Planning Meeting: NSF/IUCRC CB2

Logo for CB2

CB2 Planning Meeting

When: Feb. 6-7, 2018

Who: Academic specialists, industry leaders, NSF representatives

Topics: Project proposals; develop implementation plan for adding UGA New Materials Institute as a site to existing CB2

Where:  The UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel

Cost:  Free; registration required

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The UGA New Materials Institute has been awarded the planning grant to develop a new site for the Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, a National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center.

CB²’s vision is to develop knowledge that will allow the production of an array of high-value products that are compatible with current industrial manufacturing systems (including plastics, coatings, adhesives, and composites) from agricultural feedstocks, or lead to future paradigm shifts in polymer processing. The goals of CB² are threefold:

  • Improve the basic understanding of the synthesis, processing, properties, and compounding of bioplastic and biocomposite materials.
  • Develop reliable material characteristics data for industrial partners.
  • Support large-scale implementation of renewable materials.

If selected as a site addition to CB² (an existing Center comprised of Iowa State University and Washington State University), the UGA New Materials Institute will contribute new researchers, industry members, and projects toward the mission of engineering more sustainable packaging. This involves developing alternative biodegradable plastics that can be used to replace the petroleum-based plastics currently used in the plastics and packaging industries (e.g. polyolefins, polyesters, and polyvinyl chloride), including coatings, foams, and novel thermoplastics with excellent barrier properties for films and sheet goods. Current members of CB² will benefit from UGA faculty expertise and the research tools and infrastructure being developed at UGA.

The New Materials Institute will host a planning meeting for the proposed UGA CB² site addition on February 6-7, 2018. This event will bring together academic specialists, industry leaders, and representatives from the NSF to develop the implementation plan for the proposed UGA CB² site addition.

The meeting will focus on the coordination of industry partnerships and presentation of potential projects to be funded by the UGA CB² site. All UGA faculty with research areas that align to the Center’s goals are encouraged to submit proposals.

There is no cost for attending the planning meeting, but registration for the event is required. Click here to register for the event.

This planning meeting is supported by NSF Grant #1738734.