March 8, 2020
In this special episode, we hear from our four Outstanding Alumni/ae at the annual awards banquet that took place on January 16, 2020 at the Dauch Alumni Center.
Judy Cleland, Jennifer Kerr, Pedro Pires de Miranda, and Arnold Young each have an incredible career and are such an inspiration to our students and alumni. After each were recognized, our honorees gave a brief speech that tells a bit about their career journey and who helped them along the way. Enjoy!
December 9, 2019
Producers Alex and Bryce, both Multidisciplinary Engineering students studying Acoustical Engineering, had the unique privilege to interview Dr. Grace during the School of Engineering Education's 150th celebration, including 50 Years of IDE. Learn how Dr. Grace came up with the idea for creating a degree program that intersects engineering and other disciplines and why it was so important at the time (and continues to be)!
Photo Credit: Alumnus Dave Meeker #bringingtech2you
November 4, 2019
Devin Bechtell, ’19 MDE General Engineering, stopped by the Nest while he was on campus recruiting for John Deere at Industrial Roundtable. Devin gives us a candid conversation as a newly transitioned college graduate to working full time as a Quality Engineer. He also shared his path to Multidisciplinary Engineering from Mechanical Engineering, with a unique perspective on the desired skills he learned through our degree program.
October 7, 2019
Two acoustical engineering students meet two acoustical engineering alumni. OH, AND UNITED, they are the former and current co-producers of the Ides of Engineering Podcast! In this premier episode of our new co-producers Bryce and Alex, we meet up with Oscar and Zach in their home studio at a shared house near Indianapolis. Both are newly graduated from the Multidisciplinary Engineering Degree Program with a concentration in acoustical engineering. Bryce and Alex talk with Oscar and Zach about their transition from Purdue into their new roles as acoustical engineers. Listeners will learn more about the different and exciting roles of an acoustical engineer and what exactly it feels like in the first few months of graduating from Purdue. Be sure to tune in!
April 22, 2019
Drew’s self-designed plan of study would lay the groundwork for what would become the visual design concentration in Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies and Multidisciplinary Engineering. He shared some of his amazing experiences and expertise in the world of design and really showcased how important interdisciplinary thinking is to his profession. He also spoke on his current relationship at Purdue and the role he has taken on here, and in the process, gave some great advice for any student trying to navigate the complex period of time we call college.
April 8, 2019
We sit down with Professor Richard Dionne, a Purdue University Clinical Assistant Professor of Theatre in the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts, who mentors the multidisciplinary (MDE) theatre engineering students. Over the last several years, Purdue MDE theater engineering students have gained quite a reputation in the entertainment industry. We had the opportunity to sit down with Rich to discuss both his career and what exactly it is that makes this concentration so special.
March 25, 2019
Co-hosts Oscar and Zach met up with our alumni Paul Cloyd, Eric Schmidt, and Al Zdilla at the 2018 Purdue Homecoming. On this special occasion of the kickoff of Purdue's 150th Giant Leaps Celebration, we were excited to talk with Eric and Paul (both IDE '76), who we see regularly at our annual homecoming events. It was quite a surprise to meet Al (also IDE '76), as he was attending the game with Eric and Paul. You will hear about their connections, concentrations (discussing both environmental engineering and architectural engineering) in the mid-70's and how their degrees launched into successful careers across the country. For good measure, Eric told a great "Dr. Grace" story too, as many of our alumni do.
Thanks for tuning in!
![John Babb, ‘80 IDE Alumnus, Ocean Engineering]()
March 11, 2019
Co-hosts Oscar and Zach had the opportunity to chat with John Babb, a 1980 Interdisciplinary Engineering alumnus with a concentration in Ocean Engineering. John has had an amazing career in the submarine and defense industry working at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, New Jersey for over 30 years. John designs submarines for the future - as in 2040 and beyond. In their discussion, John talked about the submarine industry and how he has seen it evolve, as well as how his experience in interdisciplinary engineering shaped his career.
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John is an Engineering Education Industrial Advisory Council member and a 2018 recipient of the Superior Civilian Service Award, the second highest civilian award from the U.S. Navy. "The award recognizes Babb’s outstanding contributions to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division in Newport, the U.S. Navy and the nation." He is also a strong advocate for the youth and has mentored countless individuals throughout his career. We are proud to have John on our industrial advisory council to provide the same leadership with our own students, faculty, and staff.
Since this podcast was recorded, John was selected as the Deputy Technical Director for Technical Excellence at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division. He is responsible for all technical work that occurs at the Newport location. Congratulations, John!
February 25, 2019
In this episode, our co-hosts Zach and Oscar sat down with Professor Rick Thomas, Music Composition and Sound Design for Theatre in the Patti & Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance in the Purdue University College of Liberal Arts’ Department of Theatre. He has won numerous awards for his innovative, passionate, and multidisciplinary approach to teaching sound design. Because of his multidisciplinary nature, Professor Thomas has served as an important mentor to countless acoustical engineering students and alumni in Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Engineering. Zach, Oscar, and Professor Thomas discuss his history with the acoustical engineering concentration, his general approach to teaching, and his perspective on the nature of music.
