Dr. Ashok Gopalarathnam is an associate professor of mechanical & aerospace engineering at NCSU. As a boy he read adventure novels about a detective in Special Air Police. Today he uses wind tunnels and computer simulations to understand the physics of vortices and stalls of airplanes, helicopters, and hand-held drones.
When did you discover you wanted to be an aeronautical engineer?
Engineering
Riding the Wind
From cyclists to race cars, the motion of an object is determined by the sum of the forces acting on it. Those forces have both strength and direction and they can be observed and measured to predict future motion. Watch how an aeronautics engineer works with Newton's three Laws of Motion to test the best posture and helmet for a cyclist in a wind tunnel.
InfoGraphic: How The Rain Flows
Related Resources:
Rain Catchers
Stormwater runoff is a major source of pollution in our streams and lakes. Those lakes are also a source of drinking water. State law requires cities and towns to cleanup the runoff, because it doesn't get treated in sewage plants - it goes right in the lakes and rivers. Durham is launching an innovative 5 year program called 'Raincatchers' in hopes of slowing down, reducing, and naturally cleaning up stormwater.
NCSU Solar Grant
A U.S. Dept. of Energy grant will be used at North Carolina State University to design solar energy systems & installation & connection procedures that require little or no customization by homeowners & installers. The systems would set up quickly and connect to the power grid easily, while still meeting building and electrical codes. Original Broadcast Date: 04/15/2013.
What's My Story: Water Quality Engineer
Maverick Raber has been a Water Quality Engineer in the Stormwater Division for the City of Durham since 2011. Over the course of his 10-year career, he has worked for private, federal, state and local agencies improving water quality. His career was following a dream driven by a love of fly-fishing for brook trout. 
When did you discover you liked stormwater?
Power Up Time At Montlieu - Pt. 4
Montlieu Academy was considered an under-performing school until last year, with low test scores & high absenteeism. Thanks to High Point University & community foundations, there is a new emphasis on technology at Montlieu. Test scores have improved dramatically & the students say they really like to come to school.
Power Up Time At Montlieu - Pt. 3
In our continuing series about Montlieu Academy in High Point, we have learned how technology is making a big difference in the lives of the students.The distribution of iPads to all the teachers & students in the school has brought national attention to Montlieu. But administrators say that there is more going in their school than improved test scores. Much more.
Power Up Time At Montlieu - Pt. 2
In 2011, High Point University began the iPad Project by giving every student at Montlieu Elementary Academy of Technology School an iPad. In this second part of a 4 part series, Producer Donna Campbell shows us on the program's expansion to Guilford County Schools through a $30 million grant that is giving all middle school students in the district their own electronic tablets for learning.
Power Up Time At Montlieu - Pt. 1
Montlieu Academy, a magnet school for technology, is not far from High Point University in Guilford County. Until August of 2011, it was considered an under-performing school. Test scores were below average. Discipline problems and poor attendance were common. Education leaders developed a bold new vision for Montlieu and purchased iPads for every student and teacher in the school.