UA to begin corrosion degree program

[g-mann17]

Akron News Now ArticleThis is actually a pretty big deal.

[roodog97]

Corrosion is a multi-billion dollar a year problem for the military, yet the D.o.D. is only providing $500,000 to (help) the University launch the first bachelor's degree program of its kind in the nation. I know money is tight, but only $500,000.

[UAZipster0305]

Corrosion is a multi-billion dollar a year problem for the military, yet the D.o.D. is only providing $500,000 to (help) the University launch the first bachelor's degree program of its kind in the nation. I know money is tight, but only $500,000.

To put that into perspective, a single laser-guided bomb costs the tax payer $2,000,000.

[zen]

Corrosion is a multi-billion dollar a year problem for the military, yet the D.o.D. is only providing $500,000 to (help) the University launch the first bachelor's degree program of its kind in the nation. I know money is tight, but only $500,000.

To put that into perspective, a single laser-guided bomb costs the tax payer $2,000,000.

But the laser-guided bomb is a viable asset. Seeding some program that may or may not ever reap a single usable result is not always easy to float past the people who control purse strings.

[ziptrumpet87]

This may be a better program for UA: coal fuel cell technology at UA

[zen]

This may be a better program for UA: coal fuel cell technology at UA

If they could find a way to get energy out of coal (economically) without the pollution, Ohio would be sitting on an energy goldmine. But somehow I have a feeling the environuts will still stop it from reaching public use anyway, regardless of it's effectiveness.

[ZachTheZip]

It is a testament to UA's academic progress over the past few decades that we were even considered by investors for such programs as the corrosion program or the coal fuel cell program.It's a shame that neither of those has ever been mentioned in the local newspaper. You wonder why we get such a bad rap from the locals, it's because they are being blinded from the truth by some editor with an agenda.

[zen]

It's a shame that neither of those has ever been mentioned in the local newspaper. You wonder why we get such a bad rap from the locals, it's because they are being blinded from the truth by some editor with an agenda.

Which agenda. You mean like the one where local folks think that Craig Krenzel probably got a Nobel prize for his studies in Molecular Biology as cowtown U.

[Zipsrifle]

The more technology based degree programs we can cram into UA the better. You never know where these things could go. Personally, I would like to see more focus put into alternative energy programs at UofA. Fuel Cells, Batteries, Wind, Solar, Etc. I think energy, not just oil but energy, is going to be an ever-growing issue. With First Energy in town, it would make an easy partnership.

[LosAngelesZipFan]

You are spot on with that-- Akron should be going incredibly deep in the area of energy tech (fuel cell, solar, battery). Exxon has been running TV spots and full page ads with their "Chief Polymer Officer" talking about a major breakthrough they have had in battery technology. Akron needs to be literally at the center of these things-- the amount of funding that is about to be unleashed in the alternative energy space, as well as cleaning up existing fuel source usage like coal, is HUGE. I think the next president, whichever wins, will almost certainly unveil a "Apollo/Manhattan Project"-like initiative, with hundreds of billions of dollars flowing into research. Given the depth and breadth of UA's polymer program, the school's funded research could skyrocket. That's a gamechanger because that research will lead to expertise that leads to more research funding in core and adjacent areas. It also leads to UA being a beacon in this critical space, attracting top talent and students from around the world. The other 2 things that are also gamechangers that flow from this are (1) someone will hit a big idea that will become the next Google or Microsoft, located in NEO, and with a huge amount of support flowing to UA; and (2) UA generates significant licensing cash flows from IP and patented-tech developed at UA.The "polymer age/polymer valley" thing we talked about 20 years ago could finally happen-- but the polymer program will have to orient around energy to get there. [sidebar: Did you know that the world's leading thin film photovoltaic cell technology came out of a company called First Solar that was based in Toledo (it recently moved however).][Different sidebar: This whole opportunity also points out the benefit of a combo with Can't, as I often mention. We need to scale the instititution to do this-- the state can't equally support Akron and Can't, but they are too close together to focus an equal amount of funding and support since the state needs to dole it out all around the numerous population centers. The state should focus research and tech support on Cincy in the south, OSU in the center, and UA-Can't State in the north-- we won't get there on our own at this point, IMHO, short of the billionaire-alum scenario.]

[johnnyzip84]

The corrosion program gets some interesting visibility amidst recent manipulations of congress.

[Dave in Green]

I'm as much against government spending waste as anyone. But there's one sentence in that link that really caught my attention:

The $30 million Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Ohio, set aside for corrosion prevention could go far to help tackle the Defense Department's corrosion problem, estimated to cost the military more than $15 billion a year.

The one type of government spending I always support is intelligent investment in processes to reduce government spending in other areas. If the military spends $15 billion per year due to corrosion damage, that's a heck of a good area to invest tens of millions to potentially save billions. I'd be in favor of this even if it weren't being done at UA.

[Z.I.P.]

I'm as much against government spending waste as anyone. But there's one sentence in that link that really caught my attention:

The $30 million Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Ohio, set aside for corrosion prevention could go far to help tackle the Defense Department's corrosion problem, estimated to cost the military more than $15 billion a year.

The one type of government spending I always support is intelligent investment in processes to reduce government spending in other areas. If the military spends $15 billion per year due to corrosion damage, that's a heck of a good area to invest tens of millions to potentially save billions. I'd be in favor of this even if it weren't being done at UA.

I'm glad to have seen this (belatedly). I don't know who did the research to come up with the "$15B per year" figure, but without seeing the research, I'd have to be a skeptic. On the other hand, we (those of us who work for the DoD in engineering) have a total capacity of military equipment that's probably valued in all over a $Trillion, so perhaps it's not unlikely that annual natural loss of assets is that high.

I also support the intent and value of what Rep Sutton is working toward. Sure, buying pork is one of the goals most legislators aspire to. That's why schools like So Miss., and the U. of Hawaii are piggy-backing on the corrosion control bandwagon. Sen Inouye was flabbergasted at the end of earmarks. Looks like he's found a new pen to slop around in.

I'm looking forward to possibly meeting our Corrosion Control Program chief. She's due in the islands next month from what I hear. The local assets I work with are C-17 cargo aircraft likely valued at least a couple hundred million a piece, and F-22 fighters worth probably a few times that. We're putting up the maintenance hangars for the new F-22s now, and if we don't get too many more endangered species camping out, they should be mostly done this year. Which reminds me. I gotta do some work before the day's done. Aloha.

[Dave in Green]

Z.I.P., if you deal primarily with Air Force assets, then you aren't really seeing the worst case scenario. When you think in terms of $15 billion in annual corrosion damage, think particularly in terms of Navy assets that spend all their lives exposed to salt water and damp, salty air. Think of the cost of aircraft carriers (about $4.5 billion each) and all the aircraft they carry, plus the hundreds of other Navy ships. That represents hundreds of billions of dollars alone, not counting the Army, Air Force and Marine assets. Thinking in terms of the total value of all U.S. military assets, $15 billion is really not such a big number. A friend of mine who was an aircraft crew chief on a carrier said you wouldn't believe how insidious corrosion is on both the aircraft and ships.

[Z.I.P.]

Z.I.P., if you deal primarily with Air Force assets, then you aren't really seeing the worst case scenario. When you think in terms of $15 billion in annual corrosion damage, think particularly in terms of Navy assets that spend all their lives exposed to salt water and damp, salty air. Think of the cost of aircraft carriers (about $4.5 billion each) and all the aircraft they carry, plus the hundreds of other Navy ships. That represents hundreds of billions of dollars alone, not counting the Army, Air Force and Marine assets. Thinking in terms of the total value of all U.S. military assets, $15 billion is really not such a big number. A friend of mine who was an aircraft crew chief on a carrier said you wouldn't believe how insidious corrosion is on both the aircraft and ships.

That's why Pearl Harbor Shipyard is the biggest employer in Hawaii.

[Z.I.P.]

I just saw the following article on the lawsuit Ms. Louscher is waging against her employers. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/03/university_of_akrons_corrosion.html

Does anyone have any inside info on the dynamics. Why the Hell would the dean be pissed at potentially hundreds of millions in new funding?? Must have a BIG ego!

[Dave in Green]

It's hard to interpret these kinds of things without knowing more about the individuals involved and the fine details of the issues involved. These two appear to have a major personality conflict at the very least. It's a shame that a third party at UA wasn't able to step in and resolve the issues before this went public.