{"380541":{"#nid":"380541","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Industry, researchers share knowledge, needs during symposium","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPrivate industry leaders, researchers, engineers and other technical experts converged on the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center Oct. 1-2 to exchange ideas on solving the challenges in the renewable bioproducts arena.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnited States Senator Johnny Isakson led off the event.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis Institute is a premier institution recognized around the world for its contributions to science and technology,\u201d said Sen. Isakson (R-GA). \u201cThis state also possesses a wealth of natural resources that we can use to make great strides in the area of renewable bioproducts. Bringing together the cutting-edge research of Georgia Tech and the industry leaders who face new challenges in their businesses every day in this global economy brings huge opportunities to both sides.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore than 80 individuals attended the event, Renewable Bioproducts: Advances in Lignocellulosic Processes and Products, hosted by the Renewable Bioproducts Institute. Companies such as Coca-Cola, Algenol, Renmatix and Michelin among others joined many representatives from a number of pulp and paper companies to participate in two days of panels and networking.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe all have a part in creating a new era of development of renewable, sustainable products that meet the needs of an expanding global marketplace,\u201d commented Marsolan, \u201cThat can only be achieved when both industry and research institutions come to the table together and share ideas, knowledge and needs.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEarlier this year, Georgia Tech announced a broader research mission, additional resources and a new name for the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST), the Renewable Bioproducts Institute. Over the last several years, the Institute\u2019s mission has broadened beyond papermaking to include technologies that produce chemicals, biofuels and new materials from forest raw materials. The expanded scope and new name reflect that emerging reality, and position RBI to engage with broader industry partners to create opportunities for industrial and manufacturing arenas, according to Marsolan.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis event is the first of many that can showcase the economic opportunities that exist through companies\u2019 access to Georgia Tech\u2019s world-class experts in materials science, chemistry and engineering, as well as through access to talented engineering graduates familiar with bioproducts technologies and opportunities,\u201d he observed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the two-day session, panels consisted of industry representatives and Georgia Tech leaders. Topics included technology insights and emerging research and opportunities in chemicals and fuels, as well as materials. Experts also shared their insights into multiple areas of cutting-edge research, such as biopolymers, transportation, electronics, biofuels, plastics and specialty products.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Provost Rafael Bras also addressed the group, emphasizing the important role both Georgia Tech and RBI play in the future of industry as it evolves. \u201cIt\u2019s a dynamic institute (RBI) that is moving onward. It fits our quality enhancement program, our accreditation process, our economic development and industrial strategy,\u201d Bras said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are many exciting things going on with the research being done inside this institute. Biofuels? This will come. No doubt about it. Pharmaceuticals, agriculture, forestry, energy, biology and human health \u2013 all of these will be based on renewable bioproducts.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDavid Constable, director of the Green Chemistry Institute, closed out the conference, discussing the depleting supply of critical elements and the evolution that must take place in chemistry to meet the needs of a complex market.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe must follow the sage advice of long ago \u2013 avoid the perfect uselessness of knowing the answer to the growing and wrong questions,\u201d he said. \u201cWe believe sustainable and green chemistry innovation hold the key to solving most environmental and human health issues facing our world today.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarsolan said he looks forward to facilitating more of these roundtable discussions, providing a forum for both industry and academics to share challenges and solutions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMoving forward, it will be critical to bring both sides to the table, get to know one another\u2019s processes and practices, learn how best to work together,\u201d he said. \u201cThat starts with open dialogue. I believe this is the beginning of more and more exchanges that can bring real benefits to everyone.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;The Georgia Tech faculty and keynote speaker presentations are online at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.rbi.gatech.edu\/news\/events\/2014_lc_symposium\/\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.rbi.gatech.edu\/news\/events\/2014_lc_symposium\/\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPrivate industry leaders, researchers, engineers and other technical experts converged on the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center Oct. 1-2 to exchange ideas on solving the challenges in the renewable bioproducts arena.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Inaugural event focuses on finding areas of collaboration"}],"uid":"28159","created_gmt":"2015-02-20 15:39:43","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:01:58","author":"Kelly Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2014-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2014-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"299211":{"id":"299211","type":"image","title":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute","body":null,"created":"1449244552","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 15:55:52","changed":"1475895000","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:50:00","alt":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute","file":{"fid":"199489","name":"14c10769-p1-001.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/14c10769-p1-001_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/14c10769-p1-001_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3166611,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/14c10769-p1-001_0.jpg?itok=-gQQ2cGR"}}},"media_ids":["299211"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"}],"keywords":[{"id":"93801","name":"bioproducts"},{"id":"93811","name":"RBI"},{"id":"4174","name":"renewable"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKelly B Smith, Communications Manager, (404) 894-6700\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["kelly.smith@rbi.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}