UCI scores $4 million in software

Marisa O’Neil

UC Irvine’s school of engineering this week received a donation of $4

million in software and services from a local company.

Santa Ana-based MSC.Software Corp. made the donation to the Henry

Samueli School of Engineering and the School of Physical Sciences.

The software helps with computer-aided engineering, said company

spokesman Todd Evans.

“[The software] applies physics to [computer-aided drafting]

models to test for stress, thermal dynamics and fluid flow,” Evans

said.

That technology can help engineers simulate scenarios like a car

crash or a bird flying into a jet engine, he said.

The software will primarily be used for mechanical and aerospace

engineering applications. MSC.Software designs engineering software

to simulate real-world situations on design models before production.

Over the past 15 years, Evans said, the company has made donations

totaling $13 million to UCI and hired numerous graduates.

“We want to make sure that talent pool is ready for the work

force,” he said.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at [email protected].