Clemson Corporate Connections
The Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) group within the Office of Development at Clemson University is dedicated to building and maintaining long-term relationships that benefit your company as well as the University and its students. The Corporate Connections newsletter is a quick update on some of these partnerships.
People
Jerry Tessendorf, professor of visual computing and director of the Digital Production Arts program at Clemson University, might not have walked to the podium to receive the Oscar, but he was a winner nonetheless when the 2013 Academy Award for “Best Visual Effects” was announced. Tessendorf’s water simulation software was used in the stunning film “Life of Pi.”
Tessendorf began the development of water simulation software while working in the defense contracting industry. Before arriving at Clemson in 2010, he was chief graphic scientist at Rhythm & Hues Studios, an award-winning visual effects and animation company.
His research is in fluid dynamics, radiative transfer and production workflow for feature films. His film work includes: “Titanic,” X2: X-men United, Superman Returns,” “Night at the Museum,” “Chronicles of Narnia,” “Golden Compass,” “Happy Feet” “The A-Team” and, of course, “The Life of Pi.”
Tessendorf and his colleagues also received an Academy Award for Technical Achievement in 2008. He has a Ph.D. in physics from Brown University.
Partnerships
One of the nation’s foremost centers for automotive innovation has partnered with a market leader in technology research and development to advance commercial availability of natural gas engine systems for heavy-duty diesel trucks.
The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) and Beaufort, S.C.-based EcoDual will focus their combined resources on conversion of diesel engines already on the road to natural gas operation and reduction of exhaust emissions.
The team subsequently will address challenges associated with optimizing natural gas use in new diesel engines under development by original equipment manufacturers. The team also will research strategies to develop clean-combustion engines — a strategic expertise found uniquely in the CU-ICAR faculty — aimed at minimizing the need for costly and cumbersome “exhaust after-treatment.”
“This partnership creates outstanding opportunities for our students and faculty to engage in transforming the commercial fleets on the nation’s roads,” said Zoran Filipi, Timken Endowed Chair in Vehicle System Design at CU-ICAR.
EcoDual’s system allows conversion of a heavy-duty diesel to run on a combination of natural gas and diesel fuels. More than 60 percent of the engine’s power is generated by burning natural gas.
Scott Myers, EcoDual’s chief executive officer, said, “CU-ICAR is a key development partner who will help us accelerate next-generation product development and will enable us to broaden our market penetration.
“Our partnership with CU-ICAR provides tremendous faculty expertise and world-class development facilities,” he said. “We look forward to this collaboration.”
Click here for more information on CU-ICAR partnering.
Events
On Wednesday, March 13, Clemson University hosted the sixth annual Language and International Trade Conference at the Hendrix Student Center.
With the theme “Doing well by doing good: The new face of global business,” this year’s conference featured speakers from Disneyland Paris, Dixon Hughes Goodman, Buckeye Technologies and more.
The keynote speaker was Mark Mannella of Disney Company. Other speakers included Craig Lundgren, business development executive for the South Carolina/Western Carolina region of Dixon Hughes Goodman, and John B. Crowe, chairman and chief executive officer of Buckeye Technologies Inc.
The conference included a panel discussion with alumni from Clemson’s language and international trade program as well as a roundtable session with Clemson students and international business leaders.