Legislators see UI research up close during interactive tour
Friday, November 13, 2015
Written by: Office of Research and Economic Development
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The University of Iowa Office of Research and Economic Development hosted four state legislators on an interactive tour of campus research activities Thursday, Nov. 12, for an event called “University of Iowa Research: Legacy and Leadership.”

Following a welcome by UI Vice President for Research and Economic Development Daniel A. Reed, Senators Rita Hart, of Wheatland, and Bob Dvorsky, of Coralville, and Representatives Dean Fisher, of Garwin, and Dave Heaton, of Mount Pleasant, met with faculty, staff, and students from the Graduate College, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the College of Engineering to see some of the latest research from across the disciplines.

During the four-hour tour, the legislators watched a papermaking demonstration at the UI Center for the Book; visited the Van Allen Observatory to learn about the latest astronomical research being conducted by faculty and staff in the Department of Physics and Astronomy; watched three-minute “pitch” presentations by undergraduate researchers; watched a demonstration of the UI’s “Virtual Soldier”; and visited and got to simulate flight in research aircraft in the Operator Performance Laboratory at the Iowa City Airport.

The stops were hosted by Timothy Barrett, director of the UI Center for the Book and associate professor in the School of Library and Information Sciences; Robert Mutel and Cornelia C. Lang, professor and associate professor, respectively, in the Department of Physics and Astronomy; Thomas Schnell, director of the Operator Performance Lab and associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering; and Kim Farrell, a software engineer with the Virtual Soldier Research Program.

Legislators also had a chance to visit the UI Mobile Museum at the airport.

During lunch, legislators heard presentations from undergraduate students who had previously taken part in the "Pitch Your Project" program, a three-minute research story competition sponsored by the Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates. Maya Amjadi, of Cedar Falls, a junior studying biology, did introductions; Tom Werner, of Cedar Rapids, a junior studying computer science and mathematics, presented on the topic of cyberbullying; Skylar McSorley, of San Luis Obispo, California, a senior studying speech and hearing sciences, presented on how dynamic noise reduction may improve the effectiveness of hearing aids; and Danny Linggonegoro, of Sheldon, Iowa, a junior studying health and human physiology, presented on the topic of preeclampsia.

Other UI representatives who participated in the tour included Marc Armstrong, associate dean for graduate and online education, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Sarah Larsen, associate dean for academic and administrative affairs, Graduate College; Milan Sonka, associate dean for research and graduate programs, College of Engineering; Ann Ricketts, assistant vice president for the Office of Research and Economic Development; and Keith Saunders, director of state relations.

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development provides resources and support to researchers and scholars at the University of Iowa and to businesses across Iowa with the goal of forging new frontiers of discovery and innovation and promoting a culture of creativity that benefits the campus, the state, and the world. Follow the office on Twitter.

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Timothy Barrett, Director of the UI Center for the Book, (foreground) demonstrates paper-making for (left to right) State Sens. Rita Hart of Wheatland and Bob Dvorsky of Coralville and state Reps. Dean Fisher of Garwin and Dave Heaton of Mount Pleasant du
Closeup of Timothy Barrett, Director of the UI Center for the Book, demonstrating how paper is hand made for state legislators.
Barrett discusses the history of papermaking and book making in the UI Center for the Book in North Hall Thursday with (left to right) State Sen. Bob Dvorsky of Coralville, State Rep. Dean Fisher of Garwin, State Sen. Rita Hart of Wheatland and State Rep
Robert Mutel, Professor, Physics & Astronomy, discusses the latest University of Iowa research on astronomy with visiting legislators Thursday during a tour organized by the Office of Research and Economic Development.
Cornelia C. Lang, Professor and Associate Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, used 3D glasses to help visiting legislators see the unique light spectrum for various gases, including hydrogen and neon.
State Rep. Dean Fisher visits the Van Allen Observatory on the top of Van Allen Hall during Thursday’s Legislators in the Lab tour of campus research facilities.
State Rep. Dean Fisher sits in the cockpit of a flight simulator at the Operator Performance Laboratory, based at the Iowa City Airport and directed by Professor Tom Schnell of the College of Engineering.
Tom Schnell, director of the Operator Performance Lab, shows (from left to right) visiting Iowa State Rep. Dean Fisher, State Rep. Dave Heaton and Milan Sonka, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs in the College of Engineering some of the air
Iowa State Rep. Dave Heaton looks inside a Polish-manufactured Mi2 helicopter acquired by the University of Iowa and upgraded for research.
Iowa Sen. Rita Hart peers into the cockpit of an L-29 Delfin jet used by the UI Operator Performance Lab for research on flight decks, airborne sensor systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems, and other areas.