Located in Cleveland, Ohio on the Case Western Reserve University campus and at NASA's Glenn Research Center, the National Center for Space Exploration Research (NCSER) utilizes its expertise in gravitational effects on fluids and combustion to assist the development of new advanced and enabling technologies for NASA's space exploration missions.

Since its inception, the Center has performed critical-path microgravity research on fluids and combustion; supported NASA missions; pursued knowledge transfer, outreach and education; and assisted NASA in developing strategies for future microgravity research. NCSER is positioned to be an important resource for space exploration missions, which will require the development of new advanced technologies for power and propulsion and for human life support that are reliable, efficient, and self-sustaining.

Dr. Iwan Alexander, NCSER Director

NCSER Director Dr. Iwan Alexander is a professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Alexander's research interests now cover a number of topics ranging from the physics and mechanics of fluid interfaces, vibrational and g-jitter convection and transport to crystal growth and solidification. Most of Dr. Alexander's work over the last fifteen years has been associated with theoretical studies, computational simulations and experiments, particularly those processes associated with materials preparation. He has also been involved with five space experiments. Dr. Alexander serves on a number of national committees, has chaired two Gordon Research Conferences (Gravitational Effects in Physical-Chemical Systems and Thin Film and Crystal Growth Mechanisms), and is internationally recognized for his work on microgravity fluid processes.

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