91²Ö¿â's Liquid Crystal Institute (LCI) will host a rededication ceremony and guided tour of its renovated clean room facility and microscopy laboratory on December 13 at 1:30 p.m.
The clean room, originally built for liquid crystal device prototyping in 1997, will have expanded capabilities to address emerging needs in flexible microelectronics and biomedical applications of liquid crystals and soft materials and be more accessible to a wider range of users when it re-opens in late December.
"In addition to industrial partners, the equipment will be made available to other 91²Ö¿â researchers at no cost in order to expand research collaborations across the disciplines, especially in the areas of biological applications of liquid crystal technologies," LCI Director Hiroshi Yokoyama, Ph.D. said.
A short ceremony, open to the public, will be held in the Institute's Samsung Auditorium to celebrate the past accomplishments of the facility with a review of the history of its founding and success stories. Attendees will then have a "rare opportunity to walk through this world-class facility that has been used by many of the major display companies in the world, as well as a large percentage of American companies breaking into new areas of liquid crystal technology," LCI Associate Director Philip Bos, Ph.D., said. "They will be able to see the prototyping equipment up-close, before the facility becomes a bunny suit-only area."
Past directors of the LCI will discuss the establishment of the facility, followed by the presentation of awards to five past industrial users of the clean room that have used the facility to help start a new innovative business or product. Companies receiving this award include Kent Displays, AlphaMicron, Crystal Diagnostics, ChemImage, e-Vision, and Hana Microdisplays.
"For the last two decades, the device prototype and characterization facility at the LCI has contributed to the industrial and academic liquid crystal community all over the world as the nation's leading facility in this fast-growing area," Bos said.
Yokoyama will present a vision for the LCI's renovated facility and explain how people can access it. Several 91²Ö¿â officials will speak during the dedication, including Todd Diacon, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. Jianlin Li, Ph.D., of Polytronix, Inc. will be recognized for his company's donation towards the new facility. The event will conclude with poster presentations and a wine and cheese reception.
Online Registration is required at
For more information about 91²Ö¿â's Liquid Crystal Institute, visit
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Media Contacts:
Philip Bos, Ph.D., pbos@kent.edu, 330-672-2511
Hiroshi Yokoyama, Ph.D., hyokoyama@kent.edu, 330-672-2633
Jim Maxwell, jmaxwel2@kent.edu, 330-672-8028
Location: The LCI's Samsung Auditorium is housed in the Liquid Crystal and Materials Sciences Building, located on Summit Street, east of the Student Center and Library. The three-story facility is adjacent to Henderson Hall School of Nursing and across the street from the Presbyterian Church of Kent (1456 E. Summit St.). Parking is available in the R-8 parking lot just north of the Institute. A parking permit is required to park in the lot. Visitors should request a parking permit from the LCI receptionist upon arrival at the LCI. Walk to the back door of the Liquid Crystal and Materials Sciences Building and take the stairs (on the right) to the second floor. The main administrative office is Room 201 to the left of the door to the corridor. Visitors will need to obtain a parking permit from the LCI receptionist upon arrival.