Workshop on the Boundary Element Method (BEM): Bridging Education and Industrial Applications; Minneapolis, Minnesota; 23-26 April 2012

University Of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis MN

Investigators

Abstract

The grant will support a workshop on the Boundary Element Method (BEM), "Bridging Education and Industrial Applications," to be held on the University of Minnesota campus from April 23-26, 2012. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) have been identified by many agencies as key areas in research innovations that will help the US maintain its leadership in the 21st century. The BEM is a numerical method whose applications cover nearly all the STEM fields. Yet, in the recent years, the center of activity in the area of BEM has shifted away from the US. The objectives of the workshop include: to foster an ongoing dialog among the researchers, educators, and practicing engineers related to new areas in the field of BEM (such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, and alternative energy); to enhance STEM education in the US via the BEM; to train a new generation of researchers in computational science and engineering; and to advance BEM applications to practical industry problems. It is anticipated that 10 University of Minnesota students and 30 US students from outside of Minnesota will take part in the workshop. The first two days of the four-day event will include poster and oral presentations by students. As a result of the workshop, the importance of BEM in research, education, and applications will be significantly increased, including its influence on STEM education in the US. It is expected that the workshop will promote collaborative research and advanced applications of the BEM to practical industrial problems. In selecting the speakers and other attendees, the organizing committee will make sure that the audience will have participants from academia and industry. Efforts will also be made to include participants of different levels (junior, senior) and from underrepresented groups. To disseminate knowledge, the outcomes of the workshops will be published in an edited book. The presentations and notes will be available for download from the workshop's website. In addition, a website on Green's functions and the BEM will be designed.