Portland State Magazine Winter 2008

I l In the world of zero-g FORGIVE MARK WE ISLOG EL if he looks a little tired. He's about to leave for Japan, and he just got back from India. "I spent 30 hours in transit to get there," he says, "First I flew to London, then Bombay, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. I couldn't sleep on the planes, so I was up for 50 straight hours." Weislogel, a professor in the thermal and fluid sciences group at Portland State's Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, finds himself a sought-after presenter in the field of fluid dynamics, thanks to his work with NASA on the International Space Station. Designed to illustrate fluid movement processes under zero- or micro-gravity condi- 16 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE WINTER 2008 dons, Weislogel's experiments offer the promise of better fluid movement and delivery systems in the future-ranging from bubble-free IV systems for hospitals, to "lab on chip" modules used to process biological samples, to more efficient hydrogen fuel cells, to improved ink cartridges for computer printers and copiers. "Ir's pretty exciting," Weislogel says. "NASA wants us to tell the story." Hence Weislogel's upcoming presentation at the International Symposium on the Physical Sciences in Japan, with presentations to follow in China, Australia, Canada, and the United Stares.