LITE Faculty and Courses

Dr. Pat Atkinson & Dr. Theresa Atkinson, Biomechanics

The Doctors Atkinson-husband and wife-teach biomechanics, the study of the mechanics of a living body. In their classes and labs, you'll learn why our bones and muscles take their particular shapes and how gravity impacts skeletal structures. Why is something so simple as walking, actually complex? You'll find the answer to this and many other questions about the mechanics of human bodies in fun and interactive classes and labs taught by the Atkinsons.

Dr. Janet Brelin-Fornari, Vehicle Collision Analysis and Occupant Protection

Dr. Fornari will introduce you to the principles of vehicle collision analysis and why engineers analyze collisions. You'll also learn about occupant protection and how drivers and passengers interact with vehicle safety systems during a collision. You'll learn why understanding occupant motion is crucial to designing cars and trucks that minimize trauma to occupants and how engineers integrate safety systems into auto designs. LITE participants will go to a local salvage yard to analyze the effectiveness of safety systems through collision analysis.

Dr. Stacy Seeley, Biochemistry

Dr. Seeley will introduce you to the basics of biochemistry, including the four main types of biomolecules: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. You'll get a hands-on appreciation for these molecules in the laboratory, where you'll isolate fat from potato chips, perform an immunoassay, and run DNA fingerprinting gel electrophoresis to solve a fictitious crime.

Drs. Laura Sullivan and Terri Lynch-Caris, Engineering for a Sustainable Society

The "Engineering for a Sustainable Society" class is new to the LITE program. The course will focus on the need to reduce the negative environmental impact of common products through their redesign. The course includes a discussion on the ethical perspective and need for environmental concerns. A look at an effort to implement a drinking water filtration system for use in a developing community will allow participants to see the impact that environmental engineers can have. Finally, the business case for "going green" will be demonstrated through relevant case studies and a field trip to a General Motors production facility.