N.C. State Graduate Research Center Opens

"Our science and engineeringing programs are fairly well known," saysChancellor Larry Monteith. "This will continue to bring recognition tothem."

Housed inside the two new buildings on the Centennial Campus, state ofthe art technology already being put to use. Specialized high-techequipment includes such things as a microscope that focuses in on atoms.

"Now on the length of the scale here, this is a micron wide," explainsengineering professor Phil Russell. "To give you an idea, your hair istypically one hundred microns wide."

There is even an electronic nose that can distinguish between sixtypes of soda, even better than WRAL'sBret Baier. Bret thought the drink wasDr. Pepper. The computer knew it was Cheerwine. It's a nose withpractical uses.

"We've done analysis of hog farm odor here in North Carolina," saysengineering professor Tony Nagle.

A Constructed Facilities Lab tests concrete and how it will stand upto earthquakes and adverse weather. Grad students are trying to find thebest materials for building.

The new lab is the largest facility of its kind in the nation. Anengineers' dream is now reality at NC State.

Photographer: Greg Clark