The Mississippi State University (MSU) in the United States recently opened a new research centre dedicated to composite materials and aerospace. The Marvin B. Dow Stitched Composites Development Centre at the MSU Advanced Composites Institute has been set up by The Boeing Company, which donated lab equipment and provided additional support for the centre.

The centre is named after pioneering National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientist Marvin B Dow. While working at NASA Langley Research Centre, Dow worked with McDonnell Douglas, now part of Boeing, to develop advanced stitched composite designs and manufacturing methods.

MSU presented Dow’s daughter, Heather, with a plaque recognising Marvin’s rich legacy in the field and his original vision to conduct stitched composites research that will revolutionise the way future aircraft are designed, built and flown.

Housed at MSU’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville, the Advanced Composites Institute continues the land-grant university’s legacy of innovation in aerospace and materials research and development. (DS)