NEWSLETTER

Nr. 22February

2014

th th Between the 15 and 18 of January, ththe Austrian city of Graz hosted the 4 Central

European Conference on Biomass, an event attended by well-known specialists from all around the world. The discussions focused on current issues concerning the available policies, strategies and technologies, as well as on the prospective technologies for the production of biomass energy. The agenda included thematic field trips during which participants had the opportunity to collect first-hand information on cutting-edge technology of biomass production, and to visit the technology fair, organized for the occasion. In addition, the conference provided the framework for a

FOROPA progress meeting, whose main aim was to probe the partners' availability for the future development of joint pilot projects targeted at enhancing the efficiency of woody biomass use. At this meeting, the Romanian partners were represented by Dr. Stelian Alexandru Borz from Transilvania University,

the local project coordinator. F u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h i s e v e n t c a n b e f o u n d a t http://www.foropa.eu/index.php/project/news-articles/67-4th-central-european-biomass-conference-in-austria.

The FOROPA project is co-financed by the SEE Programme - Transnational Cooperation Programme and the European Union.

Dr. Stelian Alexandru Borz

THE FOROPA PROJECT, A PARTICIPANT thIN THE 4 CENTRAL EUROPEAN

CONFERENCE ON BIOMASS

The Creativity Lab is a genuine powerhouse when it comes to making educational and research software and hardware available to our students. This year is

bound to bring many contributions from the industrial milieu, aimed at setting CVTC on the innovation path in education and research trends and technologies. Of these,

three deserve particular mention.Within the frame of our ongoing collaboration with German company

STEINEL, and owing to the steady support provided by Dr. Eng. Victor Hoffmann, Manager of STEINEL Romania, a sponsorship agreement for 42,000 Euro was

signed. Based on this agreement and following negotiations, American Optical Instruments (www.oai-instruments.com) began building a LED-

based unique solar simulator for the Creativity Lab. Aimed at fostering the training of master's and doctoral students, this special simulator

will enable CVTC to step into new research avenues, particularly (but not exclusively) the photovoltaic field.

Committed to the idea of promoting the “Multidisciplinary methods and technologies in engineering

education”, CVTC started collaboration with INTEL, which equipped the Creativity Lab with new ARDUINO

compatible Intel GALILEO systems. We therefore can, with good reason, be proud for being among the top

universities, internationally, to use GALILEO educational systems running on powerful Intel Quark

X1000 SoC processors. From among the Agilent Technologies

premium products, CVTC managed to obtain an academic licence for the latest version of Agilent-VEE Pro software. This will enable students to develop programmes by means of state-of-the-art software, to compare and decide on which of the products available - VEE Pro or LabVIEW offered by National Instruments (campus licence) – best meets their needs.

Dr. Cornel SamoilăDr. Doru Ursuţiu

BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR THE CENTRE FOR VALORISATION AND TRANSFER OF COMPETENCE (CVTC)

THE CREATIVITY LAB AT TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY

THE CREATIVITY LAB AT TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY

THE FOROPA PROJECT

THE ROMANIAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY (SSMR)

THE MEDICAL STUDENTS' ECG CONTEST

A DIFFERENT KIND OF ASSESSMENT EXAMA MOSAIC OF SOUND CONEXIUNIEVENINGS AT THE FACULTY OF LETTERS

SUCCESSFUL ALUMNIPROFESSORS WE TAKE PRIDE IN

Transilvania University of BraşovWhat purpose does the university serve if not to pave the way for the society of wisdom?

(Paolo Blasi)

It is not the walls that make a school, but the spirit that reigns within.(King Ferdinand I)

FIDES ET EXCELLENTIA

THE MEDICAL STUDENTS' ECG CONTEST th On the 10 of January, our University played host to a first time event – the students ECG contest,

organized by Dr. Elena Bobescu, MD.

The purpose of the competition was to appraise the students' ability to put theory into practice in the reading of ECG traces. This involved interpreting ten ECGs showing abnormalities related to rhythm, repolarization, conductivity, a.s.o. and deciding on the correct answer from among the different options provided on a multiple-choice work sheet.

The event brought together 130 fourth year students enrolled in the general medicine programme. Given the complexity of the ECG traces put out for analysis, the results exceeded all expectations. The first prize was awarded to 13 students: Cătălina Azoţiei, Bianca Simona Baum, Doina Cernei, Romina Furdui, Andreea Iacob, Andrei Ştefan Ichim, Ioana Ionaşcu, Doiniţa Jugaru, Anca Teodora Lascu, Tabita Sonia Onaciu, Camelia Georgiana Ormindean, Ana-Maria Soare, Eduard Stamate. The prizes consisted of ECG guides and specialist

literature works

The event also invited the participation of several resident cardiologists with the Braşov County Emergency Hospital: Evelina Enăşcuţ, MD, Simona Marin, MD, Mohamed Jeridi, MD, Lilia Mahjoub, MD, and our third year student Alexandru Covaciu, representative of the Medical Students' Scientific Association, involved in the organisation of this contest together with the Faculty of Medicine and the S.O.S. Cardiologia Braşov Association.

This novel contest was an excellent opportunity for students to test their skills in a competitive environment, and, given its success, it certainly is an event worth repeating on an annual basis.

STUDENTS INTERPRETING ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

TRACES

The propensity for the study of mathematics is, indisputably, a Romanian trait. It is not a matter of chance, then, that Romania was organizer of the first International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), in 1959. And it is not a matter of chance that for years on end the Romanian Mathematics team has won top positions, and that Ciprian Manolescu, our world famous mathematician, is the only competitor to have won the IMO's top scores for three years running (1995-1997). The performance of the Romanian traditional mathematics system is mostly due to the work of the Romanian Mathematical Society (SSMR). The society was founded by Royal Decree in 1910 as Societatea Gazeta Matematică with a view to promoting and popularizing mathematical knowledge, especially for young students, and to leading and supporting original research. The SSMR Centenary in 2010 was The Mathematics Year in Romanian Education. The society is affiliated to the European Mathematical Society and Mathematical Society of South Eastern Europe. The SSMR's main publications are: Bulletin Mathématique (an ISI journal), Gazeta Matematică Series A and B and Romanian Mathematical Competitions. The Brașov Branch of SSMR became a legal entity in 2006. It is a powerful and lively local organization aimed at promoting mathematical education in Braşov. Headquartered in the recently renovated building of Transilvania University's Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, SSMR Braşov has more than 190 members, of which 43 are academics. The local branch was among the organizers of the National Mathematics Olympiad (2013) and The Seventh Congress of Romanian Mathematicians – The History and Philosophy of Mathematics Section (2011). Beginning with 1992, the Brașov branch organizes a variety of yearly events such as The National Mathematics Contest Laurențiu Duican; since 2003, the teachers' meetings Gazeta Matematică; since 2007, the Mathematical Ideas conference; since 2008, the students' contest Let's discover Gazeta Matematică and, starting with 2010, the international symposium Mathematical Eeducation in the Ccurrent European Environment and the student training programme Performance in Mathematics in Primary Sschools and Highschools. The current activities of the Brașov Branch of SSMR are detailed at: http://www.unitbv.ro/fmi/SSMR.aspx.

Dr. Eugen PăltăneaPresident of Brașov Branch of SSMR

TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY INVOLVED IN SSMR BRAȘOV ACTIVITIES

THE ROMANIAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY (SSMR)

th On the 15 of January, Social Work students from the Faculty of Sociology and Communication presented their projects developed jointly with various public and private institutions in Braşov County which supply social services for persons with disabilities. The programmes represent the applied part of the student projects developed as part of the Assistance for persons with disabilities module. The aim of the projects was to develop personal interaction, to work with persons with disabilities in occupational therapy activities, to inform the community and raise their awareness of the services available for persons with disabilities, of their extraordinary potential and resources. In order to fulfil these objectives and to implement the programmes, the students teamed up to take part in the activities carried out by the partner institutions, helping the beneficiaries to create Christmas decorations and cards and to stage one-act plays.

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an exhibition was set up on the University premises, displaying the objects resulting from these projects. The institutions offering social services to persons with disabilities were presented as part of a much needed information and awareness campaign.

Furthermore, the celebrations organized by the community institutions concluded with activities or outings in the city, which gave differently abled people an opportunity to socialize with students.

Through their projects, the future social workers made a significant contribution to the efforts put in by the social services and by the community as a whole; the students' contact with persons with disabilities was a lesson in patience and forbearance, thoroughness, perseverance as well as in how to capitalize on their creativity through beautiful objects. To many students this experience was an eye-opener, changing their way of thinking, freeing them of preconceptions and making them aware of the needs, but also of the resources and abilities of the people they worked with.

Dr. Oana Ion

COMMUNITY PROJECTS FOR SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS:

A DIFFERENT KIND OF ASSESSMENT EXAM

FIDES ET EXCELLENTIA

Dr. Elena Bobescu

th On the evening of the 16 of

January, the Museum of the National Anthem in

collaboration with the Faculty of Music of our

University, hosted the first recital of canto students

tutored by Cristina Radu, the renowned soprano with the

local Opera House. Mentor and teacher, singer and public

person, Cristina Radu offered her students the opportunity to be on stage and share their emotions in

a concert entitled “Mosaic of Sound”.st Among the young performers were Daniela Valerica Munteanu (soprano, 1 year student),

st rdValentina Popa (soprano, 1 year student), Angela Giba (soprano, 3 year student), Gabriella Ieşan

(mezzosoprano, master student) and Emil Dumbravă (tenor, master student), all accompanied on the

piano by Ambrus Sandor Jozsef.

The programme led the audience on a journey through music history, from G.F. Händel, G.B.

Pergolesi, T. Giordani, J. Haydn and W.A. Mozart to G. Rossini, J. Massenet, M. Reger, G. Grigoriu and T.

Brediceanu.

Dr. Petruţa Măniuţ Coroiu

RECITAL OF YOUNG LYRICALARTISTS IN CRISTINA RADU'S

CANTO CLASS

For over three decades, the band Conexiuni has been a musical landmark of Brașov. Set up by the then students Marcel Boca, Florian Stoica, and Victor Lenghel in 1983, the originally local rock band gradually rose to fame throughout Romania. The 80s were a quest for musical identity. The band performed in concerts, galas and various student events, standing out mainly due to Florian's distinctive voice, its sing along refrains and catchy lyrics, its classic rock music. After winning the first prize at the Rock '85 Constellations Festival, during which Florian Stoica won recognition as The Best Rock Singer, Conexiuni were given a chance to record their songs “Former love” and “A momentary defeat” at the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company. Subsequently the band received an award at the Student Art and Creation Festival in Braşov, and Florian Stoica was voted Best Singer of the Galas. In May 1987 the band gave their farewell concert (accompanied by the band Compact and singer Dida Drăgan). Afterwards, Ramiro emigrated to Germany, Boca and Stoica graduated and parted ways, starting careers in different cities in Romania.

After occasional appearances during the late eighties, the band reunited in 1990 at the initiative of Victor Lenghel. Along with Holograf, Conexiuni opened the Scorpions concert, opening also for Europe, in their 2003 concert in Braşov.

th The anniversary concert 30 Conexiuni, which took place on the 5 of January, reunited twelve of the former band members on the stage of Patria Concert Hall in Braşov. Among them, there were also two members who are currently students at our University: Bogdan Apuşcăşiţei (Faculty of Music) and Cătălin Dobre (Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences).

Their relentless activity over the last three decades, commend Conexiuni as an example worth pursuing by any artist in Braşov.

Dr. Florin Nechita

The series of events organised by the Faculty of Letters kicked off this year with the launch of the

most recent poetry volume signed by the late Alexandru Mușina, Dactăr Nicu and his skyzoid band.th The event took place on the 16 of January, at Șt. O. Iosif bookshop. Andrei Bodiu was the

moderator of the discussions and Romulus Bucur, Caius Dobrescu and Adrian Lăcătuș made illuminating

contributions. The description of the poems in the volume relied on the elements which define Dactăr

Nicu… as a component of the author's thematic universe also present in his previous work. The speakers

also highlighted the particular subtleties which set this volume apart in the poet's literary output.

In his address, Romulus Bucur illustrated the volume's thematic continuity by means of some

convincing comparisons between poems from various cycles and exemplified by focusing on Mușina's

constant valorisation of the satirical perspective which pervades his entire literary career.

In his turn, Adrian Lăcătuș identified a new representative of the democratisation of the reader-

writer relationship; his arguments were Alexandru Mușina's novel discourse and his appeal to accessible references often originating in popular

culture.

The last contribution to the event was made by Caius Dobrescu who pleaded for a treatment of the volume in terms of a personal

experience not merely of a final and testamentary kind, but as a phase of a literary project which would have surely undergone notable extensions.

The event was concluded with the announcement of an “Alexandru Mușina” poetry debut competition, whose winner would benefit from

the publication of his/her work by a prestigious publishing house and be awarded a cash prize by Aula publishing house.

Maria Ghiurţu

THREE DECADES OF STUDENT ROCK IN BRAȘOV

CONEXIUNI

A MOSAIC OF SOUND

EVENINGS AT THE FACULTY OF LETTERS

SURVIVING POEMS. LAUNCH OF A NOVEL POETRY VOLUME BY ALEXANDRU MUŞINA

FIDES ET EXCELLENTIA

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is proud to introduce one of the most prominent members of the local academia, Professor Andrei Nicolaide.

st Andrei Costin Nicolaide was born on the 1 of September 1933 in Bucharest. He finished highschool studies in 1951, and graduated with honours the Faculty of Electrotechnics of the Technical Institute in Craiova, five years later. In 1962 he earned his doctoral degree in technical sciences at the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute. He then took on a teaching assistant position at the Department of Energetics and Electrotechnics (Faculty of Mechanics) at the Polytechnic Institute at Braşov. He was granted a full professorship in 1968 and held multiple offices of Head of the Electrotechnics Department, between 1965 – 1985, 1987 – 1990, and 1996 – 2003. Professor Nicolaide is an outstanding scientist who won recognition nationally as well as internationally in areas such as electrical cars, electromagnetic field, and mathematics, where his significant contributions were acknowledged for their novelty. The research teams he led during his career made valuable practical contributions to the field of asynchronous motors, synchronous machines, and quality of electric energy. He is holder of five invention patents and, in his doctoral advisor capacity, he mentored and shaped more than 25 specialists in the field. The important awards and honours received over the years testify to Professor Nicolaide's professional recognition: 1964 – the Ministry of Education's Award for Electrotechnics, Energetics and Electronics, in 1964; an honorary degree awarded by the Polytechnic Institute at Bucharest, in 1974; the Avram Iancu award of the Romanian Academy, in 1980; the Distinguished University Professor award granted by the Ministry of Education, in 1982; corresponding member of the Romanian Academy of Technical Sciences, in 1999; full member of the Romanian Academy of Technical Sciences in 2002.

Professor Nicolaide is a member of prestigious professional organizations: the Romanian Society for Energy Conservation – SOCER (honorary member, and honorary chairman between 1995 and 2000), IEEE senior member since 1997, active member of the New York Academy of Sciences since 1993, fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences since 1995. It would be fair to say, then, that his outstanding work and wide recognition have been important building blocks in the development of higher education in Braşov.

Dr. Elena HelereaDr. Carmen Gerigan

A graduate from the Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Eng. Viorel Blujdea began his career at Strehaia Forestry District in the Drobeta Turnu-Severin Forestry Department. His keen interest in research and abilities enable him to enrol in a doctoral programme in the field of Forestry Ecology and Physiology, which he completed in the year 2000. In 1995 he transferred to the Forest Research and Development Institute - Ştefăneşti (Bucureşti) Research Station where he took up a leadership position with the forestry ecophysiology research group (1998-2006) and then head of the ecology laboratory (2007). As a researcher, his interests resided in forestry ecology, carbon balanced use of terrain; he took part in work groups meant to enact the laws on rural development, using strategies for adaptation to climate changes and drought management, and coordinated more than ten large-scale multi-institutional projects. In 2002, he became the official representative of the Romanian Government for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), writing up the third national report on the implementation of the UN Convention to combat drought, terrain degradation and desertification. In 2007, he was elected leader of the technical Secretariat whose task was to set up the 'National short, medium and long term strategy to combat the effects of drought and desertification' and also president of the seventh UNCCD 'Committee for Science and Technology'. In 2008, he was assigned as national expert with the European Commission, undertaking the task of compiling the methodologies for the estimation of carbon stocks in land use and the evaluation, monitoring and report of green-house gas emissions at a national and European level. Besides his outstanding scientific activity, substantiated in the publication of 39 articles in internationally recognized journals, thirteen presentations at prestigious international conferences and eleven poster presentations at various symposia and conferences, Dr. Viorel Blujdea is co-author of numerous European Commission reports or research projects final reports. Between 2004-2008 he worked in higher education and taught forestry ecophysiology, ecology and environment protection at the University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary Medicine – Bucharest.

PROFESSORS WE TAKE PRIDE IN

PROFESSORS WE TAKE PRIDE IN

Andrei Ştefan is a 2010 graduate of the Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering (Geodesic Engineering) at Transilvania University; he subsequently enrolled in the Geographic Information MA programme at the Faculty of Geography – Bucharest University. He developed professionally by working for various national and multinational companies: his career started at Carto Ltd. Braşov during his first year at University. Not before long, he was able to compile technical cadastre documentations and complex topographical surveys. His career path took him to Bucharest, where he became a member of the Department of Topography and Cadastre of Agri Lands Plc., a member of NCH Advisors Inc. In May 2011 he started his own business in the field of topography and cadastre by taking an exam with OCPI Braşov. Between October 2011 and April 2012, he worked as a geodesic engineer on the Turkish exploitation platform Akcakoca and took part in large geodesic operations in the Black Sea. On finalising this project, he became a member of the Department for Special Projects (Project Management and Quality Control), Bucharest within the Division for Exploitation and Production of OMV Petrom and provided technical support in the areas of topography and GIS. In a continuous process of personal and professional development, Andrei Ştefan attended specialised national and

international courses and participated in various conferences and workshops organised by institutions in the field. He has so far been involved in more than ten projects in his area of expertise.

Associate professor Gligor Rusan was born in Alba County. Upon completion of his highschool studies he came to Braşov and enrolled at the then Polytechnic Institute of Brașov, which he graduated in 1960. He started his engineering career at the local truck factory while also teaching part-time at his alma mater. In 1962 he became a full-time assistant within the Technological Engineering Department where he collaborated with Professor Silviu Crișan. One year later he was promoted to senior lecturer, and became convener of the Machine-Tools and Hydraulics courses.

A highlight in Dr Rusan's research is the study of non-conventional electrochemical erosion machining - a contribution which he shared with Dr. Mircea Ivan. Apart from this, electrical erosion machining, particularly hydraulic drives, were also among Dr. Rusan's research interests. He authored and co-authored a large number of research articles, and was the holder of four invention patents. Despite his failing health, he continued his work in the field of hydraulics; in 1981 he was appointed interim Head of the Machine-Tools Department, where he remained until his demise, one year later.

Dr. Gheorghe Obaciu

SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI

SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI

ENG. ANDREI ŞTEFAN

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORENGINEER

GLIGOR RUSAN, PhD

PROFESSOR ENGINEER ANDREI NICOLAIDE, PhD

ENG. VIOREL BLUJDEA, PhD

FIDES ET EXCELLENTIA

Dr. Dan Gurean

Dr. Cristian Tereşneu