Inside IALR

Latest Episodes:

CNC Machining Innovation Lab Mar 18, 2024

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The “Inside IALR” team showcases the CNC Innovation Lab inside the Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA) with CMA Operations Manager Kevin Thompson and CNC Technologist Jeremiah Williams. This episode highlights how the 5,791-square-foot CNC Machining Innovation Lab enables new and existing businesses to evaluate their processes, build out improvements and incorporate efficiencies without disrupting current operations. This space empowers manufacturers to increase global competitiveness (02:44). They discuss the role of CNC machining (04:18) and its primary role within the manufacturing industry (06:06). The equipment and processes (08:27) are the main attraction for industry. Kevin and Jeremiah explain the specific services provided by the CNC Innovation Lab (14:46) and also provide a short explanation of the Navy's Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) and how the CNC Lab fits into that (19:14).

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves as a regional catalyst for economic transformation in Southern Virginia. Our services, programs and offerings are diverse, impactful and far reaching.
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Coming Full Circle as an Intern Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

The "Inside IALR" team sits down with three former interns, Mitchell Doss (Applied Research), Cassidy Pruitt (Communications) and Lleyton Barber (Economic Development), to discuss what led them to their internship with IALR, what the process was like and their experience (3:15). They realize that they have come full circle from being an intern to being employed: Mitchell is now a Virginia Tech researcher based at IALR and Cassidy is a full-time IALR employee (9:13). They also talk about how their internships helped form their career choices and what interests to pursue afterward (14:01). Mitchell, Cassidy and Lleyton all recommend an internship because of the experience and relationships that are hard to get elsewhere (17:09). For more information on this year’s summer internship opportunities, visit ialr.org/internships.

Cutting-Edge Analytical Chemistry Testing Services Feb 12, 2024

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The "Inside IALR" team sits down with Senior Analytical Chemist, Yimeng “Jack” He, and Vice President of Applied Research, Dr. Scott Lowman, to discuss what analytical chemistry is (1:02). They discuss the primary capabilities and services offered by IALR’s chemistry lab such as Quality Control (QC) testing, stability studies, method development, and optimization and validation (2:21). Jack highlights some of the different pieces of equipment in the lab (9:05) and explains how it compares to other chemistry labs. Dr. Lowman also highlights the differences between fundamental and applied research (25:03) and how the analytical chemistry lab factors into IALR's other research initiatives.

Industry 4.0: Robots, Automation and Efficiency Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

What is Industry 4.0? It involves interconnected machines and data analysis capabilities, and it's what allows three robots to utilize two CNC machines and several other tools and processes to convert a piece of raw material into a finished packaged product without any human involvement inside IALR's Industry 4.0 Integration Lab.

The "Inside IALR" team is on location inside the Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA) with Butch Kendrick, Director of Digital Manufacturing, to outline the goals and capabilities of the Industry 4.0 Integration Lab (0:33), discuss the main principles of Industry 4.0 (1:47), and explain the processes and technologies inside the lab (12:03). Butch describes some of the challenges in designing and implementing the Industry 4.0 Integration lab (17:38) and highlights additional technologies and processes that he hopes to add to the lab in the future (21:13).

Behind the Scenes with IALR Support Services Jan 15, 2024

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The "Inside IALR" team highlights the support services that help keep IALR running: Facilities Maintenance & Information Technology (IT). This unique (and fun) episode features an engaging conversation with two long-tenured employees, Stewart East, Manager of Facilities Maintenance, and Tim Kruggel, Director of IT.
They discuss how, over the years, these two separate departments have worked seamlessly to support our growing campus, team and impact. We also get them to reveal some of the more interesting help desk tickets they have received and situations they have responded to.

Circular Fashion and Textile Recycling Jan 02, 2024

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The average piece of clothing in the U.S. is now worn just seven times, and worldwide, less than 1% of textile waste gets recycled back into textiles.
This special episode of "Inside IALR" features an interview with Iulian Bobe, Co-Founder and Advisor for Circ - a circular fashion company that IALR has supported throughout its lifecycle with a variety of analytical testing services and lab space. Bobe shares the history of Circ, how it started as a technology company to extract sugars and oils from tobacco to produce biofuels, and how it developed a new method to reduce poly-cotton clothing waste.

Advancing the Controlled Environment Agriculture Industry Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

"GO Virginia Region 3 and IALR are well poised to be the leader in the Commonwealth for Controlled Environment Agriculture." - Ellie Travis, Senior Economic Development Specialist, Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement

This episode of "Inside IALR" features a roundtable conversation with several leaders involved in the recent creation of a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) Roadmap Strategy for GO Virginia Region 3:

Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at IALR
Bryan David, Program Director of Southern Virginia/GO Virginia Region 3
Ellie Travis, Senior Economic Development Specialist, Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement

They discuss the current state of the CEA industry as a whole, but specifically in GO Virginia Region 3. While discussing the Roadmap, they explain how CEA represents tremendous economic opportunity and growth potential for Virginia.

Some of the directives outlined in the CEA roadmap include establishing a CEA hub that will focus on awareness and informational campaigns, new venture and new enterprise development assistance, expanding CEA technical assistance, accelerating Region 3 site development and continuing and enhancing CEA-relevant workforce development and talent.
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DCC & IALR: A Strategic Partnership Nov 27, 2023

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The "Inside IALR" team is joined by two energetic leaders: Danville Community College President Dr. Jerry Wallace and IALR President Telly Tucker. In their conversation, they discuss the strategic, diverse partnership between DCC and IALR, how each organization enhances each other's work and the critical roles that we play in economic development initiatives, workforce training and more in Southern Virginia.

Apprenticeships - A Pipeline of Skilled Talent Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

The "Inside IALR" team highlights the Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship (ExTRA) program and how it supports Southern Virginia employers in exploring and establishing registered apprenticeship programs with the Virginia Department of Labor & Industry. This special edition episode features a conversation with IALR Advanced Learning Apprenticeship Coordinator Natori Neal, Danville Life Saving Crew Chief Executive Officer Johnny Mills and Outreach Recruiting and Training Manager Jamie Lynn Lindley, of Comfort Systems USA MidAtlantic.
They discuss what IALR's role is in developing apprenticeship programs across Southern Virginia (00:54), how an apprenticeship differs from a traditional employment opportunity (01:48) and the benefits of apprenticeships for employers and businesses (15:46) and the impact moving forward.

A Win-Win-Win Program: ATDM Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

The tenth episode of “Inside IALR” focuses on the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. First, ATDM Director Dr. Debra Holley (00:09) provides an overview of the ATDM program based at IALR, highlighting why this is a unique training opportunity. She explains the significance of this program and outlines how it will scale to graduate 800-1000 students annually by 2025. Then ATDM CNC Machining student Zeke Gibson (17:03) and Quality Control Inspection (Metrology) student Nicholas McCants (24:02) give insight into their background before joining ATDM and how they found out about the program. They also discuss their experience with ATDM as they near completion before starting new careers.

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