Request for Authorization to Plan the NC State University (NCSU) Institute for Human Protection and Comfort Sciences (IHPCS) Dr. Roger L. Barker Director, Center for Research on Textile Protection and Comfort (TPACC) December 20, 2013 i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Executive Summary .....................................................................................................................1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................3 Mission .........................................................................................................................................5 Relationship of the Proposed Institute to the Mission of NC State University ...........................5 Goals and Objectives of the Proposed Institute ...........................................................................5 Value Added Beyond the Existing Structure of NC State ...........................................................7 Similar Units in the UNC System and State and Proposed Relationships ...................................9 Organization and Structure ..........................................................................................................10 External Advisory Board .......................................................................................................11 Faculty and Staff Involvement ...............................................................................................12 Planned Instructional Programs ...................................................................................................14 Professional Science Masters in Human Protection and Comfort .........................................15 PhD Degree Program in Human Protection and Comfort Sciences ......................................16 Support for Institute Educational Programs ...........................................................................16 Financial and Other Resource Support for the Institute ...............................................................17 Five Year Budget Summary...................................................................................................17 Resources Needed ........................................................................................................................18 Required Cost Matching or Cost Share Funding ...................................................................18 Space and Capital Equipment Requirements .........................................................................18 Support and Mentoring of Junior Faculty ..............................................................................19 Appendix 1: Center for Research on Textile Protection and Comfort.........................................20 Appendix 2: Planning Phase Goals, Activities and Timeline ......................................................24 Appendix 3: Courses and Curriculum in Human Protection and Comfort Sciences ...................29 Appendix 4: List of Acronyms ....................................................................................................32 i Executive Summary Although the need has been long been recognized by the National Academy of Science and widely by industry, no academic program, in North Carolina or anywhere in the United States, is currently devoted to providing comprehensive research, education and service in the multidisciplinary areas of human protection and comfort sciences [1]. The proposed Institute of Human Protection and Comfort Sciences (IHPCS) will be developed to meet this critical strategic need to the benefit of North Carolina and the Nation. NC State's diverse capabilities in the disciplinary areas relevant to human protection and comfort science, engineering and technology are widely distributed across the campus. They are located in multiple colleges, departments, research centers and in specialized laboratories. While the capabilities to address these areas of public health and safety as well as economic development are present at NC State, they have not previously been joined with a collaborative focus in the area of human protection and comfort. IHPCS will provide a formal organization that can set long term strategic objectives for advancing the state of knowledge in this vital area as well as support short term projects to address immediate needs of the emergency responder, military, medical, outdoor and sports apparel communities. The Institute focus will unite scientists and engineers to jointly solve problems using multidisciplinary approach to various difficult problems facing these communities. The Institute will be built on a foundation of proven strength at NCSU: the Center for Research in Textile Protection and Comfort (TPACC). TPACC is the most advanced academic center for research and graduate education in personal protective and performance textiles in the world. Formed in 1994, TPACC is the only academic center in the U.S. that incorporates the capabilities to conduct basic and applied research, testing and evaluation on the comfort and protection of clothing materials, full garments and ensembles. Its research and service projects are widely supported by the industry base in North Carolina and the Nation serving the military, firefighters and functional textiles markets, including textiles for medical and sports applications. Appendix 1 provides details about TPACC's capabilities and accomplishments. TPACC's chartered focus on protective and functional textile and clothing technologies, and on testing methods for evaluating these technologies, no longer provides the multidisciplinary scope needed to solve many of the problems associated with the design, development, testing and evaluation and commercialization of diverse technologies for thermal, chemical, biological, radiological and ballistic protection. Nor is its textiles-oriented center focus broad enough to capitalize on many of the major emerging research opportunities for growth and diversification in the areas of human protection and comfort. This is because these real-world challenges and opportunities are not limited to textile materials and clothing: their solutions also require knowledge of human physiology and psychology, exposure and environmental toxicology, modeling and virtual simulation of responder environments, wearable sensor technologies for monitoring human function and exposure, and many other disciplinary areas, all of which can be found at NC State. IHPCS will be developed to provide the institute-level organizational framework and focus needed to galvanize and support a University-wide multidisciplinary research and education mission that will guarantee future growth and sustainability in these areas of critical importance to NC State's strategic mission. 1 A new brand of educational program is also needed to graduate students with a clearly identifiable and recognized breath of knowledge that can be immediately applied in the areas of human protection and comfort. Our highly visible research related to firefighters protective clothing and equipment (PPE), hazmat protective materials and systems, and the effect of clothing materials on the comfort of clothing for active sports, medical and outdoor applications, is a powerful magnet for graduate and undergraduate students from North Carolina, USA and throughout the world. In spite of strong student interest, our academic capabilities still remain largely an untapped resource, though they have a high potential of making a very significant impact on educational programs offered by NCSU. A barrier in realizing benefits of these new educational opportunities at NC State is lack of a formal university-wide curriculum devoted to educating students in human protection and comfort sciences and in the areas related to these disciplines. The human protection and comfort sciences are clearly multi-disciplinary areas in which NC State University has a combination of existing capabilities, reputation, and future potential that is truly unique. However, significant growth in areas critical to our strategic mission cannot be accomplished without the proposed Institute. By providing a focusing mechanism for research, education and outreach for materials and engineered technologies produced for defense, security, medical, sports and outdoor industries, the Institute will service these dynamic and growing sectors state- and nation-wide. In so doing, it will help to grow jobs and contribute to the economy of North Carolina and the United States. No commitment of financial resources from the University or State of North Carolina is requested to initiate and operate IHPCS. The Institute's financial support and resources will be derived from multiple sources including Federal contracts and grants and income from service testing projects for industrial companies. At the same time, IHPCS will significantly increase the revenue streams that have been available as a result of funds generated by expanded funded research, education and service activities, including consortia membership fees, revenue generating graduate programs and increased service activities. The request for authorization to plan IHPCS has been reviewed by members of the University Research Operational Council (ROC) and by the Provost's Office and has received their support. Their constructive suggestions have been incorporated into this proposal. Goals of the Planning Process We will develop a detailed business model