Iowa State Faculty, Staff Net Two Of 100 Technology Awards

Iowa State faculty captured two of 100 technology awards 
presented this year by Research & Development (R&D) Magazine. 
Editors of the magazine each year recognize the 100 most 
significant technologies introduced into the world market in 
the previous year.

The 1995 winners from Iowa State are Steve Martin, associate 
professor of materials science and engineering, and the team 
of John Gustafson, adjunct professor of computer science and 
a computational scientist at Ames Lab, and Quinn Snell, an 
Ames Lab research assistant.

Gustafson and Snell were recognized for their development of 
HINT (Hierarchical INTegration), software that cuts through 
different computer languages, speeds and designs to more 
accurately measure a computer's range of performance. In the 
past, computer users relied on specifications such as 
megahertz to measure computing power. HINT has a wide range 
of applications because it can be used in everything from 
personal computers to supercomputers.

This is Gustafson's third R&D Award. He also won awards in 
1989 and 1991.

Martin was recognized for his development of an ultra low 
expansion optical fiber used in laser surgery. The work was 
done with Gerald Shirk, a Cedar Rapids surgeon who was 
frustrated with the surgical performance of conventional 
optical fibers. 

The new fiber doesn't disintegrate when it comes in contact 
with tissue, as previous fibers did. As a result, it is 
expected to simplify laser surgery, cut surgical costs and 
reduce patient discomfort following surgery.

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contact:  Internal Communications, (515) 294-7065
updated:  7-7-95