The National Science Foundation (NSF) held its annual budget request rollout event and open house on Feb. 4, 2008, at its headquarters in Arlington, Va., and MEM’s Dr. Paul Oh was invited as one of only twelve projects to exhibit.

Dr. Oh’s exhibit entitled “PIRE: Humanoids” consisted of two-legged robots engineered to mimic human form and function. The international partnership between the United States and Korea for this project envisions a future where robots interact with people and assist in everyday chores. Such a vision demands advancing artificial intelligence and information technologies on robots.

Open house exhibitors were chosen by chosen by NSF's directorates and offices, based on their individual research activities, deemed to be among the very best that the Foundation can showcase in science and engineering research and education.

The rollout event, consisted of a briefing by NSF Director Arden Bement followed by break-out sessions for each NSF directorate, provided details about the amount of funding the administration is seeking from Congress for NSF in fiscal year 2009.