AFRL event aims to inspire researchers

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Greene County News

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — The second annual Air Force Research Laboratory Inspire event will be held 1:30-4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Dayton Art Institute.

AFRL Inspire is a series of talks that seek to energize current and future Air Force scientists and engineers. Inspire consists of talks by AFRL researchers who have made important discoveries, solved complex technical challenges, developed new Air Force capabilities and directly impacted the safety and mission success of the warfighter.

A line up of six speakers from across AFRL will deliver 12-17 minute talks designed to be engaging to a general audience. Each talk features AFRL scientists and engineers tackling heroic challenges to benefit our Airmen and society.

The AFRL Inspire event series is ultimately the idea of Dan Berrigan, AFRL materials research engineer, and Kerianne Gross, AFRL research aerospace engineer. They paired up at a development workshop focused on exploring methods to promote an environment of autonomy, mastery and purpose among the AFRL workforce.

“Ultimately we found ourselves inspired by organizations like TED and TEDx Dayton, who have found a way to make complex topics accessible to a broad audience,” said Berrigan. “Gone are typical AFRL briefing charts and technobabble.”

Gross described AFRL Inspire as a unique opportunity for AFRL scientists and engineers to highlight their research and engage the current and future AFRL workforce.

“AFRL Inspire talks are designed to pull people out of their daily grind to be reminded of the impact of our work,” said Gross. “When the AFRL Inspire speakers tell their stories, they tell our story as a lab.”

Last year’s pilot event sold out the Dayton Art Institute’s NCR Auditorium and quickly became some of AFRL’s most viewed videos on YouTube. The videos from AFRL Inspire 2015 are available at http://tinyurl.com/AFRLInspire2015. The event is not open to the public.

“The AFRL Inspire Team has built upon last year’s success, creating a truly high-energy, engaging program,” said Dr. Morley Stone, AFRL’s chief technology officer. “The six inspiring talks by AFRL scientists and engineers demonstrate the creativity, technical expertise, and dedication of AFRL’s amazing people.”

Story courtesy of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

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