ASME TechCast

Aaron Wemhoff, professor of mechanical engineering at Villanova University, examines waste heat generated by data centers and posits that the situation is as much an opportunity as a challenge.

Tina Gallo of SCHOTT joins us in this episode to discuss the remarkable versatility of borosilicate glass. From its pharmaceutical origins to its role in fusion reactors, space telescopes, and microelectronics, learn how Borofloat® is helping engineers meet the demands of today's most advanced technologies.This episode is part two of a four-part series. To learn more about how SCHOTT's specialty glass solutions can support your next breakthrough, visit schott.com⁠.

Brown University doctoral student in fluid and thermal sciences, Eva Erickson, brought her engineering mindset to Survivor Season 48. As the show's first openly autistic contestant, she went the distance—making it to the finale and finishing second overall. Erickson is one of 25 engineers selected for ASME's 2025 Watch List. Full list to be published in the June issue of Mechanical Engineering magazine.In this episode, she shares insights on her engineering research, her autism advocacy, and the surprising inspiration behind her decision to join Survivor. The episode was recorded shortly after the airing of S48 E05.

The editors of Mechanical Engineering magazine and ASME.org return with their picks of the most interesting stories they've come across over the past couple months. Join Louise Poirier, Cathy Cecere, Sarah Alburakeh, and Jeffrey Winters as they talk about:SKETCHPAD VERSUS TABLETPatriots Pick Mechanical Engineer in the 2025 NFL DraftLEVELING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG WOMENELECTRIC GEOGRAPHYThe Brakes That Got America Movingand more.

Although AI and robotics are distinctly different fields, together, the two are unlocking incredible new possibilities. One company that's making waves in this area is Milpitas, California-based RoboForce, an AI robotics startup that has developed an advanced “Robo-Labor” system. The company's robots are capable of 1mm precision in fine motor movements and manipulations. When combined with its internally designed and developed AI expert model, a fleet of these machines are able to install and secure solar modules for large-scale commercial and utility-scale projects.RoboForce will be launching pilot projects throughout 2025, with plans for a commercial launch at the end of this year. The company's founder and CEO Leo Ma is a 15-year veteran in the AI robotics space. He joins ASME TechCast to share insights into his journey, the robotic solutions at RoboForce, and what's next.

Being both an elite athlete and studying mechanical engineering at a top school is not easy, yet with a strong work ethics and perseverance Ella Escobar pursues both her passions.

What's the hype around Czinger hypercars? Besides holding records as some of the fastest street legal cars on the planet, the California-based brand is out to pioneer a new era in the automotive space by fundamentally changing the way performance cars are designed and manufactured. Chief Engineer Ewan Baldry shares what it's like behind the scenes of engineering hypercars with Czinger's additive manufacturing technology.

In this episode of ASME TechCast, we chat with SCHOTT's Tina Gallo and Zach Wimmer about how specialty glass is pushing the limits of what's possible in engineering. From its 19th-century roots with Otto Schott to today's high-performance tech, they break down what makes this material so unique—and why it's shaping the future of innovation.This episode is part one of a four-part series. Visit schott.com to learn more about leveraging SCHOTT's expertise to elevate your projects.

Mechanical engineers are in high demand and Addison Group's Jim Gerlock examines what recent graduates and seasoned MEs need when it comes to skills and training in the current and future job market.

A new governing trifecta has swept into Washington and has set out to bring immediate changes to the way the Federal government does business. What does that mean for engineers in industry and research? Paul Fakes, director of ASME's Government Relations education and outreach programs, explains what policy changes engineers should keep an eye out for in 2025.

The editors of Mechanical Engineering magazine discuss some of the best articles in its January issue - the first in its new digital format. These include an interactive feature about NASA's Artemis program and a look at startups developing sustainable ways to make steel.

Historian Emily Murphy joined ASME Techcast to discuss the role that engineering played at the height of international trade in Salem, Mass., when standards, weights, measures, gauges, and scales helped fund a new nation.

In this episode, we dive into Wiley's annual survey on the content preferences and trends of engineers and industry professionals. Danish Khan, David Löh, and Chris Darch of Wiley unpack which types of content resonated most with engineers in the past year, the platforms they trust, and key metrics for connecting with the engineering community. To learn more about the survey findings and Wiley Corporate Solutions, visit ⁠www.wiley.com/corporate-solutions⁠.

The staff of Mechanical Engineering magazine discuss their selections for the top stories for the year. This year's top topics are clustered around energy and sustainability themes.

From the ever expanding use of automation to keeping employees safe and comfortable on the production line, manufacturers continue to face hurdles as they seek to optimize operations. Doug Backinger, senior vice president of solutions engineering and innovation at Caster Concepts, joins ASME TechCast to discuss some of the issues facing today's manufacturers, strategies that his teams are using to recruit and retain talent in this critical space, and why it's so important to not neglect the caster.

For commercial buildings, heating and cooling have long been known as the dominant energy draw. But manufacturers devote a lot of resources to HVAC in their factories and other facilities as well. Forooza Samadi, assistant director of the Alabama Industrial Training and Assessment Center in Tuscaloosa describes the scope of the challenge for small and medium-size manufacturers to reduce HVAC costs and improve efficiency.

Gabriella Coloyan Fleming and Abdulrahman Alsharif join ASME Techcast to discuss the technical and professional skills students need to move from higher education into their engineering careers.

Solar electricity generation is on the rise. In fact, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reported in late 2023 that more new solar generating capacity was installed in the U.S. during the first eight months of 2023 than any other renewable or fossil fuel-based energy source. But imagine if the solar panels generating all this power were able to capture even more energy. That's where perovskites are coming into play. Researchers have been investigating this nanomaterial for its ability to improve the efficiency of solar cells for years and commercialization could be on the horizon. Here to talk about perovskites and their potential here on Earth and even out in space is John Iannelli, president and founder of Caelux, a company that is working toward commercializing the use of perovskites to make solar energy more powerful and cost-effective.

University of Maryland professor Ryan Sochol shares how he created an entire syllabus around The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. His course leverages the advanced physics and engineering featured in the game to teach machine design and CAD software to university students. Read more on the topic and get links to the referenced video and research paper here on our website.

Teresa Curvin speaks about women, golf, and the future of STEM. She joins ASME Techcast from South Carolina where she is working to help the next generation understand and grow to love engineering. 

Sustainability is top of mind across industries. For engineers, designing and building the solutions of tomorrow not only requires a keen mind and attention to detail, but navigating the multitude of requirements set forth by industry and regulators. To speak about what's happening on the sustainability regulation front in the construction industry, ASME TechCast welcomes Tommy Linstroth, the founder and CEO of Green Badger, a software as a service (SaaS) provider simplifying sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) in the built industry. Green Badger is accelerating environmentally responsible construction worldwide by equipping the industry with affordable technology and the knowledge to automate and easily report LEED compliance and ESG metrics.  

The sensors and connected systems that make up the Internet of Things produce more data than most managers can handle. According to Rich Masulis of Wesco this means engineers and production managers are missing some signals that could make their factories more efficient. Masulis discusses how artificial intelligence can be trained on IoT data to produce insights for manufacturers.

Tracy Brower speaks about happiness, work-life, and the future of work. Advisor and coach, the vice president of workplace insights for Steelcase, offers advice for engineering without regret.

"The future is going to be the clean industrial revolution." AtmosZero is on a mission to electrify and decarbonize steam. The startup's co-founder and CEO, Addison Stark, shares his mechanical engineering story, what led him to rethink the boiler, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurial engineers.

Where is the former Miss America now? Nuclear engineer Grace Stanke recently received her degree and moved to the East Coast for the next big step in her exciting career. In this episode, we talk about how her journey started and what 2024 holds in store for the Wisconsin native.

The workforce shortage and war for talent continue. One area that's being hit particularly hard is the technical workforce, which is facing headwinds such as rapidly advancing technological requirements and antiquated perceptions. Despite growing demand across industries, from energy to manufacturing and beyond, there's a widening gap between available positions and qualified candidates. And the engineer-to-technician ratio is widening, even though the need for critical hands-on skillsets is growing as well. Parminder Jassal, CEO and co-founder of Unmudl, a skills-to-jobs marketplace that connects learners and employers via a coast-to-coast network of leading community colleges, joins ASME TechCast to discuss these challenges and how industry, the public, and educators can turn this trend around.

Mechanical engineer, author, speaker, and trainer, the executive vice president of RMF Engineering in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., discusses how firms can recruit, retain, and train young professionals.

Mars has been a longstanding target for exploration, but for nearly 50 years, we've been sending robots to examine the Martian surface. Elizabeth Jens of Jet Propulsion Laboratory is one of the engineers working on systems used by the Perseverance rover and other missions. In this podcast, she talks about her work and the importance of encouraging young women to consider science and engineering careers.

Mechanical Engineering magazine's June/July cover story delves into the minds of early career engineers to hear their diverse stories, from humble beginnings to great achievements, and how they're paving the way forward for future engineering generations. In this sneak preview, we hear from Amy Elliott about her work in 3D printing and robotics at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, as well as her public outreach initiatives representing women in STEM and helping kids find their passion in engineering.

Identifying, training, and retaining talent continues to be a challenge for all fields of engineering. At the same time, diversifying the mix of engineering graduates to include more underrepresented groups is critical. Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), minority serving institutions (MSIs), tribal colleges and universities, and others are making significant strides in growing the number of underrepresented groups entering engineering through a variety of strategies.In this episode, Craig Scott shares insights into engineering workforce challenges and some possible solutions. Scott is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering at Morgan State University in Baltimore. He is also president of the Inclusive Engineering Consortium (IEC)—a non-profit organization comprised of historically minority serving institutions working to produce a larger and better prepared pool of African-American, Hispanic, and Native American engineering graduates.

Lauren Neal talks about her experience as a working engineer in a male-dominated field. She covers strategies for recruitment, retention, DEI, and leadership.

Artificial intelligence isn't just for faking voices or generating images. The technology can also sift through mountains of data and extract actionable insights. Humberto Moreira, principal solutions engineer at the software development services company Gigster, explains how these insights can assist manufacturers become more flexible and be more attuned to consumers.

When it comes to research and development, engineers lead the way across a wide range of industries. But when it's time to translate cutting-edge research and prototypes into commercial applications and technologies, the process can be quite complex. Paul Cherukuri helps shed some light on that process, from strategies to challenges to real-world examples. Cherukuri is Rice University's vice president for innovation and he also serves as Chief Innovation Officer, Adjunct Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship, and Associate Research Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Risk-adverse, technical professionals find securing new business takes understanding a new generation of buyers and how they build relationships, assess services, and ultimately purchase products.

While it make be an election year, there is plenty of opportunity for science and engineering policy to be passed and implemented in Washington. ASME's Paul Fakes previews the potential areas for bipartisan agreement.

In a year that started to feel like “normal,” technology and the engineers behind it were a big part of the story. Listen as the staff of Mechanical Engineering magazine discuss their picks for the top engineering stories of 2023 in this special year-end edition of ASME TechCast.

A program called Space Workforce 2030 is seeking to bring in a new generation of engineers that is more diverse and talented than ever. It will significantly increase the number of women and underrepresented groups not only in the workforce, but also across aerospace engineering programs and senior company leadership. Via Van Liew, principal director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at The Aerospace Corporation, one of the many companies that has committed to the Space Workforce 2030 pledge, shares more about the program and how it's making its mark.

Alquist 3D CEO Zachary Mannheimer talks about 3D printing affordable housing and building a workforce.

Alquist 3D CEO Zachary Mannheimer talks about using 3D printers to build affordable housing and stand up a workforce.

Jorge Puente, vice president of engineering with Kelly's Science, Engineering, Tech, and Telecom unit talks about busy engineering firms that are enjoying low turnover rates, but still report that recruitment remains a challenge.

An often-overlooked source of air pollution is the household kitchen, especially those that use gas ranges and ovens. The environmental advocacy group WEACT for Environmental Justice recently conducted a study to look at the impact of switching out gas stoves for induction cooktops in New York City public housing. Jennifer Ventrella, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering who helped conduct the study, joins ASME TechCast to discuss the results and the steps that can be taken to mitigate reduce indoor air pollution.

Moving from a technical role into a management position is difficult to navigate. Engineers find themselves in uncharted waters. Jeff Perry, founder of More Than Engineering is a software, mechanical, and manufacturing engineer. For years he has been working with engineers and helping them map out the necessary skills for becoming a quality leader in the field.

In New York City, Local Law 97 is pushing owners of large buildings to take steps to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. Tristan Schwartzman, principal and director of energy services at Goldman Copeland, a New York-based engineering firm, discusses the impact of the law and the steps being taken to prepare buildings in the city for a low-carbon future.

Mechanical Engineering magazine's October/November cover story dives into the engineering feats and solutions that brought NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to its current home, orbiting the sun about 1 million miles away from Earth. Author Lina Zeldovich shares some insights behind the story, how it came together, and pieces that didn't make the story's final cut.

A proven way to secure billable hours, the seller-doer business development model allows firms a way to offer engineers a clear career development path.

Virginia Tech's Theo Lim looks for solutions to urban heat islands.

Photovoltaic solar panels are becoming increasingly inexpensive, but there are many sunny surfaces where adding them is not feasible. Veeral Hardev, vice president for corporate strategy at Ubiquitous Energy, talks about his company's quest to make transparent PV cells that can be applied to window glass.

Being a project manager is more than getting tasks done and ensuring your team does the same. Learn the skills needed and the steps necessary to move from engineer on a project to PM of the team.

Heat pumps, which use the outside as a source—or sink—for heat, are a familiar environmental control technology in many homes. Kathy Hannun, founder and president of Dandelion Energy, a company that makes household geothermal heat pump systems, discusses the efficiency advantages and engineering challenges of drawing heat from the ground.

As advanced manufacturing continues to thrive, the ties among academia, industry, and government must be fostered to ensure the next generation of engineering students enter the workforce fully prepared to tackle the technologies awaiting them. In this episode of ASME TechCast, Kathryn Jablokow, a professor at Penn State, and Tom Kurfess, a professor at Georgia Tech, discuss technology readiness levels and strategies for educators and industry in partnering to prepare engineers for the future. Jablokow and Kurfess are both members of ASME's board of governors and members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Study Committee. Both helped author “Infusing Advanced Manufacturing into Undergraduate Engineering Education,” a report that examines advanced manufacturing techniques for the defense industry and explores how undergraduate engineering programs can better develop advanced manufacturing capabilities in the workforce. 

Kyle Saleeby and Gabriela Ciocarlie of the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute talk about standing up cyber protection throughout the manufacturing supply chain.