Contact: Jay Blanton

On May 17, UK will host a luncheon at the Expo, in which Gov. Fletcher, Todd and Baldwin will discuss UK’s commitment to working with our current industry partners and forming new collaborations. In addition, Todd will lead the UK research team during on-site meetings with select UK partners.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 13, 2005) -- Highlighting the increasingly active role the University of Kentucky plays in improving industry and the state’s economy, President Lee T. Todd Jr. and several university representatives will join Gov. Ernie Fletcher in attending the World Expo 2005 in Japan.

Todd and Fletcher will be at the expo during “Kentucky Week” May 16-22 – a series of events during the course of the five-month expo designed to focus on the close economic partnership that exists between the Commonwealth and Japan.

“The University of Kentucky is working in close partnership with Toyota and other companies that make their home in Kentucky to improve their efficiency and, as a result, the economic climate of our state,” Todd said. “The World Expo offers an important opportunity to further solidify this unique relationship as well as demonstrate to a global economic community the close and productive partnership that exists among state government, private industry and the University of Kentucky.”

Traveling with Todd will be Wendy Baldwin, UK’s executive vice president for research; John Parks, associate vice president for research and economic development and director of UK’s Coldstream Research Campus; Eric Grulke, College of Engineering associate dean for research; and Kozo Saito, a UK mechanical engineering professor who works closely with Toyota on paint technology issues.

Saito has a joint patent with Toyota for an invention – the Vortecone Scrubber – that has significantly improved overspray capture during the vehicle painting process, while using much less energy than conventional scrubbers. Saito is now working with nine companies and 10 academic groups worldwide.

The World Expo is the first world exposition in the 21st century. Fifteen million visitors are expected to attend the expo, which runs from March 25 to September 25. The United States is one of 125 participating countries.

During Kentucky Week, UK and state government officials, along with Commerce Lexington economic development representatives, Georgetown College and the City of Georgetown, will act as host for Japanese business executives, international tour operators and others.

On May 17, UK will host a luncheon at the expo, in which Gov. Fletcher, Todd and Baldwin will discuss UK’s commitment to working with our current industry partners and forming new collaborations. In addition, Todd will lead the UK research team during on-site meetings with select UK partners. Parks will also meet with Japanese companies and make a presentation at the Japan External Trade Organization meeting.

“The research we’re conducting is already paying off for the significant industry and foreign investment in Kentucky,” Baldwin said. “The expo gives us an opportunity to discuss work already under way at UK and to expand our partnerships for the future.”