State Senator Visits Calit2@UCI

Irvine , CA , April 27, 2007 -- State Senator Tom Harman (R- 35^th District) got a close-up look at research taking place in the institute when he visited Calit2@UCI last week. Harman is vice chair of the Senate Judiciary and Human Services committees and is a member of the Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee, among others.

Prof. Bill Tomlinson helps State Senator Harman experience Eco-Raft.

UCI division director G.P.Li and members of the marketing and outreach department escorted Harman on the April 19 tour of the building’s labs. Kathy Eiler, UCI’s associate director of advocacy, accompanied the group.

“We were very pleased that Senator Harman was able to visit Calit2 and see first-hand how our research can impact the state’s economy and help advance its citizens’ lives," said Li.

Li briefed Harman on the LifeChips program, a research initiative that unites technology with life sciences to develop and build bio-organic, micro- and nano-scale devices for medical applications.

The senator visited the Integrated Nanosystems Research Facility, which is being incorporated into Calit2, and learned how engineered nanoscale systems are developed and promoted. He viewed scanning electron microscopes in the Carl Zeiss Center of Excellence and saw cancer cells and images of damage from Hurricane Katrina on the HIPerWall. Next stop was the Interactive Animation Lab, where he played the EcoRaft and Dino Quest Online games and learned how they’re being used in educational outreach. To conclude the tour, Project ResCUE showed off its emergency response artifacts.

Walt Scacchi discusses Dino Quest Online with the senator as division director G.P. Li looks on.

The visit wrapped up in the Calit2 conference room, where Larry Smarr, Calit2 director, joined the conversation via two-way video conference from Calit2 at UC San Diego.

Harman was impressed by what he saw and mentioned the visit in his online newsletter. “I was very grateful to have the opportunity to hear about the incredible research being conducted at Calit2, from Larry Smarr, executive Calit2 director; G.P. Li, director, Calit2, UC Irvine division; as well as institute professors and students. It was quite remarkable to see first hand the research and advances that are actively driving the future of telecommunications and information technology.”