February 5, 2008

NC State University, University of Rostock Sign Historic Agreement

North Carolina State University, the College of Engineering and the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering are working to expand international cooperative programs with universities around the world. As part of that effort, Provost Larry Nielsen of NC State University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for scientific, educational, and cultural cooperation with Dr. Norbert Stoll of the University of Rostock, Germany, on February 5.

The agreement stems from ongoing research involving the Institute for Automation and Institute for Preventive Medicine at the University of Rostock and the Departments of Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISE), Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State.

For the last four years the two universities have collaborated on a project titled ITR - (ASE + NHS) - (int): Intelligent Human-Machine Interface & Control for Highly Automated Chemical Screening Processes. The main goal of this project is to create a new, intelligent human-robot interface for use in high-volume chemical testing facilities. The interface developed will be based on cognitive modeling of operators during actual chemical screening processes. This will allow for higher efficacy and safety for the operators because of the user-based interface that can adapt to their needs. This approach will also allow greater access to biotechnology companies and developing countries to this expensive, automated chemical screening. Cooperation between the universities included visiting and adjunct faculty appointments at both universities and joint research publications. The National Science Foundation and the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern sponsored the project.

The MOU will allow for the possible future creation of a dual graduate degree program between the two universities. The agreement will also allow for more collaboration between the institutions.

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See related University of Rostock's press releases (in German) at http://www.uni-rostock.de/presse/31/North%20Carolina.shtml and at http://139.30.204.56/ors2/index.cfm?f=43&rubid=157.

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