R&D Takes Shape in USM Engineering

USM’s John Mitchell Center, built more than 35 years ago with a $500,000 state appropriation, recently received another $500,000 state appropriation, this time to help shape Maine’s emerging research and development (R&D) initiative.

With those latest funds, the USM School of Applied Science has just completed a renovation of the Mitchell Center’s Department of Engineering labs.

Completion of the project will be celebrated with a public open house, scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m., Friday, November 17. The celebration will feature a robotic ribbon cutting as well as displays of computer chips and digital imaging. The Mitchell Center is located directly behind the Costello Sports Complex on USM’s Gorham campus. For more information, call 780-5585.

The newly renovated space features:

• Microelectronics labs where faculty maximize performance of chips, a microfabrication lab to test the design of chips and experiment with such newer technologies as the micromachining of silicon.
• A Digital Image Processing Lab in which researchers improve medical imaging technology by converting information from medical samples into higher-quality pictorial form.
• Robotics research space to develop software that controls the motion of robots used in a range of manufacturing processes.
• Space for further development of a computer network and Web sites that allow Maine’s K-12 teachers and parents to share information on assessment of student performance as outlined in the Maine Learning Results.
  
  “Our Department of Engineering was established 12 years ago in direct response to the business community’s need for access to high-level science and technology programs,” said John Wright, dean of the School of Applied Science. “The completion of this first major renovation project allows our engineering faculty to become even more responsive to the economic and educational needs of Maine.”
  
  “Thanks to the support of Governor King and the Legislature, USM, with this project, has taken a significant step toward upgrading our research laboratories and programs,” said USM President Richard L. Pattenaude. “We still have work to do in advancing Maine’s research and development capacity,” said Pattenaude, noting that this spring USM will break ground for a $10 million addition to USM’s Portland Science Building for a biosciences research institute. “We’re building a foundation on which to strengthen Maine's research infrastructure for the benefit of all our citizens.”
  
  NorCoeur Construction of Westbrook was general contractor for the Department of Engineering project. Architectural services were provided by Maini & McKee Associates (SMMA) of Cambridge, Mass.
  
  For more information on the Department of Engineering and other departments in the USM School of Applied Science, check http://eeunix.ee.usm.maine.edu/sas/