FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Southern Research Creates New Consulting Engineering Business Based on Modeling and Simulation Services

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (April 17, 2007) – Southern Research today announced that Daniel Duke, Ph.D., P.E., will lead the development of its newest engineering department – the Engineering Solutions Dept. The group will focus on resolving engineering challenges through computational simulations, finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics and vibration analysis, and will expand Southern Research’s business development efforts to new and existing clientele.

“The Engineering Solutions group will help us expand our engineering expertise by giving us a new service that reaches almost every core business area in engineering,” said Michael D. Johns, vice president of the Engineering Division at Southern Research. “We have long been known for our expertise in physical testing and characterization in the high-temperature materials and energy sectors. Through the addition of this modeling and simulation business, we can offer a complete lineup of services – from power plant failure investigations to complex design and modeling of next generation space telescopes.”

Johns said he expects the new department to ramp up very quickly and to achieve significant growth by leveraging the resources available through The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) High-Performance Computing Center and other University of Alabama System partners.

“Computer modeling and simulation are essential to the engineering design and problem solving process and occur before a physical prototype is built; so there is very compelling business rationale for conducting this type of work before making big investments in the physical prototype,” said Duke. “So much of Southern Research’s engineering reputation is based on problem-solving, and taking on the tough challenges. The services of the Engineering Solutions department will add a more in-depth evaluative component to what they already do, and help its customers anticipate – and solve – problems before they occur.”

Since 1991, Duke has worked as a consulting engineer for equipment manufacturers, design engineers, product development specialists, and end users in industrial, commercial, government, and defense applications located all across the U.S. and in England. Previously, he was Chief Engineer for Process Equipment in Pelham, and a Design Engineer for Barron Industries in Leeds and Combustion Engineering in Birmingham. Most recently he was an adjunct professor in the Dept. of Civil Engineering at UAB, and has taught classes in Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Solids, Structural Mechanics, Structural Steel Design, Structural Dynamics, Introduction to Finite Element Methods, and Finite Element Methods.

Duke earned both his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and his Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from UAB, and received his Doctorate in Engineering Mechanics from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Alabama, North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Virginia, and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

ABOUT SOUTHERN RESEARCH Southern Research is a not-for-profit organization that conducts scientific research at facilities in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and North Carolina. Southern Research provides contract research in the fields of advanced engineering, environmental and energy-related research, and preclinical drug discovery and drug development. This year, the scientists and engineers of Southern Research celebrate its 65th Anniversary of legendary discoveries and leading innovation. For more information, see www.southernresearch.org.

Media Contact: Rhonda Jung, Public Relations Manager, jung@southernresearch.org, 205-581-2317