THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 6, 1994 TAG: 9407060389
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Patricia McDaniel's research over the past four years has earned her a doctorate from the College of William and Mary and may earn her a patent as well.
McDaniel did much of her work in the laboratories at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, where she helped develop a strong lightweight new material that may some day be used in the construction of airplanes.
McDaniel is a graduate of William and Mary's applied science program, a graduate program established four years ago that allows students to take what they know about math and science and use it to solve problems.
``I liked the idea that you could do a Ph.D. program that didn't simply end up on a shelf,'' she said.
Dennis Manos, the program's director, said traditional sciences, such as chemistry and physics, have well-defined boundaries. Applied science crosses those boundaries, and students with a background in chemistry may find themselves working next to a computer scientist.
``It's hard to tell who's what without a scorecard,'' Manos said. ``That's more like real life.''
Manos and other faculty members keep close tabs on what government and private labs in the region want and need from young scientists.
``We're industrially conscious,'' Manos said. ``But our primary product is not industrial research. Our primary product is students.''
The program has developed partnerships with local businesses such as Canon and IBM, as well as with institutions like NASA.
McDaniel is still waiting to hear from the Patent Office about her application. by CNB