Insect cyborgs, new materials for solar panels, a tool for recycling coal fly ash, a better bird-tracking system and a new treatment for brain tumors were among the 71 projects spotlighted at the 2007 Engineering Research Showcase, Sept. 11.

The event, organized by the College of Engineering's Office of Research and Graduate Studies, highlighted the innovative work of undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the college.

"The research featured in the showcase addresses some of society's most pressing problems," said Kent Fuchs, the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering, in welcoming visitors to the event. "The far-reaching impact of this work will help improve human health, uncover sources of sustainable energy and improve communications around the world."

Craig Weinman, a materials science and engineering Ph.D. candidate, won first prize in the poster competition for his work with Professor Christopher Ober on environmentally green boat paint. Coatings currently used on marine vessels to prevent the growth of barnacles, algae and other organisms contain toxic metals.

Weinman and Ober are creating a nontoxic coating that consists of two layers of synthetic rubber: a special outer layer that inhibits the growth of organisms, supported by a durable layer made from a material also used in shoe soles.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Cornell's newly appointed vice provost for research, Robert A. Buhrman, related the difficulty researchers often have in describing their work to nonscientists.

"But no matter how hard or easy it is to inform people about what it is that you do, it is research and scholarship that really define Cornell to the world, and it is you graduate students and postdocs who are the key instruments that create that research," said Buhrman, who is the John Edson Sweet Professor of Engineering. "It turns out that you are really good at what you do. That shows through so well here."

Sharath K. Bhagavatula '08 won the Undergraduate Prize for his work with mechanical and aerospace engineering Assistant Professor Brian Kirby on electrokinetic phenomena in hydrophobic microsystems. Their goal is to develop an understanding of how fluids interact with various substrates in a microfluidic environment, which could improve biomedical devices.

For the first time this year, the showcase featured short oral presentations by graduate students on their research. Topics included a biosensor for the infectious parasite Cryptosporidium, a potential treatment for osteoporosis and an improved rechargeable battery.

Second prize in the poster competition went to Ph.D. student Marleen Kamperman for her work with materials science and engineering Professor Ulrich Wiesner on porous nonoxide ceramics.

Designing an electronically assisted walker won third prize for an interdisciplinary team of graduate students and undergraduates from biological, biomedical and mechanical engineering. Biomedical engineering master's degree students Sheryl Lau and Philip Wang worked with Suneth Attygale '07, mechanical engineering senior Homer Chiang and biomedical engineering senior lecturer David Lipson.

Judges represented the event's corporate sponsors: Simon Yeung, Dow Chemical Co.; Hui Li, Spansion Inc.; John Spoonhower, M.S. '75, Ph.D. '77, Kodak Co.; Don Bott, Xerox Corp.; Alison McKay, Becton, Dickinson and Co.; and Barbara Merritt, Lockheed Martin Corp. Intel also sponsored the event.

Robert Emro is a communications specialist in Cornell's College of Engineering.