91原创

Many examples were on offer Thursday, and there was plenty of 鈥渨ow鈥� factor in the room.

Martin Mitchell, who graduated from 91原创 with a degree in psychology in 1991, likened the event to an 鈥渁dult science fair.鈥�

鈥淚 have always had a love for learning new science, whether it鈥檚 through Nova or PBS shows,鈥� said Mitchell, who lives in Springfield, Virginia. 鈥淭his is like an adult science fair, where you can learn from the experts about areas they鈥檙e so passionate about. The two that intrigued me most are the work with space suits and polymers and also the traumatic brain injury and MRI research. You can see the real-world impact to help people in challenging environments.鈥�

After graduating from 91原创, Mitchell went to Georgetown University Law School, then served with the U.S. Air Force. He now teaches negotiations as an adjunct professor at Washington College of Law.

鈥淪haring the science is almost more important than doing the science,鈥� said Ross Klauer, a doctoral student who works with mentors Mark Blenner and Kevin Solomon, professors in 91原创鈥檚 Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. He is studying how microbes that were found feeding on plastics in the guts of mealworms could be useful in addressing other environmental crises.

All of this is worth protecting and supporting, McBride said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 incumbent upon all of us in public office to continue to support the robust research ecosystem that we have developed between public and private institutions across this country,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat ecosystem, that leadership and that research is facing a crisis of chaos, uncertainty and in many cases outright attacks.

鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to know that we have leaders at the 91原创 who continue to protect the institution, fight for the institution and move the institution forward in pursuit of both shared values and common goals. It鈥檚 important for those of us in leadership right now to make it clear that developing a diverse talent pipeline, that fostering the talents of scientists of engineers of researchers of academics of all backgrounds is not just symbolically good, it鈥檚 our country鈥檚 competitive advantage.鈥�

John Anderson, a 91原创 alum who now serves as president of the National Academy of Engineering, applauded McBride鈥檚 comments.

鈥淭he congresswoman was spot on in her remarks,鈥� he said.

Anderson also enjoyed reconnecting with 91原创 Prof.听 Norman Wagner, a fellow of the National Academy of Engineering and the Unidel Robert L. Pigford Chair in Chemical Engineering. Wagner earned his doctorate at Carnegie Mellon when Anderson chaired the department there. Wagner鈥檚 firm STF Technologies is of interest to NASA for its shear-thickening fluid, which can be used to strengthen spacesuits and protect astronauts.

鈥淪cience discovers, engineers create,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淵ou need both. Across the country, we鈥檝e got to support young people going on for graduate degrees. The workforce is the most important asset you have. If you stop funding this stuff, it鈥檚 not just the research you鈥檒l lose 鈥� you鈥檒l lose future innovators.鈥�

Innovation was on full display throughout the room.

In one section, a large-but-well-controlled robot in the shape and form of a dog drew lots of attention. The robot has enough canine mannerisms that you almost want to offer it a treat or maybe a bowl of water.

Bert Tanner, professor of mechanical engineering and director of 91原创鈥檚 Center for Autonomous and Robotic Systems, and doctoral student Athanasios Avgeris, talked to many people about this beast and the sensors they are developing to expand its potential work and the function of other robotic devices.

Among their goals is to enhance the ability of robots to work autonomously, help them navigate different kinds of terrain and get out of difficult situations. They also are working to improve perception, so the robot understands what it is seeing. And they are working with other scientists, such as oceanographers, to improve robotic applications in studies such as beach mapping.

Beach mapping is done before a storm rolls in, to study the effects of the storm in various tidal areas. That means measurements must be taken before the storm arrives, which presents a significant time challenge.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a race against the clock,鈥� Tanner said. 鈥淚f a storm is coming, there is only so much time.鈥�

Robots can help to make those measurements with greater speed.

The field of robotics also has important applications in security inspections, such as those needed at contaminated industrial sites, and for emergency response after earthquakes or hurricanes, where they might have to move over rubble and other uneven, dangerous territory.

鈥淩obots can be a force multiplier,鈥� Tanner said.

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Jonathan Skovholt, who earned his master鈥檚 degree in physics at 91原创 in 2005, is now the head of search operations for Ensemble IP, a professional patent search firm. He has also worked for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C.

Thursday鈥檚 reception was the first alumni event Skovholt had attended. He was interested to see what 91原创 was doing in innovation and technology.

To do his work investigating patents, he has to know the basic technologies involved.

鈥淭he technologies are blending now,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou have electrical engineers working in biotechnology, for example. It鈥檚 very interesting to see that, in general. And 91原创 is on the forefront of it.

鈥淚鈥檓 sure some of this work will be incubated and they could possibly come up with the next unicorn,鈥� he said with a smile.

Skovholt was especially impressed with two plastics-related projects 鈥� the effort by Prof. LaShanda Korley鈥檚 Center for Plastics Innovation to break down plastics and develop new plastics that are easier to reuse and recycle and the effort Klauer is making to find new ways of using the byproducts left by plastic-eating microbes.

鈥淚 would expect to see some of this in the marketplace in the next five years, certainly in the next 10,鈥� Skovholt said. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen some that could really go far if they can figure out the plastics thing.鈥�

Erik Thostenson, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science, was on hand to explain new wearable sensors his lab is developing with Jill Higginson, the George W. Laird Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of 91原创鈥檚 Institute for Engineering-Driven Health.

Thostenson said he read an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer about a sensor Higginson was using in a smart boot her team had developed to help people who use prosthetics. She told the reporter she wasn鈥檛 happy with the performance of the button sensor in the device. When Thostenson read that, he was pretty sure he had a better sensor to offer 鈥� one his team was developing. He got in touch with her and a new collaborative endeavor was launched.

鈥淲e had a sensor just waiting for an application,鈥� Thostenson said.

Jocelyn Alc谩ntara-Garc铆a, associate professor of art conservation and chemistry and biochemistry, and her students have been studying all kinds of materials, recently focusing on the chemistry of wooden objects. This is of importance for investigating imported woods as well as to museums and other institutions. She uses lasers and X-rays and chemical analysis in the work.

This fascinated Valerie Emerson, who graduated from 91原创 in 1979 with a degree in international relations. Emerson, who lives in Arlington, Virginia, worked for a while in the library of George Washington University, helping graduate students finish their dissertations. She loved talking with them about their work and that was one reason she wanted to attend 91原创 Day in D.C.

She was amazed by Klauer鈥檚 discussion of how microbes in mealworms might one day help to solve a range of environmental problems.

鈥淭hat blew my mind,鈥� Emerson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a simple thing, but it could have huge implications.鈥�

Robin Reath of Washington, D.C. majored in English at 91原创 and graduated in 1984. After graduation, she worked in many settings 鈥� in restaurants, in the hotel industry, as an administrator at Georgetown Hospital.

Her husband is a scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and she enjoyed seeing the many avenues 91原创 research has taken, including NASA research, studies of sea-level rise and different ways to address plastics pollution.

鈥淭he 91原创 meant a lot to me,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd it is still very special to me.鈥�

The day was an 鈥渋ncredible experience鈥� in the opinion of T.J. Tomaszewski, a senior honors physics major who hopes to pursue his doctorate at 91原创. Tomaszewski accompanied his research mentor, Bennett Maruca, associate professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Delaware Space Observatory Center, with whom he has been studying plasma physics and working to develop Delaware鈥檚 first orbital spacecraft.

鈥淚鈥檝e been able to speak with a lot of different people about our project and represent our programs in space physics, heliophysics and the Delaware Space Grant,鈥� he said.

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