ECU hosts Defense Alliance of North Carolina research showcase

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - ECU hosted a science and technology forum today partnering with the Defense Alliance of North Carolina for a Department of Defense research showcase.

The showcase included ECU researchers focused on human performance, biomechanics, biochemical/biomedical, overwater acoustics, database optimization, spiritual/mental readiness, prolonged casualty care, neurocognition, and unmanned underwater vehicles.

The forum took place from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at ECU’s Main Campus Student Center at 501 East Tenth Street.

Dennis Mcgurk, DOD Strategic Accountant Executive for RTI, and one attendee says, “It’s important because we have great minds here at places like ECU and across the UNC system and across the United States in academia. We have great folks who are working in industry and they don’t always talk to each other.”

The showcase gave researchers who are looking to link academia, industry, and Department of Defense partners to perform health and performance solutions to the DOD, a chance to collaborate on their unique findings.

“The people we brought together today are actually involved in saving lives with technology and/or in the field or deployed,” said Phil Williams, Defense Alliance of North Carolina, Science and Technology Committee Chair.

For many like ECU National Security and Industry Initiatives Executive Director, Keith Wheeler, collaborating and getting to know more researchers in the field was one of the most beneficial parts of the whole showcase.

“We are doing, around the world, our under-water archeology program is surveying World War II wreckage sites to particularly find one of the 80-thousand service members who still are missing,” Wheeler told WITN.

This particular showcase was only one of 137 other forums and the Defense Alliance of North Carolina also provided lunch for those who were in attendance.

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