Missouri University of Science and Technology - Rollamo Yearbook (Rolla, MO)

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O ften exciting, more often dull a n d repetitious, frustrating, invigorating, ag- gravating, inspiring, annoy- ing, rewarding, irritating, sati sfying, bothersome and stimulating. Research, Odds are when a professor is not to be found, they can be — in a laboratory doing research. Dr. Delbert Day director of the Materials Research Center and Ceramics Engineering professor spends, probably three fourths of the time doing research. Dr. Day hv far, isn ' t the only UMR professor con duct- ing research; over 757 are involved. While most feel that research doesn ' t interfere with their classroom ac- ts v i t ies, st uden ts opinions va ry . I ' ve had several frustrating ex- periences trying to find professors but they haven ' t been available ' Karla Wagner, sophomore, said. While Linda Weber, s e n i o r , remarked, l guess Lve been lucky. I ' ve never had problems when I needed to talk to a teacher ' And another Student related this story I remember trying fur several days to track down this particular teacher to clear up a concept l was con- fused on. J still hadn ' t been able to catch him before the test, and my grade sure showed it, Despite some student ' s complaints, industry is always receptive to new ' ideas. From glass beads to help treat liver cancer, to studying the phenom- Over 757 of UMR ' s professor ' s conduct research and are always keeping current with changes in their respective fields. Photos By Tim Martin

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ena that occurs in atomic struc- ture metals when they change from their original state to one with superior qualities, to adap- ting water jet use for drilling around corner, UMR ' s pro- fessors are always keeping cur- rent with changes in their respective fields Dr. Stig Friberg, chemistry professor, researches systems of water, oil and amphiphilic substances. One important idea his team is working on is microemulsions that contain surfactants that break down hydrocarbons or water into par- ticles that can be seen only with an electron microscope. ' in effect; according to Dr. Friberg, the oil dissolves in water to form a clear solution which can be controlled to behave like either oil or water. When the means to make oil mix with water are perfected, petroleum companies will be able to recover a great deal of tertiary oil. Great revolutions will be made in the field of cosmetics, the chemical pro- cessing industries, the paint in- dustry and even the food in dustry — to name just a few ' Dr. Friberg was UMR ' s first Missouri Curator Professor, This honor, created in 1968, is awarded to outstanding schol- ars with established reputations in their academic fields. Since Dr. Friberg ' s award in 1979, five other UMR professors have also been honored. They in elude: Dr, Delbert Day, ceramics; Dr. Walter Eversman, mechanical and aerospace; Dr, Laird Schearer, physics; Dr, David Summers, mining; and Dr. Wei-Wen Yu, civil. In his earlier work. Dr. Sum- mers designed water jet machines to use in underground coal mining. He has been working on adapting these for use in drilling around corners, and for quieter and faster rock drilling. Most of his work deals with making im- provements in current mining practices and solving problems caused by rapidly increasing shortages of fossil fuels. With an idea from a col- league at the University of Missouri — Columbia, Dr. Day designed small glass beads that are used in the treatment of liver cancer. The spheres con- tain phos porous and are not chemically corroded by the body. These beads are made to a certain size ' Dr, Day ex- plained. They are placed in a nuclear reactor to get ir- radiated, Then they are in- Photos By Tim Martin jected into the main blood stream that feeds the liver. Due to their size, they get trapped in the liver and remain there. They radiate the liver with a controlled dose, exactly where it ' s needed, and it doesn ' t hurt the healthy cells around the liver ' The properties of electrical discharge in gaseous media has been the center of Dr. Schearer ' s research. The U.S. Navy is grateful, because they use a helium magnetometer that he designed. This device is capable of measuring extremely small variations in the earth ' s magnetic field. It is used to detect submarines, magnetic storms, and in overland oil ex- plorations, as well as by NASA Dr, Delbert Day, Ceramic Engineering Department, Dr, Walter Eversman, professor in Mechanical Engineering, 18