Page 12 - Kettering Magazine Spring 2015

RESEARCH NEWS Faculty Member a Leading Expert on Mobile Social Kettering Joins PEIC Networks ettering University became the first university to join ocial networks are still relatively Kthe Power Electronics Industry Collaborative (PEIC -- Snew as a communications technology, pronounced ‘peak’), a national consortium of manufacturers, but rapid advances are already causing suppliers, researchers and other stakeholders working to the original definition to evolve. advance the power electronics industry in the United States. In particular, the proliferation of mobile devices along with Kettering is currently an associate member of the consortium, increased networking capabilities has spurred development which includes major companies like General Motors, of an entirely new kind of social network -- the opportunistic Delphi, Magna Powertrain, Dow Corning, NextEnergy and mobile social network. Opportunistic mobile social networks Argonne National are platforms that provide services aimed at maintaining social Laboratories, among connections through a handheld, wireless device. Characteristics others. of these networks include intermittent contacts, disconnections and reconnections, energy and storage limitations. “PEIC evaluates the power electronics The study of opportunistic mobile social networks is of great workforce in the interest to scholars, industry and consumers because of the United States and potential for the technology, and Kettering University faculty helps fill gaps in member Dr. Yungsheng Wang, assistant professor of Computer education,” said Science, has co-edited a comprehensive new book on the topic Dr. Kevin Bai, called, Opportunistic Mobile Social Networks. assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering “This is a new and rapidly growing field,” Wang said. “Practically and director of Kettering University’s Advanced Power speaking, there is great interest in the potential of these Electronics Lab (APEL). “The organization is trying to identify networks because they can foster new forms of collaboration and the types of expertise needed in power electronics and offer new types of services.” develop solutions.” Read more: www.kettering.edu/news/kettering-university- Read more: www.kettering.edu/news/kettering- faculty-member-publishes-book-analyzing-opportunistic- university-joins-power-electronics-industry-collaborative mobile-social Using Tolkien to Teach Leadership olkien’s stories have played a big role in the “We look at leadership. What makes an effective Tlife of Liberal Studies faculty member Dr. Laura leader?,” Miller-Purrenhage said. “Aragorn, Gandalf, Miller-Purrenhage. Theoden and Denethor - what are the differences in the way they lead?” She has partnered with fellow faculty member Dr. Denise Stodola to make her lifelong passion for Miller-Purrenhage uses the examples of Frodo and Tolkien into her professional pursuit as they have Sam to discuss how unethical behavior can be combined to offer LIT 374: Seminar on J.R.R. Tolkien resisted in the corporate environments just as the as a Liberal Studies course for Kettering students. hobbits resisted the temptations of the Ring. Miller-Purrenhage wanted to develop a course that was relevant “What causes unethical behavior?,” Miller-Purrenhage said. “We all to Kettering students who split their educational careers between hope to be good people but over and over again, we find that even the classroom and corporate settings. She also wanted to direct the best of people can get corrupted.” her research to coincide with the themes of the classroom and Read more: www.kettering.edu/news/using-jrr-tolkien- chose to study leadership and withstanding evil - both narratives in teach-corporate-leadership Tolkien’s work that can be analogous to corporate environments. 12 KETTERING MA G AZINE