Polymer lectures and student posters feature innovative research and important partnership

The University of Akron News

10/15/2019

DSC_3645-WebLast week, the Department of Polymer Engineering in the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering presented the 2019 Covestro Lectureship with Stanford University professor Dr. Gerald G. Fuller. This sponsored lectureship, organized and administered by Dr. Xiong Gong and Mrs. Deb Wilhite, continues the tradition and important partnership with Covestro, a leading supplier of high-tech polymer materials.

“At Covestro, we value the tradition of excellence in polymer science and polymer engineering that has been fostered at the University of Akron over many years,” said Don S. Wardius, head of Innovation Management at Covestro. “We believe that the Covestro Distinguished Lectureship opens the door to great conversations with world-class experts in the field, and we are proud to be a part of it.”

Dr. Fuller’s work has been recognized by receipt of the Bingham Medal of The Society of Rheology, membership in the National Academy of Engineering, election to the American Academy of Arts and Science, and honorary doctorates from the Universities of Crete, Greece, and Leuven, Belgium. He presently serves as the general secretary to the International Committee on Rheology. (top image, pictured left to right: Dr. Gerald Fuller, Stanford University; Dr. Mark Soucek, University of Akron; and Dr. Don Wardius, Covestro LLC)

DSC_3677-WebIn addition to the lectures presented by Dr. Fuller, a poster session competition was held in the Polymer Engineering Academic Center featuring the innovative polymer research our students are doing here at UA. Three winners were selected by the judges and each received a $300 cash prize.

Congratulations to:

  • Amal Narayanan (Dr. Abraham Joy group), ”Chemistry of underwater adhesion”
  • Yongrui Yang (Dr. Xiong Gong group), ”All-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors”
  • Harini Sridharan (Dr. Ruel McKenzie group), “Orthogonally superimposed heat transfer in shear rheometry”

Thanks to Covestro for their continued partnership and support of the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering and our students!