Returning and newly elected state legislators met with university officials at the Innovation Partnership Building (IPB) this week to tour the unparalleled facility and to discuss many of UConn’s core research and educational programs. The tour group included Sen.-Elect Dan Champagne, Rep.-Elect Gary Turco, Rep. Chris Ziogas, Rep.-Elect Jason Doucette, and Rep. Greg Haddad.
Pamir Alpay, executive director of the IPB, led the group on a building tour, focusing on key research areas, specialty equipment and how IPB activities impact and support the state’s economic development. Legislators got a firsthand look at the Advanced Characterization Lab, which houses 11 electron microscopes in addition to X-ray equipment and optical microscopes. Pictured above, microscopy specialist Haiyan Tan demonstrated one of the most sophisticated and powerful electron microscopes in the world, the Titan Themis, which is capable of analyzing samples at the atomic level.
Legislators also visited the Proof of Concept Center and Connecticut Manufacturing Simulation Center to hear about the programs, which seek to assist small local Connecticut companies in developing and improving their manufacturing processes.
At their last stop in the IPB labs, the Additive Manufacturing Center, legislators viewed room-sized metal 3D printers and state-of-the-art materials testing equipment and learned about its capabilities, features, and uses.
For more information about the Innovation Partnership Building, visit www.techpark.uconn.edu.
