Wichita State News: Research Administration

NIAR engineer a pioneer in virtual crash testing

Tue, 28 May 2013 15:45:00 CST

Gerardo Olivares likes to crash-test dummies on a crash-test sled at the National Institute for Aviation Research in Wichita.

He cranks them back, shoots them forward. Heads, arms and legs snap forward, and their waistlines collapse, crushed in painful-looking imitations of what happens when a body folds around a seat belt at high velocity.

He uses dummies, he said with a grin, "because it's really hard to get live volunteers to ride the crash-test dummy sled."

Dummies do valuable work, as his boss, John Tomblin, said. But it is not the work that Olivares will be known for, Tomblin said.

Instead it is possible, Tomblin said, that Olivares will go down in aerospace history as the guy who showed how to do aerospace safety tests in 3D virtual models on a computer screen -- making dummies much less important than they are now and making costly physical tests less important.

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Research helps WSU sophomore prepare for grad school, career

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:28:00 CST

Wichita State University sophomore Matt Conklin is taking advantage of opportunities usually pursued by graduate students.

He recently conducted a research project titled "The Future of the Aerospace Industry in Kansas: State Politics and Middle East Influence" for the Kansas Undergraduate Research Forum.

The goal was to show Kansas' elected officials the negative economic impact of decreasing higher education funding by relating it to the aerospace industry. Conklin, who is majoring in history and economics, integrated his personal interest in Middle East development, which highlighted how new markets can play a role in the state's success.

"My work for the Undergraduate Research Forum project is specifically tailored as a policy recommendation to state legislators, persuading them to preserve and hopefully increase current levels of higher education funding," said Conklin.

His argument includes several main points.

• Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) institutions, such as WSU, contribute billions of dollars to the state's economy.

• The Kansas aerospace industry, one of the highest Gross Domestic Product percentages in the country, relies on KBOR schools to produce competitive graduates prepared to enter the global workforce.

• Cutting higher education funding at a time when the government faces a future revenue shortfall will not stimulate economic growth; relying on private investment in education will also hurt growth.

• Emerging markets in the Middle East are an example of how supportive higher education policies are necessary to maintain Kansas' competitive advantage in the global aerospace industry.

The research process

Within the past year, Conklin traveled to Jordan, Israel and Morocco. The trip helped him legitimize his cultural perspective. He also gathered supporting quantitative information from consultant reports, industry forecasts, governmental materials and media outlets.

Clyde Stoltenberg, professor in the W. Frank Barton School of Business, was Conklin's research adviser for the project.

"My role was to serve as a sounding board to help identify a good project that would make sense to Matt based on his experience, knowledge and interest," said Stoltenberg. "It also needed to be feasible in scope and of interest to the business and public policy community."

On April 3, Conklin will present his findings to state legislators in Topeka, Kan.

Enhancing university experience

Conklin, from Winfield, Kan., began pursuing research opportunities in order to prepare for law school after graduation and to get an advantage when applying for national scholarships.

"By gaining exposure to research and practicing various methods at this point in my undergraduate career, I hope to gain the skills and credentials to be a competitive candidate for the caliber of programs I would like to attend," he said.

Stoltenberg said that students should pursue studies that interest them and have the possibility of benefiting the public.

"For undergraduates, research helps to form the link between learning and application," said Stoltenberg.

Conklin is excited that Wichita State is focusing more on undergraduate research. He is now in the beginning stages of a project on relations between the United States and United Arab Emirates for WSU's honors research seminar class.

"Providing opportunities for students interested in research is instrumental in preparing us for success in graduate school and beyond," said Conklin. "More students should pursue research at WSU because it greatly enhances the overall university experience."

WSU research helps hospitals with energy improvement

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:18:00 CST

As health care professions and patient needs grow nationally, hospitals are looking for ways to be more efficient. Wichita State University industrial and manufacturing engineering professors Michael Overcash and Janet Twomey led a research team that discovered new methods for medical centers to lower energy and material consumption.

Their research focused on how patient care can be maintained at a high level, but with a lower carbon footprint.

The team worked with the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, Wesley Medical Center and Cypress Women's Imaging in Wichita to help their radiology departments understand how energy is used for CT scans, MRIs, X-rays and ultrasounds.

"It's the first time patient-care decisions can be looked at for improving energy," said Overcash.

The project was funded by the Sam Bloomfield Chair in Sustainable Engineered Systems—a part of WSU's Sam and Rie Bloomfield Foundation.

Research findings

Overcash and Twomey, with the help of about 15 undergraduates, graduates and post-doctoral candidates, conducted research at partnering medical centers from 2008-2012. During the four-year span, they made several key discoveries.

In advanced studies using life cycle assessment, or LCA, the team found that reducing the materials used during imaging tests led to direct energy improvement.

LCA is a technique used to measure the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process or service. It is a way for researchers to compile information about energy input and release, evaluate, and interpret the results.

Twomey said that for some patient conditions, the same diagnosis can be made with interchangeable, lower-energy tests, such as a CT scan instead of an MRI, which reduces hospital energy use.

Also, when reusable materials such as surgical gowns and drapes were used instead of disposable items, there was a 200 percent to 700 percent improvement in energy use.

The Bloomfield team is conducting further research in about 15 other services at partnering medical centers including operating rooms, emergency rooms and testing labs.

Small biz center wins regional excellence, innovation award

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:50:00 CST

The Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) at Wichita State University has been awarded the 2011 U.S. Small Business Administration Region 7 Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award.

Some of the criteria for the award included meeting or exceeding the center's performance milestones and helping build small businesses by creating and implementing innovative programs.

The Small Business Administration is divided into 10 regions, with only one center being recognized per region. The KSBDC beat out nearly 50 other centers from its region, which includes Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa.

The KSBDC will compete for the national award against winners from the country's nine other regions.

The Wichita District SBA Office will present an award the KSBDC during National Small Business Week, May 16-20 in Washington, D.C.