In the aftermath of a natural disaster like a hurricane, a major challenge is getting safe drinking water to the impacted community. One hypothetical solution involves bringing a mobile water treatment facility to those in need; however, more research is needed to develop methods to detect and quantify potentially harmful bacteria and chemical agents in drinking water in the field before this can become a reality.
This is one issue that Wayne State and government researchers will collaborate on following the signing of an education partnership agreement (EPA) between the university and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (DEVCOM GVSC) in Warren, which hopes to use the technology to protect and hydrate soldiers deployed around the world.
Under the agreement, the government will loan research equipment, software and data to the university, and may make federal laboratory personnel available to teach or develop science courses and materials at Wayne State.
“This partnership will enhance the sharing of technology, make research more efficient – and by getting students involved – enhance our educational mission,” said Shawn McElmurry, professor of environmental engineering, chair of the department of civil and environmental engineering, and Wayne State’s lead on the water project. “It’s exciting that our students will have an opportunity to meet and work with leaders in this field from the Army and engage in developing a solution for this real-world problem to benefit our military and civilians.”
The education partnership may be new, however Wayne State and DEVCOM GVSC have a history of working together going back nearly 30 years.
The university is a partner in the Automotive Research Center, a university-based U.S. Army Center of Excellence for modeling and simulation of military and civilian ground systems, and the Systems Engineering Research Center, a university-affiliated research center of the U.S. Department of Defense.
The education partnership agreement, signed by WSU President Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy and Dr. David J. Gorsich, Chief Scientist at GVSC, opens the door for university faculty from across the university to apply their expertise to the Army’s science and technology needs.
“This focus and drive to engage with us and do some things strategically is fantastic,” said Gorsich. “This agreement is unique in that it allows us to loan and share equipment and utilize resources together, and also builds a special partnership in educating, training and mentoring both on the GVSC side, and with students and faculty at Wayne State.”
In a presentation to university faculty following the signing of the agreement, Gorsich outlined GVSC’s current focus on human machine integrated formations; power and mobility; advanced manufacturing; survivability and protection; and modeling simulation and prototyping.
Ezemenari Obasi, Ph.D., Wayne State’s vice president for research & innovation, says those areas are in alignment with Wayne State’s research priorities.
“We have capabilities across the university that we’re really excited about bringing to this partnership,” said Obasi. “Our faculty use an integrated approach to engineering in terms of how we can take digital tools, models, simulations and all the advanced technologies that are needed to really stay in front of that innovation curve. For example, we are pioneering research in integrated augmented technology, figuring out ways of using virtual reality and pairing new capabilities with autonomous machinery.”