NEWARK, DE — The National Textile Center, a federally funded academic research organization, is holding its 11th Annual Forum Feb. 16-18 at the Hilton Head Marriott Beach & Golf Resort in Hilton Head, SC.
The research consortium consists of eight universities that share human resources, equipment and facilities. Participating schools are Auburn University, Clemson University, Cornell University, Georgia Tech, NC State University, Philadelphia University, the University of California at Davis and the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.
The group’s mission is to enhance the knowledge base for the continuing viability of the U.S. fiber/textile/fabricated products/retail complex.
The meeting, under the theme “Seekers of Uncommon Knowledge,” will feature updates of research projects through such means as posters and exhibitions. Attendees will include industry leaders, students, manufacturers, designers, educators, researchers, retailers and recruiters.
Janine Benyus, author of Biomimicry: Innovation by Nature, will keynote the general session. She intends to answer the question, “How will we live?” The biomimics goal is to find benign and sustainable ways to meet humans’ needs for food, materials, medicine and energy.
During the full day of poster sessions on Feb. 17, several speakers will take to the dais. They include:
• Dr. Norman Badler, director of the Center for Human Modeling and Simulation, University of Pennsylvania, who will discuss the relationship between human movement, language and communication;
• Dr. John Gosline, professor at the University of California-Berkeley, who will talk about how such items as horses’ hooves, spiders’ silks and fish skins may provide insights into design principles for natural and manmade structural systems;
• Dr. Bruce Novak, head of the Department of Chemistry, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, NC State, who will presents ways to adapt polymers to fit human needs; and
• Dr. James Bezdek, professor, who will cover a diverse range of topics;
An NTC panel will select the winning grad student presentation from each member institution.
Four feature presentations will be made:
• Dr. John Gosline, Zoology Department, University of British Columbia;
• Jim Bezdek, Computer Science Department, University of West Florida;
• Dr. Bruce Novak, Howard J. Schaeffer Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Department Head, Polymer Science and Organic Chemistry, NC State University; and
• Dr. Norman Badler, director, Center for Human Modeling and Simulation, University of Pennsylvania.
• What: 11th annual NTC Forum
• When: Feb. 16-18
• Where: Hilton Head Marriott Beach & Golf Resort, Hilton Head, SC
• Information: Call (302) 235-2100; send e-mail to Rhonda@rhonjohn.com; or visit www.NTCresearch.org.
