Office of Naval Research Introduces “Technology Talks” On Facebook

By John Ohab

ShareGot a question for a Navy scientist or engineer?  Here’s your chance to ask!

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) will host an eight-week series of open, interactive question-and-answer sessions on Facebook beginning Wednesday,  Sept. 15, 2010 at 11:00am eastern. These online events will highlight research areas being funded as part of the 2010 Chief of Naval Research Challenge this fall.

In 30-minute sessions hosted weekly on Wednesdays, ONR subject matter experts will answer questions submitted by general audiences on Facebook and Twitter. Sessions will focus on six ONR science and technology program areas expected to award $100,000 in research grants this winter.

Tomorrow’s guest is Kurt Yankasas, who  manages ONR’s Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Program. Formerly with Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the engineer joined ONR in 2009 to lead the organization in its exploration of noise mitigation, training and education, protection and medical technologies to prevent and treat noise-induced hearing loss.

Make sure to get questions to ONR by Wednesday, Sept 15 at 11am! Post your questions leading up to or during the event, and he’ll answer as many as possible. We hope to bring you a full recap here on the Armed with Science blog.

Kurt Yankaskas, ONR’s Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Program manager, is taking your questions live on Facebook. (Photo: ONR)

Here is the preliminary schedule for the eight ONR Technology Talks:

* 11 a.m., EST, Wednesday, Sept. 15

Topic: Measurement Technologies for High-Noise Environments

Expert: Kurt Yankaskas, program manager, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, ONR

* 11 a.m., EST, Wednesday, Sept. 22

Topic: Enhanced Perception System for Autonomous Ground Navigation

Expert: Keith Hammack, deputy manager, Maneuver Thrust Effort, ONR

* 11 a.m., EST, Wednesday, Sept. 28

Topic: Flow Noise Mitigation by Fish

Expert: Dr. Michael Traweek, program officer, Maritime Sensing Team, ONR

* 11 a.m., EST, Wednesday, Oct. 6

Topic: Chlorine-Resistant Seawater Reverse Osmosis Membranes

Expert: Dr. Paul Armistead, program officer, Functional Polymeric and Organic Materials, ONR

* 11 a.m., EST, Wednesday, Oct. 13

Topic: Compressive Sensing in Urban Defense

Experts: Dr. Michael Pollock, program officer, and Dr. Rabinder Madan, program officer, Networked Sensing and Signal Processing Program, ONR

* 11 a.m., EST, Wednesday, Oct. 20

Topic: Stem2Stern: Building a Future Force of Scientists and Engineers Through Education

Expert: To be announced

* 11 a.m., EST, Wednesday, Oct. 27

Topic: FAQs About ONR’s Small Business Innovation Research Program Contracts

Expert: Tracy Frost, program manager, Small Business Innovation Research Program, ONR

* 11 a.m., EST, Wednesday, Nov. 3

Topic: Directed Energy in Maritime Environments

Expert: Quentin Saulter, program manager, Directed Energy Program, ONR