Why is it Flurrying?

This Blog may be a day late but it won’t be a dollar short! Always so much going on …

First, an observation: It’s cold – but seriously … I’m sure most of you are familiar with spring and summer rains in the Blacksburg area – it’s raining and there isn’t a cloud in the sky. Well this morning when I left for the gym I noticed it was flurrying and there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. How is that even possible? At least we aren’t in Buffalo, NY this morning.

Every December my family volunteers at the Montgomery County Christmas Store (http://www.mcchristmasstore.org/). Again this year, I’m asking if you would like to join me and my family as we help others. My family will be donating our time on Wednesday, December 10 from 12:30-5. Please let me know by Friday, 11/21 if you can join us.

MEPS News

Do you like Jeopardy and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Would you like to do it Materials Style? Answer questions like what element has the atomic number 16 and what is the energy separation between the valence and conduction band called. Did you guess sulfur and band gap? Sign-up to compete in the Virginia Tech Materials Bowl Competition to decide who will go on to compete at TMS. If you have any questions contact Myrissa. 

MEPS will host our first ever Faculty Auction at the annual MSE Holiday Potluck, 12/11. Up for silent auction are Dr. Staley, Dr. Guido, Dr. Corcoran, Dr. Julian and Michelle.  Come and place your bid to cook authentic foods, attend a basketball game, play laser tag, bake goodies, or craft with these faculty members or Michelle. Stay tuned for more details.

As you know, MEPS has been bringing guest speakers to the monthly meetings. With growth of the department and wide range of interest we want to hear from you. What kinds of companies would you like to visit next spring? Please tell us by completing the on-line survey here.

Important Dates

This Friday is the last day to request to reschedule a final exam. Complete details were emailed to you – please read your email.

Add/Drop for the spring term will begin on Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Helpful Tools

Pretty soon there is going to be a mass exodus from Blacksburg. Please be careful as you travel home. Remember to check out Virginia 511 before you travel for road and traffic conditions in Virginia.

VA 511 is great on the computer but the download app isn’t so hot. A much better app for checking traffic and road conditions is Waze.

Random 

Fossil evidence shows that turkeys roamed the Americas 10 million years ago.

Words To Live By

You may have heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. There's another day you might want to know about: Giving Tuesday. The idea is pretty straightforward. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, shoppers take a break from their gift-buying and donate what they can to charity. – Bill Gates

Sandbox

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available 10-11:45 & 1:30-415. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.