The Institute for Shock Physics (ISP) recently secured a cooperative agreement renewal in the amount of $32.5 million from U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for a five-year period.
“This renewal marks an important milestone in our mission to advance dynamic compression science,” said Brian Jensen, ISP director. “It enables us to pursue discovery-class research at WSU and with our partners, enhance experimental methods and data analysis, and foster both a growing user community and the next generation of scientists.”
A priority research goal for ISP is to support and enhance the long-term intellectual vitality of dynamic compression science, which is a field that is central to the DOE/NNSA Stockpile Stewardship Program.
The renewal will enable ISP to pursue discovery-class research at WSU and with its partners, enhancing experimental methods and data analysis.
A dual approach is fundamental to the achievement of the agreement objectives. One part involves managing, operating, and enhancing the Dynamic Compression Sector (DCS), a first-of-its-kind experimental user facility located at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory in the Chicago, IL area. The DCS is dedicated to understanding the dynamic compression or deformation response of materials through real-time, multiscale measurements.
The second part is the Shock Wave Academic Partnership (SWAP) to undertake research, education, and outreach activities with a focus on the education and hands-on training of the next generation of scientists who will be encouraged to seek professional careers at the NNSA laboratories. The SWAP is comprised of WSU, the California Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and a new partner, the University of Texas El Paso.
“With over six decades of educational excellence, WSU is a national leader in shock wave research. This award extends ISP’s ability to work with partners in continued efforts to identify and develop scientific and programmatic innovations,” said Courtney Meehan, interim dean, College of Arts and Sciences.
Jensen is the principal investigator and submitted the proposal for the award. In addition to being the director of the Institute for Shock Physics, he is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Media Contacts
- Brian Jensen, WSU Institute for Shock Physics, 509-335-7217, bjjensen@wsu.edu
