Amos Gilat (left), professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and director of the Dynamic Mechanics of Materials Laboratory, and Shawn Springs, founder and chief executive of Windpact.
The College of Engineering is set to present Buckeyes Connect: Buckeyes Tackling Safety, a conversation with entrepreneur and All-American Shawn Springs on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m.
The event will bring together Springs and collaborators from Ohio State’s Dynamic Mechanics of Materials Lab, professor Amos Gilat and associate research professor Jeremy Seidt, for a panel discussion about their work to improve how we protect ourselves from concussion and impacts. College of Engineering Dean David B. Williams is set to emcee the virtual event.
Shawn Springs, All-American and twice earned All-Big Ten honors playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Photo courtesy of Ohio State Department of Athletics
RSVP at the College of Engineering’s event page.
Springs is the founder and chief executive of Windpact, a technology and applied science company focused on the analysis, design and implementation of impact protection solutions. The company developed a new impact-mitigating technology and maintains a database of characterized foam materials.
The athlete-turned-entrepreneur hit the ground running in 2011, hiring the company’s first employees in 2015. Before long, Windpact had received grants from the NFL and, more recently, secured a two-year U.S. Department of Defense contract to produce new padding solutions for soldier’s combat helmets.
The Institute for Materials Research (IMR) helped connect the NFL vet with the College of Engineering to study impact protection solutions.
“When I first started Windpact, I had no idea of the important role The Ohio State University would play in our growth and success,” Springs said. “Discovering the immense talent and resources that the school has to offer has allowed us to put together one of my all-time favorite teams.”
Researchers at Ohio State have been collaborating with Windpact to characterize materials used for that potentially life-saving technology through the university’s Dynamic Mechanics of Materials Laboratory. The lab specializes in mechanical characterization of materials to measure ranges in force and strain rates.
“We work with many companies and Windpact is one of our favorites,” said Amos Gilat, professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and director of the Dynamic Mechanics of Materials Laboratory. “Shawn’s energy, vision and commitment are contagious and fun to be associated with.”
Read more about Shawn Springs and research at the Dynamic Mechanics of Materials Lab here.
Story by Mike Huson, IMR Public Relations
Contact: huson.4@osu.edu
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