Michael Cantor (Chemical & Materials Engineering '80, and J.D. '83) is clearly a booster for economic development in Connecticut. He serves on state and University boards promoting it. He is expanding his Hartford-based law firm with his partner, Phil Colburn II. And he is committed to the education of innovative UConn students.

On Friday, June 4th, the School of Engineering hosted a special presentation by alumnus and NASA astronaut Richard Mastracchio, who was joined by two retired Hamilton Sundstrand engineers, Donald Rethke (aka "Dr. Flush") and Richard Wilde. The all-star event took place before a rapt audience of more than 300 people of all ages that included alumni as well as eager school children.

Antibodies -- the specialized proteins responsible for identifying and routing out disease -- are the subject of a five-year National Science Foundation (NSF) Early Career Development grant awarded to Dr. Tai-Hsi Fan, an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering.

The Electrical & Computer Engineering department will team with UConn's Center for Continuing Studies (CCS) to offer an intensive one-week residential workshop on Robust Design. The certificate program will take place at the Merlin D. Bishop Center on the Storrs campus from April 26-30, 2010.

Dr. Alexander Agrios wants to build a better solar cell. "Dye-sensitized solar cells offer a radically different way to collect solar energy compared to silicon-based solar cells -- a major advantage being that they are produced using less expensive materials," he says.