Engineering News Today: August 2009, Part II

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has announced that a gift from NV Energy will allow the university to add a minor in solar and renewable energy this fall.

According to the story, “Southern Nevada is the epicenter of solar interest.” NV Energy expects to need workers skilled in renewable energy in the future. Read more about the new minor at UNLV

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A Stanford University engineer, Stephen R. Quake, has invented a new technology for decoding DNA. According to sources Quake’s machine, the Heliscope Single Molecule Sequencer, can decode a human genome in four weeks.

Previous costs for sequencing and decoding human DNA was approximately $500,000. With Quake’s machine, decoding his own DNA cost less than $50,000. Read full article

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An increased collaboration among faculty at Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering (VUSE) and Owen Graduate School of Management is spawning new technology ventures.

Specifically, students from the two schools have collaborated on Internet services for wireless phones. A team of students has formed a new company, Great Glass Media LLC.

Also, rising senior Ben Gotow, TN B 2010, has already earned significant income for his writing of apps for smart-phones.
Read article for more details

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