鈥淲e are one of the few states in the nation where it is really happening,鈥� the governor said.

Beebe joined U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, as well as Chancellor Joel E. Anderson and University of Arkansas System President Donald Bobbitt at the dedication of 糖心Vlog传媒LR鈥檚 newest facility.

The $15 million, five-story building provides research facilities for scientists and students to explore the interface between nanomaterials, plant biology, and mammalian biology.

The center鈥檚 50,534 square feet will house laboratories and a greenhouse on the roof, along with office space for Dr. Alexandru S. Biris, his nine-member research team, and other staff 鈥� a giant leap from the cramped 7,201 square feet of previously dedicated space.

鈥淭his building represents both technology much smaller than the naked eye can see and a huge opportunity for Arkansas鈥檚  economy that we all can see,鈥� Beebe said, attributing the quote to a staff member. 鈥淭hey are arranging molecules and atoms to create new material that never existed before. They are doing something that the stars did.鈥�

Dr. Biris, director and the chief scientist at the new center, said the additional space in the new building will mean more research opportunities for student scientists who interact with researchers and representatives of local companies to find answers and expand the understanding of how the properties of elements behave at the nano or atomic scale.

鈥淲hat we are doing here is quite unique 鈥� combining education with research and economic development,鈥� said Biris, who holds the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Sturgis Chair in Nanotechnology.

鈥淲e are growing the next generation of scientists in Arkansas. We are taking students and turning them into scientists, doctors, and researchers 鈥� highly educated individuals without whom it will be very difficult to advance the state economically.鈥�

CINS outreach programs that include a Nano Academy for high school students and an undergraduate research internship program create in-depth educational opportunities for young people in Arkansas that previously did not exist. The research done at the center then provides opportunities for these young scientists to advance their careers within the state.

Nanomaterials and their applications have been identified as one of nine focus areas with commercial potential for Arkansas. In 2006, the state invested $5.9 million to establish the Nanotechnology Center at 糖心Vlog传媒LR to foster world-class research and development in the state. CINS has since received $6.8 million in federal and state funding to expand research efforts.

In less than a decade, the state of Arkansas and 糖心Vlog传媒LR have developed a major research thrust in the areas of nanotechnology, nanomedicine, and nanotoxicology in partnership with 12 universities in the state and region, as well as the FDA鈥檚 Center for National Toxicological Research. Fifty researchers around the globe are affiliated with CINS.

Biris and his research team have produced more than 260 scholarly publications and presentations. Their research discoveries have generated eight issued patents with 27 patent applications pending.

Two spin-off companies in Arkansas, Orlumet, LLC and Poly Adaptive, LLC, have been established to commercialize some of these technologies.

Nanotechnology, the study and application of extremely small things (a human hair is about 90,000 nanometers wide), spans all science disciplines. Globally, nanotechnologies are estimated to grow to a $2.4 trillion economic impact by 2015, affecting everyday products such as eyeglasses, computer displays, fabrics, cosmetic products, dental implants, and pharmaceutical products. By 2020, nanotechnology is projected to create two million jobs in the U.S.

David Millay, associate vice chancellor of 糖心Vlog传媒LR Facilities Management, is optimistic that the green construction will achieve gold LEED certification. Seventeen percent of the construction work was performed by minority business enterprises. The contractor for the building was East Harding, Inc.; architectural firm was Witsell Evans Rasco; and engineering firm was TME, Inc. Funding for the project allowed for completion and furnishing of the first three of five floors.

Source: 糖心Vlog传媒LR News

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Center Director Dr. Alexandru Biris will offer tours of the research facility, with nanotechnology students and scientists giving demonstrations in the new laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment.

Scientists from affiliated research institutions including UCA, Arkansas State, 糖心Vlog传媒MS, and the National Center for Toxicological Research will be attending, as well as corporate partners in Arkansas and Dr. Robin Staffin of the U.S. Department of Defense.

The center, with a focus on research, education, and economic development, is helping the state by developing nanotechnology breakthroughs in areas such as tissue regeneration, industrial coatings, anti-counterfeiting solutions, ultra-thin solar cells, and cancer treatments.

The new center is located on the west side of campus between Dickinson and Fribourgh Halls.

Source: 糖心Vlog传媒LR News

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A $1 million endowment to 糖心Vlog传媒LR from the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust led today to the investiture of Dr. Alexandru S. Biris, director and chief scientist of the Nanotechnology Center at 糖心Vlog传媒LR, as the university鈥檚 first Sturgis Charitable Trust Nanotechnology Chair.

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Dust is a major problem on spacecraft surfaces. Technology exists that uses electrodynamic shields (EDS) to mitigate dust. But NASA is searching for advances that can more efficiently maintain dust-free conditions on solar panels and optical lenses and other mission-critical space-based surfaces.

鈥淐urrent EDS designs use metallic electrodes that reduce the amount of radiation reaching solar panels, reducing panel efficiencies,鈥� said Alexandru Biris, director and chief scientist of the Nanotechnology Center at 糖心Vlog传媒LR. 鈥淧oly Adaptive鈥檚 use of these new nanoscale materials for transparent and flexible electronic dust shields will mitigate the build-up of this dust without sacrificing solar panel efficiency.鈥�

The new company brings to the marketplace research developed by Biris and his 糖心Vlog传媒LR nanotechnology team. Under , the company will investigate the 糖心Vlog传媒LR-developed application and use new nanoscale materials to address severe limitations of existing electrodynamic shields.

The technology promises numerous non-NASA commercial applications, including solar panels, windows, windshields, optical devices, pharmaceutical devices, and other products that are impacted by the build-up of dust particles.

Charlie Buhler, Poly Adaptive principal investigator, said the company sees great potential in electronic dust shield systems for commercial solar panels.

鈥淟arge-scale solar installations are usually located in sun-drenched desert areas where dry weather and winds sweep dust into the air and deposit it onto the surface of solar panels, reducing their energy generating efficiencies,鈥� he said. 鈥淎n automatic, self-cleaning system for solar panel surfaces would contribute to the economic benefits of this green source of energy. The Poly Adaptive dust mitigation technology should be a viable, cost effective solution to this problem.鈥�

Poly Adaptive was founded to commercialize nanotechnology research discoveries made by researchers at the Nanotechnology Center of 糖心Vlog传媒LR and holds a license with 糖心Vlog传媒LR for this project鈥檚 subject technology. The firm鈥檚 co-founders include several successful Arkansas business and technology experts.

For additional information contact Michael B. Miller at mbmiller@poly-adaptive.com.

Source: 糖心Vlog传媒LR News

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Excellence Awards ceremony Thursday, April 14. View all college-level winners in the teaching category.

Dr. Alexandru S. Biris, chief scientist and director of the Nanotechnology Center at 糖心Vlog传媒LR, won the $5,000 Faculty Excellence Award in Research sponsored by PepsiAmericas. His research into the science of atomic-size nanostructures and how they can used to alter the properties of other substances is creating new products and new companies for Arkansas. View all college-level winners in the research category.

Dr. Mary Parker, professor and chair of the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Criminal Justice Department, won the the $5,000 Faculty Excellence for Public Service. As a member of the Arkansas Board of Corrections, Parker has served the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) and the Department of Community Corrections for 17 years.  She is an institutional liaison to ADC, as well as the Legislative Coordination Committee chair and legislative liaison.
View all college-level winners in the public service category.

The celebration of 糖心Vlog传媒LR鈥檚 top faculty has been a tradition since 1988 when the university set aside an evening to honor the contributions and achievements of the faculty. Thursday鈥檚 university winners were selected by a panel of national judges from college-level winners.

College-Level Winners

Public Service:

• Dr. David C. McAlpine, professor of International and Second Languages Studies and graduate program coordinator; College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
• Dr. Mary Parker, chair of Department of Criminal Justice; College of Professional Studies.
• Ranki Shiraki Oliver, professor of law; William H. Bowen School of Law.
• Jana Thompson, assistant professor of nursing; College of Science and Mathematics.
• James 鈥淢ike鈥� Tramel, assistant professor of construction management; Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology (EIT).

Research:

• Dr. Alexandru S. Biris, chief scientist and director of the Nanotechnology Center at 糖心Vlog传媒LR; Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology.
• Dr. John Burgin, associate professor of teacher education; College of Education.
• Sarah Howard Jenkins-Hobbs, professor of law; William H. Bowen School of Law.
• Dr. Nicholai Kosmatov, associate professor of mathematics and statistics; College of Science and Mathematics.
• Dr. Zabelle Stodola, professor of English, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
• Dr. Rolf T. Wigand, Maulden-Entergy Chair and Distinguished Professor of Information Science and Management; College of Business.
• Dr. 聽Richard Zraick, associate professor of audiology and speech pathology; College of Professional Studies.

Teaching:

• Paula Casey, professor of law, William H. Bowen School of Law.
• Nita Copeland, instructor of health science; College of Science and Mathematics
• Dr. Juliana Flinn, professor and coordinator of of the anthropology program in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology; director of American Humanics; College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
• Dr. Gary Geissler, professor of marketing and advertising; College of Business.
• Jami J. Hollingsworth; instructor of Counseling, Adult and Rehabilitation Education, College of Education.
• Dr. Julien Mirivel, assistant professor of speech communication; College of Professional Studies.
• Dr. Srikanth B. Pidugu, associate professor of engineering technology; Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology.

Source: University of Arkansas at Little Rock

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The Dr. Alex Biris Mentorship Fund will provide an annual award presented to a deserving student by Biris and Jones at the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. The fund will support mentorship activities under Biris鈥� direct guidance.

鈥淚 am honored to be involved in the mentorship program, especially in conjunction with Alex Biris and the Nanotechnology Center,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淭he cutting edge research being done in this field at 糖心Vlog传媒LR is both inspiring and so much fun.鈥�

Jones said she understands the importance of mentors who open the doors of imagination of young people. She saw it happen with her 10-year-old grandson, a budding scientist whom Biris has introduced to the world of nanotechnology and the research being done at 糖心Vlog传媒LR.

The Nanotechnology Center at 糖心Vlog传媒LR is a state-of-the-art, user-oriented facility focused on research, hands-on education, and development of commercially viable technologies. Research under way at the center includes:

• Creation of nanotechnology-based sensors to detect radiation, gases, and explosives
• Development of new nanostructural materials for tissue and bone regeneration
• Novel cancer therapies targeting individual cancer cells
• Anti-icing coatings for the aerospace industry
• Anti-counterfeit taggants
• Development of new nanostructural composite materials with applications in sensors, nanoelectronics, and nanocomputing
• Creation of new polymeric nanocomposite materials with reduced surface energy and low friction

A new Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Science currently is under construction on the west side of the 糖心Vlog传媒LR campus.

Jones, a member of the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Board of Visitors, founded the company that bears her name in 1980 and now has the largest market share of residential real estate in the city of Little Rock. She has served as the first female chairman of the Board of the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and also as the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of the Little Rock branch.

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