Homeland Security to Give $1.5 Million for AU Antiterrorism Research

The Department of Textile Engineering within the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University, in cooperation with the Auburn College of Sciences and Mathematics' Department of Chemistry, will receive $500,000 per year for three years from the Department of Homeland Security to develop new protective materials against chemical attacks.

An active protection strategy will be used to stop chemical species before they reach the human skin. If successful, the developed materials will provide protection without compromising human comfort, allowing rescuers to wear protective garments for prolonged periods.

Auburn is the lead institution working with Clemson University and NovaComp, Inc., a specialized company in Philadelphia. Auburn's research team includes Yasser Gowayed, primary investigator, Gisela Buschle-Diller and Peter Schwartz of the textile engineering faculty, and Peter Livant of the chemistry faculty.