KU research, including study of 'green chemistry,' to be presented at conference

LAWRENCE--Are we running the risk of developing a resistance to the antibiotic used to treat anthrax? Can scientists develop methods to produce industrial chemicals in an environmentally friendly manner? These are just two of the topics that University of Kansas faculty members will address at the American Chemical Society Midwest Regional Meeting this week on the KU campus.

The three-day meeting, which begins today, is expected to draw 600 to 700 scientists and students from universities in the seven-state region that includes Arkansas, Iowa, parts of southern Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota.

More than 300 presentations will be delivered ranging from the environmentally conscious practice of chemistry known as "green chemistry" to proteomics, the groundbreaking study of the structure and functions of proteins.

Robert Carlson, professor of chemistry and organizer of the ACS events at KU, said the meeting would not only bring together some of the leading researchers in the area, it also would provide a great opportunity for KU to showcase its research and facilities. The last time KU hosted this event was 10 years ago.

"It allows a number of people to see our facilities and it allows undergraduate students to see the campus and consider KU for graduate school," he said.

KU research: Resistance to antibiotics

Cynthia Larive, professor of chemistry, will be among the KU faculty members presenting research at the meeting. Her presentation will focus on whether the disposal of Ciprofloxacin and its presence in the environment, namely the water supply, will cause bacteria to develop a resistance to the widely prescribed antibiotic that is used to treat a variety of ailments, from urinary infections to anthrax. So far research, which is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, suggests that Ciprofloxacin decays rapidly when exposed to sunlight, Larive said.

"It may not be much of an environmental threat because it decomposes -- so that is good news, but we donÿt know for sure because these are just preliminary results."

Still, Larive said the presentation of this early data at the regional meeting might spark additional research from other scientists.

"This meeting allows scientists to discuss ongoing research and itÿs a vehicle for rapid dissemination of results," she said. "It can very quickly change the course of experiments going on in other laboratories and accelerate scientific discoveries."

KU research: "Green chemistry"

Bala Subramaniam, distinguished professor and chair of chemical and petroleum engineering, will be among the scientists delivering presentations on the emerging field of environment-friendly "green chemistry."

Subramaniam, who works with Daryle Busch, distinguished professor of chemistry, at KUÿs Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, will discuss results from their collaborative research to exploit carbon dioxide as a solvent that reduces both pollution and costs.

Using carbon dioxide to replace conventional toxic solvents will have widespread implications for a number of products, such as synthetic fibers, anti-freeze and bleach for dry cleaning, as well as for a number of industries, including agricultural chemical and petroleum processing.

"What is very unique about our collaboration at KU is that very few places in the country or the world have this link between chemistry and engineering, and we are showing that this is essential for advancing green technology," he said. "The symposium features several leading researchers in the field and the exchange of ideas should be beneficial to everyone."

Bowman-James to collect award

Also at the meeting, Kristin Bowman-James, professor of chemistry at KU, will be presented with the first ever Midwest Regional Award for Contribution to Diversity. The award was established to commemorate the ACS Women Chemists Committeeÿs 75th anniversary.

Bowman-James, who was chemistry department chair from 1995 to 2001, played a key role in helping the department gain the highest percentage of female faculty members among the nationÿs top 50 chemistry departments this year.

"It is especially meaningful to be able to receive the award here in Lawrence where I have spent my entire academic career and among my 'academic family,'" Bowman-James said. "My many colleagues and friends who have been so supportive over the years on important issues such as diversity also deserve recognition."

More information about the schedule of events, exhibitors and contacts is available online at www.mwrm2002.org.