The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) is extending a hand to work with other departments at Wichita State. And they’re doing it through lunch.

NIAR hosted its first lunch discussion last Friday with NIAR staff and faculty members, representatives from the Biology and Chemistry departments, and other WSU staff.

Tracee Friess, Director of Communication and Special Programs for NIAR called the event “a conversation.”

She said the talks aim to “open up with what we can do here, the services that we have and the kind of things that we do in a typical day” for those who may be unfamiliar with NIAR.

“But we also want to hear from the group about what they do and just kind of get a conversation going about how can we work together, if we can,” Friess said.

The perception many students may have of NIAR may not be accurate, said Tom Aldag, NIAR’s Director of Research and Development.

“When you think of NIAR, you think of, ‘Oh it’s just airplane stuff,’ but we do a lot of different things,” Aldag said.

Aldag came up with the luncheon idea with the intent of improving collaboration and preventing duplication in resources and efforts.

Friess said Aldag wants “more communication in between departments, […] – working together more, having labs available for other departments to use, not just NIAR and engineering.”

A presentation was given about NIAR’s different laboratories and programs such as the 3-D design work through contracts with other industries.

Another program mentioned was the Crash Dynamic Lab and the National Center of Innovation for Biomaterials in Orthopedic Research (CIBOR).

After lunch, the attendees shared their perspectives on the topics, and the discussion was closed with everyone’s opinion on the overall event.

Kevin Booze, program manager at NIAR Computational Mechanics Lab said that the networking is beneficial for NIAR as well as other departments

“Knowing what is available, who to contact would be great for science,” he said.

Angela Paul, an Assistant Instructor and Temporary Reference Librarian at Ablah Library, said she benefitted greatly from the talk.

“It was very interesting,” she said. “I learned a lot about how chemistry and biology could be (used) in aviation research.

Paul said that the luncheon was also very relaxing.

“Eeveryone was engaged in the conversation,” she said

Two additional lunch discussions are scheduled for July 26 and Aug. 30 and are open to all faculty, staff and students from every university department.