Released November 19, 2004

HATTIESBURG - Desmond Fletcher of Ambiance and Rocky Prior of Southern Diversified Products will present their technologies at the first IP Forum and Technology Expo at the Jackson Marriot Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. In addition, Dr. Cecil Burge, vice president for research and economic development at The University of Southern Mississippi, will give overviews of the university's research efforts.

This event, hosted by the Mississippi Research Consortium and Mississippi Technology Alliance, brings university researchers together with Mississippi's business leaders and outside venture capitalists to review current research and explore opportunities for collaborative research.

"I will be presenting our product, American Pride Paint, and the impact it has had on economic development and environmental safety," said Prior, vice president and general manager of Southern Diversified Products. American Pride Paint was created by scientists in the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials at Southern Miss.

Fletcher, interim director of the School of Construction, will present technology from his start-up computer company, Ambiance, which specializes in virtual reality.

The event is open to all university researchers, regardless of intellectual property status. The main goal is to expose those outside Southern Miss to the types of research and the wide-ranging capabilities the university offers. So far, 35 venture capitalists, 90 technologists from around the state, and eight Southern Miss employees are registered to attend.

Gov. Haley Barbour will give the keynote address at a luncheon Dec. 1. The schedule of events also includes a pre-conference golf outing, sponsored and coordinated by the Mississippi Technology Alliance, Nov. 30. This event will be followed by a welcome reception from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Marriott, including a poster session with research from each university being displayed. The main program will begin at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 1 and will include oral presentations from each of the universities, as well as a luncheon program and continued viewing of the poster presentations.

If you would like to attend, please visit the event Web site at http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/events/technology/ and sign up at your earliest convenience, as space is limited. For more information, contact Kelli Booth at Noetic Technologies at (601) 705-0252 or kelli.booth@noetictechnologies.org.

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