A donation from a Huntsville aerospace and defense company to the University of Alabama in Huntsville is expected to pay off for students and the city, UAH officials said.

Astrion recently awarded $75,000 to UAH’s College of Science to support the school’s anechoic chamber initiative, a facility where students will test antennas, sensors and radio frequency (RF) systems that underpin modern defense and aerospace capabilities.

The hands-on facility will help prepare students for the workforce through their experience in testing environments similar to those used by defense contractors and government agencies.

“Astrion’s support will allow us to train the next generation of RF scientists and engineers,” said Dr. Roderick Davidson, research assistant professor in the Department of Physics. “The students working on these projects will fuel innovation in this field throughout Huntsville.”

Astrion Chairman and CEO Tom Vice said the donation reinforces the company’s belief that building mission advantage and strengthening national security begins long before a mission starts, in local classrooms and research labs.

An anechoic chamber is a testing space engineered and designed to absorb reflections of sound or electromagnetic waves. An RF anechoic chamber is lined with specialized foam pyramids to absorb incoming radio waves rather than reflecting them back.

The room is protected against outside interference, such as from cell phones and wireless networks. By eliminating external noise and internal reflections, the chamber allows researchers to test electronics, sensors, and radar systems under pristine conditions.

“The growing partnership with Astrion fully aligns with our strategic priorities of serving our community and connecting our students with partners,” says College of Science Dean Dr. Rainer Steinwandt. “I am very grateful to Tom Vice and his team for the scientific opportunities that this gift creates for our students and faculty.”