As the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks approaches, several members of the University of Missouri-Rolla faculty are available to discuss a variety of issues pertaining to national security, rescue technology, Internet security issues and even the use of war metaphors in sports.
Waterjets to the rescue
In the aftermath of last year's terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, researchers at the University of Missouri-Rolla are developing a waterjet system to more effectively cut through rubble and extinguish fires that may lie smoldering beneath the rubble. Dr. Anuj Gupta, associate professor of geological and petroleum engineering, leads the effort to develop a waterjet drilling system that can slice through steel, concrete and most other construction materials without disturbing the rubble surrounding the hole.
UMR students attack and defend computer networks
Two University of Missouri-Rolla students are researching ways to safeguard networks by conducting attack-defend scenarios. "One student is looking at defending the web site, the other is looking at attacking it," says Dr. Ann Miller, the Cynthia Tang Missouri Distinguished Professor of computer engineering at UMR, and chair of the NATO Research and Technology Agency's Information Systems Technology Panel. "What we are looking for are ways of making systems more trustworthy, more secure and more reliable," Miller says.
In sports, is "the bomb" a dirty word?
Has the use of battlefield analogies in sports -- such as "the bomb" in football or "sudden death" in hockey -- lessened since the terrorist attacks of a year ago? Not among dedicated "high-identifying" sports fans, says Dr. Christian End, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Missouri-Rolla. End, who also teaches in the business and management systems department at UMR, is studying the actions of sports fans in reaction to the events of Sept. 11. While sports columnists nationwide spoke out against the use of war analogies, saying their use had become politically incorrect at best, offensive at worse, End's research shows that sports fans did not agree.
Sports: more important since 9-11
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, attending sporting events became more important to "high-identifying" sports fans -- those whose dedication leads them to fill their homes and offices with team memorabilia or tattoo the team logo on their arms. That's according to Dr. Christian End, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Missouri-Rolla and an expert on sports psychology. As part of his research on the actions of sports fans in reaction to the events of Sept. 11, End is studying fans' intentions to attend sporting events. The study also examines fans' feelings of personal safety at such events.
The impact of explosives
Looking for an expert in explosives? Dr. Paul Worsey, professor of mining engineering and a researcher at the University of Missouri-Rolla's Rock Mechanics and Explosives Research Center, is one the nation's leading experts in explosives research. Worsey and his colleagues at UMR are investigating a variety of ways to track explosives.
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