Conference to Help Iowa Industries Tap ISU Resources

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa industry leaders in engineering, manufacturing and technology will learn how they can turn innovative university research and services into positive business potential during Iowa State University's Technology Outreach 2000.

The conference, scheduled for June 22-23, will show Iowa businesses how to access ISU technologies and outreach services and will feature case studies from businesses that have benefited from these resources.

We want to reach out to our stakeholders to help them enhance or start businesses with what we have discovered and developed on campus," said Ted Okiishi, associate dean of the College of Engineering and one of the conference organizers.

Advanced Analytical Technologies Inc. is one success story that will be presented to attendees. AATI called on ISU to help it create an innovative device that could test streams of liquid for bacteria more accurately and quickly than existing technologies. This project was a collaboration between many ISU organizations, including the Center for Industrial Research and Service, the Center for Advanced Technology Development, the Ames Laboratory, the Department of Chemistry and others. The resulting product can provide tremendous cost savings to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and water-treatment industries.

Robert J. Tibor, the state's technology advisor, will give the keynote address. He will discuss statewide efforts to develop businesses in areas such as biotechnology, value-added agriculture, advanced manufacturing and information technology.

The conference, which will take place at Howe Hall on the ISU campus, will include overviews of the university's facilities and services. Three different technology tracks will cover advanced manufacturing; analysis, testing, investigating; and new technology.

Interested participants will be able to tour selected ISU research facilities the second day of the event. Facilities include the Virtual Reality Applications Center, the Ames Laboratory, the Biomass Energy Conversion Facility, the Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, the Carver High-Speed Communications Circuits Laboratory, the ISU Research Park and Center for Crops Utilization Research. Attendees will also view C6, ISU's newest technology tool. The C6 virtual reality environment surrounds users on all sides with 3-D imagery and sound.

The event is hosted by the Institute for Physical Research and Technology, the College of Engineering, the Center for Industrial Research and Service and ISU Extension.

Although on-line registration is not available, registration forms can be downloaded from the Technology Outreach 2000 Web site at: http://www.eng.iastate.edu/techoutreach. For questions about Technology Outreach 2000 program content, contact Joanne Hansson at x1jhanss@exnet.iastate.edu or at (515) 294-5382.

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Last updated September 6, 2006 rbm