Greetings SoMD!

Hope that you are able to stay warm during these fluctuating cold times.

Thanks to those who joined us at the SOMD INCOSE social last month. It always good to get together and socialize about what is going on in the community, NAVAIR and otherwise. It’s also good to get perspectives from others in who may not work the same type of programs.

I would like to say thanks to our members that judged the 2013 St. Mary’s County Science fair this month. We reviewed over 100 projects from St. Mary’s County! Sixteen were specifically evaluated with some very exciting topics: Car Safety Design, Counter-Intuitive Wing Design, Optimized Antenna for Lightning Strike Measurement, Electromagnetic Materials and Shape for Better Lift Performance, Alternative Insulation Strategies, Aerodynamics Using Dimpling Effects, and How to Build a Secure Delivery Box for Home Use. We had the difficult task of narrowing these down to 1

st and 2nd place winners in the junior and senior divisions but after talking with each of the students, we were able to reach a consensus. We gave out $625 in awards money and will join The Patuxent Partnership on 4 March at the River’s Edge where the students will be available to present their projects at a joint luncheon. Further details are included in this edition of the SE Newsletter.

In keeping with the thought of continuing education, how often are people thrust into a new position where they are undertrained or do not understand the language of the position. This can lead to confusion and strife amongst those we work and interface with. A common language is required in the field of Systems Engineering and in general, program management. Take the time to educate yourself both on and off duty in order to not only ease tension you may experience due to language barriers but also prepare you for that better job. Look to SOMD INCOSE for continuing to bring you access to such educating events throughout the year. Adding ASEP, CSEP or ESEP to your list of goals this year could pay off in years to come.

Have a great month!

Rob Bledsoe

INCOSE Southern Maryland President
 

2013 Southern Maryland Chapter of INCOSE Science and Engineering Fair Winners with award presenter Daniel Folsom, ASEP

The St. Mary’s Science and Engineering Fair was held today and our Chapter judged over 100 projects and awarded $625 in award money.  The veteran INCOSE judges said they think that the projects have continued better across the board and it is getting harder judge.  The first pass where we narrow the 100 plus projects by consensus down to the 16 was difficult for the judges: John Walker, Judy Walker, Karl Geist, Steve McKeown and Daniel Folsom.  We decided on projects from the traditional Engineering categories judged by INCOSE at the International Science and Engineering Fair: Electrical and Mechanical, Materials and Bioengineering, Energy and Transportation, and Environmental Management; but also from Mathematical Sciences, Microbiology and Physics and Astronomy categories. 

In the end we had to split the 1^st and 2^ndplace award money and award two first places in the Senior Division. Both from Great Mills High school,

2013 Senior 1st Place Winner Kunal Kataria with his prototype car safety technology demonstrator

 Kunal Kataria with his smart car technology prototype and Sonia Lee for her 2^ndyear project on a counter intuitive wing design. 

2013 Senior 1st Place Winner Sonia Lee with her continuation project looing into optimizing wing lift using wing flow holes

Connor Alsheimer also from Great Mills picked up an award for this antenna design project. 

2013 Senior Award winner Connor Alsheimer with is optimizing antennia design project for lighting studies.

In the Junior division Jonathan Yu from Little Flower School came away with a First award for his project work in Electro-Magnetic material studies, 

2013 Junior 1st award winner Jonathan Yu electro-magnetic system metal analysis for maximum sustained lift using the minimum cost and energy.

Annie Imhof from Spring Ridge middle school earned a 2^ndaward with her very thorough study of home insulation systems. 

2013 Junior 2nd award winner Annie Imhof with her systems study of home installation

Two other students from Spring Ridge middle school picked up awards. Jaret Williams for his smart mail box production prototype of a secure mail box that one judge was heard to say he would put it outside his home as it was.   

2013 Junior award winner Jaret Williams with his project prototype a secure mailbox that he could put into production tomorrow

Also Anna Shevchuk show a good analysis of dimpled wing surface designs and the associated lift.  The winners received award checks at the fair and will be invited to an award luncheon where they will honored by the whole chapter and receive embossed certificates. 

2013 Junior award winner Anna Shechuk with her project looking to optimize dimpled surfaces at various air speeds for maximum lift.

The luncheon details are being worked out with the co-host Patuxent partnership which will also honor their winners.  The students will be asked to bring their projects so the chapter can help them enhance them for next years and for the regional fair that some are continuing on to this year.