Keeping options open is a top priority for this mechanical engineering student leader

Affectionately called a “Sneakerhead” by his peers, Robert Blount, Jr. has an enviable collection of sneakers that he loves.

“If I had to choose, the coolest sneaker would be an off-white Jordan 1,” he says. “I love the design and artwork of a sneaker. Sneakers are like the stock market, you can buy and depending on their value, sit on them a while, then maybe sell them for a lot more. I love collecting them.”

Engineering researchers use mechanical engineering, scientific computing and forestry to better understand prescribed burns

In the effort to mitigate destructive wildfires, wildland managers often fight those uncontrolled fires with prescribed fire — carefully controlled burns to safely eliminate the vegetation that piles up on forest floors and adds to potential fuel.
 
Prescribed fires are an important tool for managing fire-prone landscapes, but they come with a cost. Fire makes smoke, which carries tiny, unburnt particles through the air, lowering air quality and making breathing more difficult.