Purdue Story Ideas
Purdue Story Ideas
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March 8, 2002 JOURNALISTS: Here are story ideas and a list of selected Purdue events during the next two weeks. Scientists creating instruments to detect weapons of mass destructionPurdue scientists and engineers have embarked on a program to develop new sensors for detecting weapons of mass destruction. At least one of the program's research projects has resulted in a working prototype designed to detect chemical warfare agents. The Integrated Detection of Hazardous Materials Program is a Purdue-U.S. Navy project managed jointly by Purdue's Center for Sensing Science and Technology and the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Crane Division in Crane, Ind. Researchers are developing new, highly sensitive detectors designed for sensing biological and chemical agents, explosives and other hazardous materials. One such technology uses mass spectrometry, a technique for identifying chemical and biological agents in the air. Other detectors under development use neutrons to peer inside sealed containers in luggage and detect the composition of its contents. Another sensor focuses on using "smart bioadhesives" that selectively trap targeted biological threats, which are subsequently identified using special pattern recognition software. CONTACTS: Yeong Kim, professor of physics and center and program director, (765) 494-3042, yekim@physics.purdue.edu; David Koltick, physics professor and program coordinator, (765) 494-5557, koltick@purdue.edu; Graham Cooks, distinguished professor of chemistry, (765) 494-5263, cooks@purdue.edu; Scott McLuckey, professor of chemistry, (765) 494-5270, mcluckey@purdue.edu; Fred Regnier, professor of chemistry, (765) 496-1278, fregnier@purdue.edu and Ron Reifenberger, professor of physics, (765) 494-3032, rr@physics.purdue.edu. WBAA to showcase newly renovated studiosThe media are invited to an invitation-only open house in celebration of WBAA's newly renovated, $2 million facility. The open house will be from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, March 18, at the station in the Elliott Hall of Music. Purdue President Martin C. Jischke will speak at noon. Other speakers include Kyle Charters, a Purdue alumnus who serves as news director of WBAT-AM and WCJC-FM in Marion, Ind., and Brad Fruth, a junior in computer programming technology who works at the station. The media also can take tours of the station and view memorabilia. CONTACT: Tracie Hughes, WBAA marketing director, (765) 496-7794, techughes@purdue.edu. Purdue, CICP to host advanced manufacturing summitManufacturers, government officials and union representatives from all over Indiana will be on Purdue University's West Lafayette campus Tuesday and Wednesday (3/19-20) to discuss the latest thinking in advanced manufacturing. The idea is to keep Indiana manufacturing globally competitive and Indiana workers in high-wage jobs. The Advanced Manufacturing Summit is sponsored by Purdue and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. CONTACTS: John Schneider, Purdue assistant vice president for industry research/outreach, (765) 494-5532, jas@purdue.edu; Lee Lewellen, vice president of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, (317) 638-2440, llewellen@cincorp.com. Events° Saturday, April 6. 11 a.m. National Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. Cumberland Place Exhibition Center, 3100 Northwestern Ave., West Lafayette. Teams winning regional competitions will compete to see which machine can secure, raise and wave the national flag in at least 20 steps. CONTACT: Grant Flora, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-2073, gflora@purdue.edu. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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