Engineering Out Loud

From the College of Engineering at Oregon State University, this is Engineering Out Loud—a podcast telling the stories of how our research and innovation here are helping change the world out there.

Ethics in AI presentation, S13E2 05/23/2025

Ethics in AI presentation, S13E2 Imagine the camera of a self-driving car switches to a power-saving mode and takes low-resolution images. As a result, the car hits a pedestrian. A mundane decision to save battery thus becomes a decision to value battery life over human life. While we have long relied on software and automation, the prospect of a fully automated decision process charges many algorithmic decisions with a variety of ethical problems. The talk presented in this podcast, “Where do Ethics Belong in Artificial Intelligence?”, explores how philosophers and engineers think about ethics in artificial Intelligence. It was presented at Oregon State University by , assistant professor of electrical engineering and , assistant professor of philosophy, as part of an . BONUS CONTENT /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/36685395

Immersed in learning on the Klamath River, S14E3 04/01/2025

Immersed in learning on the Klamath River, S14E3 The Klamath River is transforming after four dams were removed in 2024. In this episode, we join the research team studying the impacts of the dam removals on plant and algae. Hear from the students and faculty about what they are learning at the confluence of engineering and ecology. BONUS CONTENT /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/35967630

How will the Klamath River transform? S14E2 05/06/2024

How will the Klamath River transform? S14E2 The removal of four dams from the Klamath River was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture the interplay of science, engineering, and culture. Desirée Tullos, professor of water resources engineering at Oregon State University assembled a collaborative team that unites Western science and traditional ecological knowledge of Indigenous people. BONUS CONTENT: /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/31166487

What is behind the Klamath dam removals? S14E1 04/03/2024

What is behind the Klamath dam removals? S14E1 This is a historic year on the Klamath River, where the biggest dam removal in the U.S. is underway. The hope for the monumental engineering project is that it will restore some balance to a damaged ecological system. We hear from Mark Bransom, who is overseeing the demolition and restoration, about why and how it’s happening and some of the challenges of the project. Bonus content: Video: May 21-22, 2024. Join us at the 2024 Clean Water Showcase hosted by Oregon State University to learn more about innovative and leading work to protect this precious resource through talks by keynote speakers, panel discussions, student presentations, and professional development activities. Video: /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/30667443

NEWS: How many robots can a single human supervise? S13E1 12/21/2023

NEWS: How many robots can a single human supervise? S13E1 Will swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles be able to aid humans in wildland firefighting or package delivery? Research summarized in a new paper in Field Robotics represents a big step towards realizing such a future. In this interview, Professor describes the research showing that one person can supervise more than 100 autonomous ground and aerial robots. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/29069763

Graduation day, S12E4 03/28/2023

Graduation day, S12E4 The final episode of the season occupies a time of transition, as spinoff company Espiku ramps up. We get an update on two systems that received patents and a third that could provide an environmentally benign technology for extracting lithium. We also hear from four graduating students who reflect on their experiences. Bonus content: /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/26371248

And so, it flows, S12E3 03/22/2023

And so, it flows, S12E3 The pandemic didn’t stop ’s desalination research. In this third episode, we learn about the successful lab-scale demonstration of his team’s technology and the next steps toward its commercialization. Plus, the team takes on a new project to clean up wastewater from oil and gas production. Bonus content: OSU spin-off company , Bend Source article /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/26283723

Building the foundation, S12E2 03/15/2023

Building the foundation, S12E2 In the second episode of this four-part season, we travel to Bend, Oregon to visit the Water and Energy Technologies Laboratory and meet the team that is inventing a new technology to desalinate water. Bahman Abbassi, associate professor of mechanical engineering, talks about building the lab from the ground up, and graduate student Mohammed Elhashimi demonstrates their system to desalinate water. Bonus content: Quest for Clean Water (, ) /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/26214006

Turning seawater into sweet water, S12E1 03/08/2023

Turning seawater into sweet water, S12E1 Can turning seawater into drinking water be a cost-effective way to provide clean, fresh water for the growing numbers of people facing water scarcity? , associate professor of mechanical engineering, is taking up that challenge with a mobile, modular, solar-powered, desalination system. This is the first episode in a four-part season. Bonus content /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/26142669

Preparing for nature’s worst, S11E8 03/29/2022

Preparing for nature’s worst, S11E8 What is Oregon doing to prepare for earthquakes, tsunamis, and wildfire? are working with the state Legislature to help them make informed decisions about how to prepare for natural hazards. BONUS CONTENT: Japan 2011 Earthquake BBC News, March 17, 2011 National Geographic World Vision Earthquake and tsunami by Yumei Wang, Jay Raskin and Edward Wolf, The Oregonian, Jan. 9, 2011. (PBS Terra video) (KOIN) , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wildfire Oregon Capital Chronicle, November 17, 2021 , Oregon Capital Chronical, October 6, 2021. , United Nations report. , Federal Emergency Management Agency /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/22595342

Dune erosion solutions, S11E7 01/25/2022

Dune erosion solutions, S11E7 Can plants fortify Oregon’s coastal dunes against storm surge? , assistant professor of coastal and ocean engineering, built scale versions of dunes in one of the world’s largest wave flumes to find out. BONUS CONTENT: /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/21853754

RAPID reconnaissance: Capturing data in the aftermath of a disaster, S11E6 11/30/2021

RAPID reconnaissance: Capturing data in the aftermath of a disaster, S11E6 After a major disaster, hidden amid the rubble and debris are precious clues about the extreme forcesstructures were subjected to, and exactly what caused them to fail. How can researchers collect this perishable data before it’s swept away? Michael Olsen, professor of geomatics and technical director of the NHERI RAPID Facility, talks about a major effort to get crucial technology into the hands of reconnaissance experts quickly, wherever disaster strikes. BONUS CONTENT: /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/21328817

Saving PDX, S11E5 11/16/2021

Saving PDX, S11E5 What will it take for Oregon to recover after a magnitude 9.0 Cascadia subduction zone earthquake? Among other things, it will need a major airport to receive the tons of relief supplies from around the world. Prof. Armin Stuedlein and a research team from Oregon State University conducted crucial testing that guided engineers with big plans to make sure one of the runways at Portland International Airport survives the shaking. BONUS CONTENT: /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/21183182

What’s in the water after a wildfire? S11E4 11/09/2021

What’s in the water after a wildfire? S11E4 Wildfires that devastate mountain communities have the potential to foul the water distribution system running underneath residential structures. But knowing which water pipes have been affected is challenging. Erica Fischer, assistant professor of structural engineering, is working with a team of engineers and scientists to develop and test sensors that can easily indicate if water pipes need to be replaced following a fire. BONUS CONTENT: /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/21105752

Burning to learn, S11E3 10/12/2021

Burning to learn, S11E3 How do engineers fight wildfires? With fire. David Blunck, associate professor of mechanical engineering, is trying to better understand and predict the behavior of embers that spread blazes. To do this, he has to burn a few of his own. BONUS CONTENT: , by David Blunck (The Conversation) /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/20779193

When the Earth moves, E11S2 07/13/2021

When the Earth moves, E11S2 What happens to bridges, buildings, and pipelines when the soil holding them up behaves like a liquid? Ben Mason, associate professor geotechnical engineering, has traveled the world doing post-earthquake reconnaissance to find out and make us better prepared for impending earthquakes. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/19796765

The day the lights go out in Oregon, S11E1 06/16/2021

The day the lights go out in Oregon, S11E1 The long-feared 9.0 magnitude Cascadia subduction zone earthquake, which seismologists say is inevitable, will damage or destroy large swaths of Oregon’s electrical grid. How long will it take to get the juice flowing again? Weeks? Months? Professor Ted Brekken and his team are applying high-powered simulations to find out and to identify which parts of the system should be hardened against the quake at any cost. BONUS CONTENT: /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/19487867

Documenting the surge 06/01/2021

Documenting the surge How do you manage a COVID-19 surge? When intensive care units are beyond capacity, health care workers are stretched thin, and life-saving equipment is in short supply, there are a lot of tough choices to be made, and quickly. Joe Agor, assistant professor of industrial engineering, is gathering the data on how hospitals prepared and responded to the pandemic, as well as how their patients fared, with the goal of helping to better manage surge capacity for future pandemics or disasters. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/19279571

Changing the culture of computer science education, S10E4 04/13/2021

Changing the culture of computer science education, S10E4 How can we get a more diverse group of young people interested in computer science? Focus on equity, says Jill Hubbard, instructor of computer science and co-principal investigator of a multi-university project to change how computer science is taught in high school, funded by the National Science Foundation. Over 40 schools are part of a program to make computer science more welcoming to underrepresented groups. BONUS CONTENT: Website: Video: Story: /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/18710303

Using games to teach computer science remotely, S10E3 01/13/2021

Using games to teach computer science remotely, S10E3 Can middle schoolers learn computer science concepts using tabletop games? How about during a pandemic, when classroom interaction takes place remotely? Researchers in computer science and education are working closely with teachers to develop an innovative curriculum designed to broaden participation in computer science classes. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/17473589

Tracing the virus through the sewers, S10E2 12/15/2020

Tracing the virus through the sewers, S10E2 What can wastewater tell us about the spread of disease? Could the coronavirus’ signature RNA sequence tip public health officials to where the next COVID-19 outbreaks will occur? In this episode, we’ll talk to two researchers who are leading the effort to monitor Oregon’s wastewater streams for coronavirus, in partnership with treatment facilities throughout the state. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/17206049

Trucking through COVID, S10E1 07/24/2020

Trucking through COVID, S10E1 What’s life like for long-haul truck drivers in a COVID-19 world? We’ll get behind-the-wheel perspectives from driver (and musician) Paul Marhoefer and from Associate Professor Sal Hernandez who’s looking into how drivers have adapted to demanding conditions caused by the pandemic and the resiliency of the nation’s freight system. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/15342485

The age of autonomous vehicles, S9E7 02/12/2020

The age of autonomous vehicles, S9E7 Self-driving cars and planes are in our future. What are we doing to make them safe? Assistant Professor Houssam Abbas uses tiny race cars to test autonomous driving systems. And Oregon State graduate Robert Rose is using his past experience with SpaceX to develop a safe system to automate existing aircraft. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/13127186

With a little help from my robot friend, S9E6 01/30/2020

With a little help from my robot friend, S9E6 What will it take for robot assistants to become more integrated in our daily lives? Assistant Professor Naomi Fitter thinks they’ll need to master the physical aspects of social interactions, while Associate Professor Cindy Grimm cautions against programming them to behave just like us. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/12955886

And on that farm, he had a robot, S9E5 01/08/2020

And on that farm, he had a robot, S9E5 Will robots someday replace farm workers? Do we want them to? Assistant Professor and agricultural robotics expert Joe Davidson talks about the potential benefits of using robots in agriculture, and what goes into designing the perfect robotic apple picker. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/12661820

Socializing robots, S9E4 12/18/2019

Socializing robots, S9E4 Why should robots have artificial social intelligence? According to Heather Knight, assistant professor of computer science, if robots are going to help in hospitals or work with people in factories, they will need to be adapted to our social conventions. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/12454817

Robots: Will they walk among us? S9E3 12/04/2019

Robots: Will they walk among us? S9E3 For robots to be more useful around people, they’ll need to go where we go. But how? Associate Professor Jonathan Hurst thinks the answer is simple. Walking. But actually making a walking robot is no simple feat. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/12279623

Robots: Will they walk among us? S9E3 12/04/2019

AI, explain yourself, S9E2 11/13/2019

AI, explain yourself, S9E2 Can we trust artificial intelligence to make good decisions? The answer is a resounding maybe. More and more, society and individuals are entrusting AI to make potentially life-changing decisions. Rather than putting blind trust in the judgment of these remarkable systems, Alan Fern and a team of computer scientists want to reveal their reasoning processes. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/12025670

The beautiful music of robotics and AI, S9E1 11/06/2019

The beautiful music of robotics and AI, S9E1 How do you combine ethics, policy, and practicality into the design of revolutionary robotics and artificial intelligence systems? Researchers Kagan Tumer and Tom Dietterich are collaborating to find out as they help lead the Oregon State Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute. /episode/index/show/engineeringoutloud/id/11932625

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