Trine hosting symposium

ACJA chapter bringing robotics program to campus

 

The Trine University chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA) will host “Robotics Loan Pool” at its spring 2009 symposium on Friday, April 3 beginning at 8 a.m. in Fabiani Theatre.

The symposium will be led by Adrian Erckenbrack, president of Defense Technology Solutions LLC, John Andrews, program manager for the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR) San Diego, and Chad Muncie, program manager at the Department of Defense Technology Outreach Center. The experts will focus on a variety of topics related to robotics in the field of criminal justice.

SPAWAR San Diego’s robotics systems pool accelerates the technological advance of U.S. military forces and law enforcement by making the latest robotic technology available through no-cost loans. In return, users provide feedback on the effectiveness of the robotic systems in actual field settings, which is then used to refine and further develop robotic devices.

As robotic devices extend the capabilities of first responders, enhance public safety, and save lives, the presentation will be of special interest to firefighters, emergency medical services professionals and law enforcement officers. The symposium will provide three hours of continuing education credit approved by the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board for in-service law enforcement personnel who attend.

The event will begin with registration and a light breakfast from 8-8:30 a.m. Trine Criminal Justice, Psychology & Social Sciences Department chair Craig Laker and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. David Finley will then conduct a memorial for late Trine criminal justice professor Frank Jagoda Jr.

The experts will discuss the Robotics Loan Pool program from 9-10:40 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.-noon, with a 10-minute intermission between presentations. After a question-and-answer session, participants will receive some hands-on interaction with robotics devices brought for the symposium.

The symposium is free and open to the public, and no pre-registration is required. The Trine ACJA chapter is providing the free breakfast. Trine University and other students, especially those in criminal justice and engineering, criminal justice practitioners, and the general public are invited to attend.

“We are excited to offer this symposium for practitioners, the community, and students,” Laker said. For more information, contact Laker at 260.665.4862 or lakerc@trine.edu, or Corey Cox at 219.898.1165 or cmcox@my.trine.edu.