National Science Foundation Earmarks $10 Million for Research Centers

The National Science Foundation has invested $10 million in five research centers in Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia. Several of these centers will concentrate on photonics-related research.
At the Engineering Research Center for Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, researchers will work on developing a generation of surgical systems that incorporate advanced imaging, robotics and computer technologies. The hope is that these systems will reduce health care costs while improving patient care. The Center for Advanced Engineering Fibers and Films at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., will explore how fiber and film industries can speed up development of new products through computer modeling. The Center for Power Electronics Systems at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Va., will work to integrate sensors and electronic components and devices into modular systems that can be customized for industrial applications.