College of Technology Newsletter

CoT Alumni Newsletter - May, 2009

Purdue workshop teaches officers high-tech tips to fight crime

Dan Kepler of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department gets some pointers on mobile devices from Rick Mislan, assistant professor of computer and information technology. (Purdue University photo/Andrew Hancock)

Seventeen law-enforcement officers, mainly from Indiana but from as far away as Canada, attended the Digital Evidence Triage workshop at Purdue May 5-7.

Marcus Rogers, a professor of computer and information technology, led the workshop, which focused on teaching investigators the latest ways to extract information from digital devices, such as computer hard drives, cell phones, Blackberries, and other electronic equipment. Rogers says that nearly all crimes today have a digital component, making it vital that law enforcement officers become educated in how criminals are using technology to hide evidence or commit crimes.

Rogers, along with graduate students in the department, led sessions on how to disassemble a computer hard drive and extract information without tainting evidence; how to find hidden data and images on devices; e-mail forensics; how criminals are using social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace; and a primer on digital forensics in Macintosh computers.

Officers in attendance said they were glad Purdue offered the workshop.

Deven Hostetler, a detective with the Indiana State Police (ISP) in Fort Wayne, said he attended the workshop because he didn't have much background in digital forensics and the Indiana State Police wants to train more officers to work with digital evidence.

"Not many in ISP are doing anything in this area, so I'm here to learn," he said.

Another attendee — Melissa Heaps, a detective with the Lake County Sheriff's Department — has some familiarity with the subject through her job specializing in Internet safety for children, but she attended the Purdue workshop to learn more specific technical information.

"I will be assisting the jurisdiction with the collection of digital forensic evidence in the future, so this workshop is useful for me," she said.

Purdue leads about five such workshops a year for law enforcement, some of them conducted in locations around the nation. Faculty in the department frequently answer questions from investigators around the world seeking information on how to extract criminal evidence from digital devices.

Read more about Purdue's work in cyberforensics.

News Briefs:

MET graduate is a true boilermaker

Andy Bell, boilermaker, will graduate with an MET degree this month.

For Andy Bell, a May graduate of the mechanical engineering technology program, being a boilermaker is more than just rooting for Purdue on game day — it's a way of life.

Bell, who is receiving a bachelor's degree, has been employed as a professional boilermaker — working mainly in the power industry — since he was 19. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Pat, who also was a boilermaker. However, at age 21, Andy decided that he wanted to take a slightly different path.

New center to provide professional education and applied research opportunities

During the third annual Technology Week, the College of Technology introduced the Center for Professional Studies in Technology and Applied Research (ProSTAR) to the general public. The Center will administer graduate-level degrees, certificates, courses, and workshops to professionals in business and technology fields. It was established to support the university's strategic plan in the area of engagement, promote partnerships with business and industry, and drive economic growth.

Brent Bowen, PhD, has been appointed the new head of the Department of Aviation Technology. He begins his duties July 1.

OLS to host two fall conferences

The Department of Organizational Leadership and Supervision will host two conferences on campus this fall: The Conference on Collaboration and Innovation and the fall conference of The W. Edwards Deming Institute.

Two department-level master's degrees approved

The Purdue University Board of Trustees has approved master’s degrees in computer and information technology and in industrial technology. The programs must still be approved by the Indiana Commission on Higher Education.

Faculty and staff honored at luncheon

Faculty and staff were recognized for their work throughout the year during the annual recognition luncheon May 1.

The 6th Annual TechPride Golf Scramble will take place during Homecoming Weekend, October 2, 2009. Please join us for an afternoon of golf and fellowship on one of Purdue University’s award-winning golf courses. You’ll play on a fantastic course; network and reconnect with alumni, faculty and staff; compete for prizes; and most important, raise money for scholarships for College of Technology students.

Players and sponsors are welcome.

Alumni Profiles:

Alums create electronic coupon application

Two recent graduates of Purdue decided to forgo the traditional job search and start their own business, a company that has developed an application that makes virtual coupons available to its subscribers.

The application, called Coupious, was developed by Michael Pastko, a 2007 computer graphics technology graduate, and Arthur Nisnevich, a 2008 graduate in computer science. The free application launched in late March and is available for iPod Touch, iPhone and Android platforms.

Keeping in Touch

There are many ways to stay in touch with the College of Technology. Share your news, and we’ll share ours.

Upcoming Events:

Sep 13: 10th Annual TechPride Golf Scramble

Visit the College of Technology Web site for more news and information