Modeling and Simulation on Display at VMASC Open House
On Thursday, April 17, Old Dominion's Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) played host to more than 200 high school students, teachers, local representatives and industry officials at its annual open house (see photos below).
Visitors were invited to try out driving and flight simulations, as well as virtual reality video games, all developed by VMASC researchers. They also got a feel for the incredible breadth of modeling and simulation research and innovation that is taking place at the university.
The annual open house is an opportunity for VMASC to showcase its groundbreaking research to an audience of prospective students, clients and local government officials.
John Sokolowski, VMASC executive director, was excited by the turnout for this year's event, which allowed ODU project scientists to demonstrate their research. "There are tremendous opportunities from an educational standpoint for the research we do at Old Dominion University," Sokolowski said. "And that research can really help grow the discipline and the industry in Hampton Roads.
"A senior capstone project this year has been to provide modeling and simulation assistance to Newport News Shipbuilding. This project will directly benefit one of the shipyard's production facilities."
The modeling and simulation industry is evolving in Hampton Roads, one of the country's research hubs. This evolution is due in part to cutbacks in direct government and military expenditure for M&S because of sequestration and other program reevaluation.
VMASC and ODU have led the way in Hampton Roads and beyond in diversifying the scope of modeling and simulation research, accelerating existing and untapped technology growth areas in the region, such as unmanned aerial systems, cyber security, health care and advanced manufacturing.
ODU's Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center was founded in 1997 as an academic partner of the Department of Defense's Joint Forces Command. Along with training modeling and simulation professionals, and providing key services to industry and government partners, VMASC has advanced the academic discipline into fields where M&S was not used previously.