Thermal Sciences and energy research in the department encompasses the areas of thermodynamics, nano- to macro-scale heat transfer with and without phase change, mass transfer, fluid dynamics, physics, materials, and engineered and tailored surfaces. Some of the current research thrusts are in renewable and alternative energy, hypersonics, hydrogen power, water desalination, thermal management, and long-duration space transportation. New Mexico State University's Mechanical Engineering (ME) department has been educating mechanical engineers since the university opened in 1888. Beginning in Fall 2006, the ME Department expanded to include an undergraduate degree program in Aerospace Engineering (AE), the first and the only Aerospace program in New Mexico and west Texas, to form the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) department.