2011 ECAC Post-season

[munchkin]

You're right, so let's take the discussion in a slightly different direction. Why does it seem that so many of the people on this board studied in the College of Engineering?

I'll point out that I was Econ, Gov't, and Math in A&S (yes, that's right, all three).  Like the engineering students, I didn't get to take very many electives because I was filling out the requirements for three departments.  Although, that said, I still took my fair share of courses pass/fail just for kicks because I thought they'd be interesting. If such a thing existed as a minor in War and Battl studies, I'd have it.  Conveniently, I placed out of the language requirement coming into Cornell already fluent in more than one language - that would have killed taking all my other required courses.  

Of course, I'll also point out that I'm getting a second bachelor's degree in nursing because I didn't like doing statistical analysis work, which is what I'd been doing for a psych research lab.  It's amazing how many PhD level students can't write or run their own statistical models.  It turns out all my math and applied statistics has helped me do is calculate dosages in my head when weight is a factor for amount of meds given.

[Jim Hyla]

I'm actually really surprised there are Engineers who don't use Calculus.  I thought it was ubiquitous in the kind of analysis they do.

Much of chemical engineering tends to be steady-state calculations. Mix A & B to get C.  Once you have the data to scale up, those really don't need any calculus.  

The main use of calculus in ChemE is for non-steady state operation, that is time-dependent calculations.  So much of that is done with computerized numerical methods rather than true calculus.  So if there is calculus involved, it's hidden to me.

I worked as an economists use a fair amount but it is pretty basic simple partial derivatives and occasional integration of an income distribution curve.

Return to freshman writing.:-}::bolt::

[Jim Hyla]

I'm actually really surprised there are Engineers who don't use Calculus.  I thought it was ubiquitous in the kind of analysis they do.

These days, software packages pretty much do all the grind-work for those that need to do such analyses.  I would hope that people still need to understand what is actually happening underneath the front end, and be able to plug-in complex assumptions and required conditions to a problem to allow computers to chug through the "turning the crank" calculations we were taught in college.  But I'd be willing to bet the whole "the software spits out an answer" has made the practice and application of calculus somewhat rare.

My field (optics) relies more on linear algebra unless we really dive down into Maxwell's Equations (which rarely happens). Otherwise, the design work I do relies on knowing the subtle effects of components/elements have on a system and finding elegant/cheap solutions to problems others didn't anticipate.  Matlab/Mathmatica or specialized optical modeling software does the grunt work. The rest of my work deals with the problems that arise from physically building & testing complex systems.

Interesting.  I've never met an Engineer who wasn't also a good mathematician (not a freak genius like jtw, but solid and competent), but I can see how the tools have advanced to where Engineering becomes more a matter of gathering requirements, designing solutions, and anticipating (or responding to) all the myriad complications and problems of real world implementation.

I came out of Engineering with a Computer Science degree. I don't really use much of that in the day to day even though I am still somewhat in the industry.

So is this what we have gotten to, a discussion about degree requirements while we all wait for the weekend?

Well, how about those who don't have one, think about purchasing a game worn jersey.

[marty]

Time Warner in the Capital District will broadcast the Friday and Saturday Toothpaste at Onion games.

Will the Vaughn concocted hygienic if not minty fresh passing game overcome the foulness of Leaman's defensive minded mercaptans?  Stay tuned. ::yark::

[Jim Hyla]

Time Warner in the Capital District will broadcast the Friday and Saturday Toothpaste at Onion games.

Will the Vaughn concocted hygienic if not minty fresh of passing game overcome the foulness of Leaman's defensive minded mercaptans?  Stay tuned. ::yark::

As will TWCNY.

[marty]

Here is the GWG

Gate wins!

I was sitting next to two of Colgate's three fans - hence the polite clapping heard in the background.  (Very nice folks by the way.  I will likely mail them my next years Colgate at RIP tickets as I will be in Schenectady that night!)::burnout::

Here is the reason that I brought my camera to the rink on Sunday.

The new video scoreboard is now set to show replays (from RPITV.org) during games.  Earlier in the season there was no real estate available for replays during penalties as the whole video screen was used as a penalty clock.  This is the improved version including the infraction announcement which can't typically be heard because of the crowd's "sucking".

RPI Scoreboard Replay