Research on the Horizon

Georgia Southern’s Herty Advanced Materials Development Center takes University research to the next level

In a move impacting the future of research and economic development in the state of Georgia for generations to come, Governor Nathan Deal signed legislation transferring management of the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center in Savannah, Ga., to Georgia Southern University. This merger blends the unique large scale development and manufacturing capabilities of Herty and the scientific expertise of Georgia Southern faculty and students.

According to Georgia Southern President Brooks Keel, Ph.D., this strategic alignment is a win-win situation for all involved. “This new partnership has generated the potential for the University to engage in global research opportunities,” he said, “and provides an outstanding opportunity for us to combine Georgia Southern’s broad base of engineering and scientific expertise with Herty’s leadership and reputation in advanced materials innovation.”

Founded in 1938, Herty’s clients include global corporations, as well as numerous Fortune 500 companies, focused in a wide range of areas including: transportation, pulp and paper, building materials, energy, environmental and bio-products industries. The facility is one of the few organizations in the world offering lab and pilot scale development as well as production-line capabilities. Herty’s project managers and operators have produced products from literally hundreds of varieties of raw materials and fiber blends.

Georgia Southern now has the opportunity to integrate faculty research interests with Herty’s industrial development capabilities. “Herty allows the University to accelerate its research interests in the material sciences and provides an avenue for applied research and development that most universities without dedicated research parks can only dream of,” said Charles Patterson, Ph.D., vice president for research and economic development and dean of the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies.

“We’ve got all the building blocks for a strong industry research and development presence – now the challenge is to leverage the opportunity,” said Don McLemore, Ph.D., director for the Office of Industry Relations and Economic Development. McLemore knows Herty well, having served as the Center’s chief operating officer from 2005-2011, and he is currently linking industrial research projects and economic development opportunities with the University and Herty.

These “building blocks” include the talents of more than 100 Ph.D. scientists and engineers said McLemore, and he suggested that the University also has the opportunity to expand its base of scientific expertise by hiring additional researchers to teach in various colleges.

“The partnership provides a powerful academic and industrial structure that will attract companies to work with Herty,” said Dr. Alexander Koukoulas, CEO and president of Herty, about the benefits of the merger that is blending research and industry. “Herty will allow Georgia Southern’s faculty and students to see their early-stage research translated into a scale that is commercially relevant,” he explained about the collaboration. “Herty de-risks the development process, which allows investment in University R&D to have greater economic impact.” One example he cited is work on polymers that can be used in unique non-woven structures, which is a core strength at Herty. Another is the analytical chemistry research and material characterization methods that can support process and product development efforts at Herty. Koukoulas’ broad experience base includes working on many major process technologies in the pulp and paper industry. He served as the chief research scientist and directed corporate R&D for International Paper and most recently served as the managing director of ANL Consultants, LLC, a private consulting firm supporting the pulp and paper, biomaterials and bioenergy industries. As a holder of more than 20 international patents, he is passionate about bringing new research ideas to the market. He also believes that the vast forestry resources of the state of Georgia hold special potential for new product development.

Without a doubt, Keel said the merger advances Georgia Southern’s research mission and elevates the University’s established research programs. “This is a real opportunity for Georgia Southern to fill a gap. Students stand to benefit through potential internships and hands-on learning experiences with Herty’s clients,” he added.

THE HISTORY OF HERTY

“In many ways, this merger reunites Georgia Southern with our history,” said Keel, mentioning Dr. Charles Herty’s groundbreaking experiments in a pine forest in 1901, the future site of the First District A&M School.

During Gov. Deal’s statewide tour promoting economic development, he signed Georgia Senate Bill 396 into law on the steps of the Marvin Pittman Administration Building on Sweetheart Circle. This historic and meaningful event represented a homecoming of sorts for Herty, the chemist and revolutionary researcher who saved the turpentine and rosin chemical industry more than a century earlier in the northeast corner of the Circle. Herty’s pioneering invention of a simple cup-and-gutter system – at the site later renamed Herty Pines -- collected resin without harming pine trees, and ultimately saved the nation’s naval stores.

In the 1930s, Herty made another research discovery with southern pines, discovering that newsprint and paper could be made from the fast-growing trees. Due to those findings, Herty is largely considered the founding father of the pulp and paper industry, and the tree farming industry. In 1938, the Georgia legislature recognized Herty for his significant research contributions by establishing the Herty Foundation (later renamed the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center).

INNOVATION AND IMPACT

Herty’s areas of expertise have expanded from early work in tree-based natural fibers to include process and product development, technical analysis, economic analysis and laboratory testing for projects and products employing a broad spectrum of natural and synthetic materials. One example is its production of pellets from pine trees. Herty has aided several companies in the development of processes for drying, resizing, blending, the specialized treatment and pelletizing of pine and other forms of biomass. “Georgia is a leading producer of pellets. This nascent industry will continue to grow and we have tremendous opportunity to support its development while conducting research that will position it for expansion into products of higher value,” said Koukoulas.

“Herty’s aim is to accelerate the commercialization of new concepts, new products and new businesses,” said McLemore, and the Center has conducted development for a variety of different products. One project, in collaboration with the U.S. Mint, explored the capabilities of printing currency with Braille for the visually impaired. Herty also worked with the company P2i to test a new plasma coating technology, which is used on products ranging from running shoes and clothing to hearing aids. “If a product – such as running shoes -- is treated with this ultra-thin polymer layer, it doesn’t absorb liquids,” said McLemore, about the liquid repellant nano-technology. Companies such as Hi-Tec, Adidas Golf, Nike, Magnum and Ecco have used this technology, as well as the global hearing aid market.

Herty’s longevity, expertise and knowledge in the field of pilot testing have made it the natural choice for companies looking for ways to improve efficiency and give them an advantage in the marketplace. “We have a unique skillset built around process and product development, and the infrastructure to support pilot projects before the product is prepared for full commercial scale-up,” said Koukoulas about Herty’s capabilities.

Companies eager to introduce a new product to the market utilize Herty’s equipment and testing capabilities before a launch. “We work out key engineering and product specifications so a company will know with certainty that a process or product is going to work before spending millions of dollars to construct a dedicated facility. We are delivering solutions to help companies become more competitive while helping them to expand their business within the state,” said Koukoulas. “There is no better place to do business than in the state of Georgia, at Herty and with Georgia Southern, and we intend to make sure that companies know this and look at us as a partner for growth.”

PARTNERSHIP POTENTIAL

Georgia Southern’s Herty Advanced Materials Development Center has opened the door for potential partnerships, especially with the significant manufacturing cluster growing between Statesboro and the coast. “These companies need engineering skills, manufacturing skills and materials knowledge – all which we can provide,” said McLemore.

Another essential component of the partnership is the promise of economic development. Bringing Herty under the umbrella of Georgia Southern will help the University become a driving force in accelerating the region’s future economic development, said Keel. “Herty’s main focus is spearheading economic development within the state,” said Koukoulas, about their goal of encouraging companies to relocate to Georgia.

Patterson offered an example of Herty’s step-by-step process. “If a company is interested in a compound that can be extracted from pine trees, Herty can advance that process in the lab to demonstrate proof-of-concept as well as bring the process to the commercial (manufacturing) scale,” he said. “In addition, working hand-in-hand with our economic development professionals in the region and the state, we want to attract industries to the region that can benefit from our rich abundance of biomass,” he added.

THE FUTURE

According to Koukoulas, new technologies are emerging in the forest products industry, which translates into further expansion for Herty and Georgia Southern. “We are looking at the next generation of technologies – specifically nanocellulose and new uses for lignin -- which can impart unique and enhanced material properties,” he described about the basic building blocks of woody biomass. “Nanocellulose has great potential for a variety of commercial applications including the pharmaceutical industry, in the plastics industry to impart strength and enhanced barrier properties,” he added. Additionally, nanocellulose fibers can be used to produce high performance plastics for the automotive and aerospace industries. Lignin is also finding novel uses, especially in the development of low-cost carbon fiber. “The future holds unlimited possibilities for these renewable materials,” said Koukoulas.

Other potential opportunities for Herty and Georgia Southern include the development of biomass to fuels. “Second generation fuels and bio-based chemicals from lignocellulosic materials is an emerging industry,” said Koukoulas. “Herty’s intention is to support this industry by expanding on our process capabilities. In doing so, we can develop new uses for our biomass resources such as transportation fuels, renewable plastics and chemical feedstocks – all from renewable and sustainable raw material sources such as wood and agricultural residues,” he said. Students in Georgia Southern’s Renewable Energy Lab already have experience making biofuels created from peanuts, poultry fat and cottonseed oil.

Keel is excited about what the future holds for the Georgia Southern Herty Advanced Materials Development Center, as the University continues toward its goal of achieving national comprehensive research institution status.

“Now that these two entities have come together, Georgia Southern has the opportunity to be at the center of all of the development in our state,” he said. “There are so many distinct advantages -- not only can companies utilize the piloting capabilities of Herty, but also benefit from our faculty researchers. Georgia Southern is aligned with a facility that can grow ideas.”

For more information, visit www.herty.com.

Coastal Plain Research

The University’s Coastal Plain Science research group provides opportunities for students and faculty while addressing important community issues throughout the region in studies ranging from coastal hazards to water quality. The Georgia Coastal Plain is located south of the Fall Line that runs through Augusta, Milledgeville, Macon and Columbus, Ga. The area includes one-third of the salt marshes on the east coast and other natural resources, which researchers say are at risk due to population growth.

“Our goal is to establish Georgia Southern as a leader in research relevant to this region, and make us the go-to institution for coastal plain knowledge,” said biology professor Daniel Gleason, the team leader of the research group, which facilitates interaction among different colleges and departments. Faculty from the College of Science and Mathematics, the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health and the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Information Technology are collaborating on studies aimed at maintaining and preserving a balance between continued development and the physical and biological resources of the region.

Gleason and his colleague Risa Cohen are conducting a study to determine where contaminants travel in local rivers and water systems. The goal of their EPA funded study is to examine how these contaminants affect marine biological communities offshore. Last spring, the researchers deposited 50 gallons of the non-toxic dye Rhodamine WT into the mouth of the Altamaha River and traced it 20 miles offshore to Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, a three-day process. “We are studying the connectivity between terrestrial, aquatic and marine systems,” said Gleason.

Civil engineering professor George Fu and biology professor Tiehang Wu, members of the research group, are collaborating on the development of a biological filter for water treatment. The purpose of their study, said Gleason, is to improve treatment methods for waters from local rivers, because the coastal plain region may have to rely on these rivers as a future drinking water source.

Georgia Southern’s coastal plain research also extends to the Applied Coastal Research Laboratory, located at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography in Savannah, Ga. Clark Alexander, the lab’s director, said the facility is a place for University faculty and students to explore the dynamics of coastal environments. “The lab provides a home base for students and faculty conducting research on the coast, and also appeals to a wide range of disciplines. “A number of students have completed their undergraduate and graduate research working at this facility, studying for example, salt marsh restoration, patterns of crab larvae settlement during various times of the year, and other field-based research projects,” he continued.

Alexander’s own research includes a study determining the impact of dock construction on the salt marshes, specifically the large increase of docks built in the period from 1970 to 2000 on Wilmington Island in Savannah. In this study, Alexander found that the docks shade the marsh and attract and trap marsh wrack, which subsequently destroys marsh life and the habitats of juvenile shrimp, crabs and fish. In an effort to combat the destruction of marsh life, Alexander is researching alternative dock construction methods that may be used to prevent marsh wrack from becoming trapped.

“We know that people want to live along the coast and that coastal development is going to happen. We just want to inform the public, so construction can be completed in the most sustainable way possible,” he said.

Alexander revealed the newest research tool acquired by the lab is a bathymetric sonar that provides a view of habitats while mapping the ocean floor. “The bathymetric sonar will allow us to tell if the surface is rough, smooth or sandy, and we will begin by mapping Wassaw Sound,” he said. Alexander also mentioned that this tool will allow researchers to collect the first known data of Wassaw Sound, which would give them the capability of making decisions about habitats that need to be protected.

Additional ongoing studies through the lab include long term ecosystem research, mapping the elevation of salt marshes in an effort to develop better models for circulation in tidal creeks and documenting shoreline changes, hurricane tracking and developing other data for the Georgia Coastal Hazards Portal (gchp.skio.usg.edu).

Georgia Southern’s future in Coastal Plain research continues to rise with the establishment of the University’s new James H. Oliver Institute of Coastal Plain Sciences as well as the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Research opportunities for students will explore alternative energy, water contamination and its impact on public health and a collaboration with the University’s Center for Sustainability.

Philanthropy Advances Georgia Southern’s Development

Philanthropy - enhancing the quality of life or developmental potential of others - can be a driving force for establishing new colleges, for enhancing the recruitment of quality students and for the recruitment and retention of quality faculty.

Historically, public universities have depended primarily on public funds and tuition to support them; however, the pool of available public funds has decreased substantially over the past ten years. Between 2000 and 2010, state funding for public research universities decreased by over 20% nationally and over 30% in Georgia. This has increased the importance of philanthropy in maintaining the quality of academic programs and providing support for students who are having more and more difficulty paying increasing tuition costs.

The Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH) has benefited greatly from the philanthropy of those who wish to help others. The initiative for establishing the College began in 1998 with the development of a Master of Public Health and a Master of Health Services Administration in the Department of Health and Kinesiology within the College of Health and Professional Studies.

These programs might have remained separate from Public Health, if not for the initiative of Karl E. Peace, Ph.D. and his generous gift in 2004. The gift was used to establish the College of Public Health, which was named in memory and honor of his wife, Dr. Jiann-Ping Hsu. At the same time, Peace endowed the Karl E. Peace Center for Biostatistics - an important academic component of the College.

The College has grown in student numbers from 30 in its first year to more than 190, and was accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health in 2011. Since its establishment, Peace has provided seven endowments to the JPHCOPH, funding graduate assistantships and scholarships that have made it possible to recruit quality students who might not have been able to attend Georgia Southern otherwise. Peace also saw the need for leadership in biostatistics in the College, establishing the Karl E. Peace Eminent Scholar Chair in biostatistics. In addition, Peace has endowed seven scholarships for undergraduate students in other colleges at Georgia Southern and has made substantial gifts to several other universities. Other individuals and families have also provided endowments and scholarships to the College, including funds for the establishment of the Center for Addiction Recovery. The Willingway Foundation provides scholarship money and complete financial support for the operation of the Center, which offers a safe supportive network and other resources to help students stay in school and stay on track on their path to recovery.

As a result of this support, more than 200 students have graduated from the JPHCOPH since 2004. Many of these students are serving in public and private health organizations, particularly in rural and underserved areas of Georgia, where they, like the College’s philanthropic supporters, serve others.

The College of Business Administration (COBA) is another example of a University institution that has benefited greatly from the philanthropic efforts of others. The late William Freeman’s (’57) loyalty, dedication and giving have been a cornerstone of successful growth for COBA. He endowed the William A. Freeman Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise and the Freeman Business Scholars Program, which provides a full four-year scholarship for one business major in each class. Additionally, he endowed 10 scholarships in the University’s Honors Program. Today, the Freeman family continues to support his philanthropic vision, which has opened the doors of opportunity for generations of students at Georgia Southern.

For more than 46 years, Betty Foy Sanders has demonstrated her devotion to the University and to the advancement of the arts and art education. The wife of former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders has established generous academic scholarships and opportunities for the University’s art students. Sanders has donated paintings and sculptures from her own personal collections and in 1967, she established the Georgia Artists Collection, a permanent exhibit on campus that she curates, featuring the works of Georgia artists. She also commissioned the large-scale public sculpture “Ascend” which greets visitors to The Center for Art and Theatre at Georgia Southern. When her husband was in office from 1963-67, Sanders dedicated her efforts toward the construction of several fine arts buildings in the University System of Georgia including Georgia Southern’s Foy Fine Arts Building, named for her father, J.P. Foy.

Georgia Southern continues to move forward, providing faculty and students with fulfilling academic experiences due to the tremendous commitment from donors and benefactors.

-Gregory Evans, Ph.D.

STEM Institute Builds Career Pathway for K-12 Students

Georgia Southern University has established a new institute for interdisciplinary STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education (I²STEM^e) (pronounced “I two STEM e”) that will support thematic grant writing, research and outreach. I²STEM^e is the only institute within the University System of Georgia to address all four components of STEM disciplines and addresses a specific need in the state.

The Institute is committed to excellence in primary, secondary and higher education STEM teaching and learning with a focus on rural and diverse populations under-represented in STEM areas.

The Institute will create a broad range of partnerships across academia, business, education and research centers in southeast Georgia, support professional development, outreach, curricular development, the creation of innovative courses and research in STEM education through grant funded projects.

“Georgia Southern has a track record in developing programs that serve the special needs of our region, a largely rural and ethnically diverse area,” said Charles Patterson, Ph.D., vice president of research and dean of the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies. “Our goal is to provide greater access for rural and underserved populations to science, technology, engineering and math by helping these students to pursue degrees and careers in those areas.”

The University was also awarded an Innovation Fund Grant by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. The STEM grant, estimated at approximately $700,000 during two years, will fund a unique partnership between the University, seven area research institutes and six school districts covering 27 counties in southern Georgia.

Georgia Southern will utilize the grant to fund the partnership known as “Real STEM.” The project, run through I²STEM^e, will develop hands-on STEM learning modules related to the environmental concerns of Georgia’s coastal region. This is the first Innovation Fund Grant that has been awarded to the University.

The Real STEM service region of the lower coastal plain is a rural geographic region which includes low social economic status counties in southeast Georgia with a high number of minorities. “This is a University-wide initiative,” said Robert Mayes, Ph.D., director of I²STEM^e, explaining the commitment of core faculty fellows from the College of Science and Mathematics, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Information Technology and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

As part of the grant, the team will work with research partners at Georgia Southern, the Applied Coastal Research Laboratory at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, the UGA Marine Institute at Sapelo Island, Gray’s Reef Marine Sanctuary, Marine Education Center and Aquarium, Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy and the Ossabaw Island Education Alliance. The team will also work with the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Additionally, the team will work with six school districts including Bulloch County, Burke County, Camden County, Jenkins County, Treutlen County and Ware County.

“Our goal is to reignite the interest of students in science, technology, engineering and math by engaging them in applied learning through real-world challenges of environment and energy that are impacting their local communities,” said Mayes. “Ultimately, we hope to improve STEM achievement in Georgia and encourage students to pursue careers in STEM.”

Mayes added that the Institute is also challenging students to look at real world complex problems from a variety of disciplines. “For example, take a grand challenge like climate change, geochemical cycles or carbon – what are the consequences both locally and globally? We are trying to get students to look in their backyard and think locally about the impact these challenges will have on our futures.”

Rural Health Research Institute Receives National Grants

Georgia Southern University’s Rural Health Research Institute (RHRI) has been awarded two national grants in excess of $5 million that will change the outcome of health care in rural communities through outreach, training and research.

The grants were awarded to Dr. Jacob Warren and Dr. Bryant Smalley, the founding co-executive directors of the RHRI. Warren is an epidemiologist in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, and Smalley is a clinical psychologist in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Georgia Southern’s RHRI was founded in 2011 as an interdisciplinary hub of rural health research and outreach that spans five Colleges within the University. Its mission is to improve health in rural areas by promoting cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research and outreach that connects faculty from diverse fields and promotes the development of researchers examining rural health issues.

The first grant, awarded from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for $450,000, will provide diabetes education to patients in rural areas through Project ADEPT (Applied Diabetes Education Program using Telehealth). Project ADEPT will bring information to diabetes patients on how to care for themselves and manage their condition.

The computer-based system is complete with a portable webcam that has the capability of being moved to different rooms in a clinic for one-on-one visits with a single patient or larger groups. “Project ADEPT can be used for one session, or to give a patient the information needed over a period of time. We are making this available in English and Spanish in an effort to make sure anyone who needs the information will have access to it. Our goal is to help the patients make long-term health behavior changes that will lead to a better quality of life,” said Warren.

The program is expected to reach approximately 750 diabetes patients in Candler, Emanuel, Tattnall, and Toombs counties who may otherwise have a difficult time accessing important information on how to best manage the symptoms and possible complications of diabetes. According to Smalley, a diabetes educator will conduct the telehealth program for the next three years in these counties, with the prospect of expansion.

The second grant, awarded in the amount of $5.1 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), designates the RHRI as a Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Rural Health Disparities. “Georgia Southern’s RHRI is the only Center of Excellence focused on rural health in the nation,” said Smalley.

Funding for the new five-year project comes from NIH’s National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and will allow the RHRI to enact a comprehensive rural health disparity elimination program spanning research, training and community outreach.

The grant’s activities include developing and testing new rural-specific health promotion programs designed to improve diabetes, hypertension and prostate cancer outcomes; enacting a rural health disparities elimination summer training program for undergraduate and graduate students; implementing new mentoring programs for faculty wishing to pursue careers in rural health; and creating a new community capacity-building initiative to improve health outcomes throughout rural southeast Georgia. The grant, which will last through 2017, will also create 10 new grant funded jobs on campus.