Public invited to learn about UD research

University of Dayton researchers who are studying issues that can affect everyday lives will showcase their work at an upcoming event on campus.

Love cars? UD professor John Heitmann will tell you how the American love affair with automobiles started and then began to sour.

Affected by breast cancer? Professor Mary Fisher will share how she is working to restore survivors’ quality of life by studying their loss of arm function.

Own a small business? Professor Diane Sullivan will offer advice on how to use knowledge and connections to employ more people.

The topics are just three of the 10 presentations that will be featured at UD’s 2013 “STARS Event.” The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, in the Science Center auditorium. Each presentation will last 20 minutes with the chance for the audience to ask questions, and speakers will explain their research so anyone can understand, said Mickey McCabe, vice president for research.

“STARS is about celebrating some of the top people that we have at the University of Dayton who are doing unbelievable things in technology, arts, research and scholarship,” McCabe said.

McCabe said the presentations will show that “very state-of-the-art” research is happening at UD that will “impact the world around us.”

He said researchers are always thinking: “At the end of this project, how can I make sure this is going to affect someone’s life in a good way?” he said.

Included in the presentations will be professor Andrew Sarangan, who is developing new sensors used in X-rays. Sarangan will talk nano-technology and image sensors.

Speakers are nominated by the their peers and selected in a competitive process. A keynote address will also be given by Robert McGrath, vice president at the Georgia Institute of Technology and director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute.

The event is open to the public, and visitors can get a parking pass from parking services at the visitor’s center next to P lot entering from Stewart Street, the university said.

For more information, go online to udayton.edu/research/STARS.

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