Purdue University Northwest (PNW), through its Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS), was recently awarded a cooperative agreement from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) to research the ability to predict the lifespan of electronic components. The principal investigators for PNW’s proposal, CIVS Director and Professor Chenn Zhou, Ph.D. and PNW School of Engineering Professor Hansung Kim, Ph.D., said their research using 3D modeling and simulation will help to accurately predict the lifespan of a system component in its real-time environment, as well as identify specific factors for causing or accelerating its degradation. The cooperative agreement with NSWC Crane provides seed-funding for the university’s research in close collaboration with the federal laboratory. Purdue University Northwest’s CIVS is an interdisciplinary applied research center that combines advanced simulation techniques with 3D visualization and virtual reality technologies to produce innovative solutions in response to real-world industrial, research, and community challenges. Further information about CIVS is available online at www.pnw.edu/civs.