degrees EDU. Dr. Evan Bingham, BYU Construction and Facilities Management assistant professor, received the international Excellence in Teaching Award from the Associated Schools of Construction. Dean Michael Jensen and former BYU Engineering faculty David Arnold won the regional Entrepreneur of the Year® award from Earnst and Young. A BYU team, with Civil Engineering student Heather Siddoway, won first place in the Lockheed Martin Ethics competition for the second year in a row, maintaining BYU’s reputation of excellence in ethics.

4. Growing from a distance 

With COVID-19 restrictions offering new challenges, BYU Engineering students and alumni exemplified innovation, resilience and fortitude to continue their personal growth. Students and alumni faced challenges as an opportunity to grow by developing projects like a skeleton racing simulator, a CNC cutter, a 3D model of BYU’s campus, and more. Check out more of their stories on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

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