THE EFFORT IS SPURRED BY THE LARGEST RESEARCH GRANT EVER GIVEN TO ANY UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE OF KANSAS, A 17-MILLION-DOLLAR AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. ADDITIONAL PRIVATE AND STATE FUNDING AND FACILITIES DONATED AS A RESULT OF THE N-S-F AWARD BRING THE TOTAL PACKAGE TO 30-MILLION DOLLARS.

THE FUNDING ESTABLISHES THE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY BENEFICIAL CATALYSIS (kuh-TAL-uh-sis), OR C-E-B-C. THE CENTER WILL COLLABORATE WITH SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS ALL OVER THE WORLD TO CREATE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE FOR THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY. THE C-E-B-C IS A MULTI-UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTER HEADQUARTERED AT K-U. THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA AND WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN SAINT LOUIS ARE CORE PARTNERS.

CATALYSIS IS THE ACCELERATION OF A CHEMICAL REACTION THROUGH THE PRESENCE OF A MATERIAL CALLED A CATALYST THAT IS CHEMICALLY UNCHANGED AFTER THE REACTION. PROFESSOR OF CHEMICAL AND PETROLEUM ENGINEERING BALA (BAHL-uh) SUBRAMANIAM (soo-brah-MAH-nee-uhm) IS THE CENTER'S DIRECTOR. HE SAYS CATALYSTS USED BY THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY ARE OFTEN TOXIC.
Subramaniam: "The center will invent catalysts that are in the first place environmentally benign, while at the same time minimizing waste. The ultimate goal is to design and develop the technology associated with the entire manufacturing process and make it available to industries." (18 sec.)

SUBRAMANIAM (soo-brah-MAH-nee-uhm) SAYS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RELATED TO CHEMICAL PRODUCTION COST THE CHEMICALS INDUSTRY 10-BILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR. K-U RESEARCHERS ARE DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL COST INDUSTRIES LESS, WITHOUT THREATENING THE ENVIRONMENT.
Subramaniam: "If we are able to develop new processes that eliminate waste but at the same time they're also economically viable, that would be what the industries need to not only enhance their competitiveness, but also sustain it from any future environmental regulations that they may have to meet." (18 sec.)

SUBRAMANIAM (soo-brah-MAH-nee-uhm) SAYS THE CENTER WILL DEVELOP TECHNOLOGIES TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO THE NEEDS OF THE CHEMICALS INDUSTRY.
Subramaniam: "So in the long term, we envision our center to be a leading research and development resource for the chemicals processing industry. In other words, industries will approach our center first with their critical technology needs." (15 sec.)

SUBRAMANIAM (soo-brah-MAH-nee-uhm) SAYS EDUCATION IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT MISSION OF THE CENTER. IN ITS FIRST YEAR, THE C-E-B-C WILL ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT HAVE HIGH POPULATIONS OF NATIVE AMERICAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC AMERICAN STUDENTS. THESE INCLUDE GARDEN CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND KANSAS CITY KANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
Subramaniam: "It's important that we capitalize on such a nationally renowned center being present at KU to attract a diverse group of students, provide opportunities for them to do hands-on research with the many researchers that will be working at the center and expose them to cutting-edge science and technology.œ (20 sec.)

THE GRANT SUPPORTS OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO HIGH SCHOOL. SUBRAMANIAM (soo-brah-MAH-nee-uhm) SAYS THIS EFFORT WILL HELP DEVELOP A WORK FORCE THAT WILL BE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY.
Subramaniam: "The educational program is important because what we need to develop for the future is the next generation of engineers and scientists who are trained in the development and design of environmentally beneficial processes." (16 sec.)

IN THE LONG RUN, SUBRAMANIAM (soo-brah-MAH-nee-uhm) SAYS, THE CENTER'S RESEARCH WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE STATE'S ECONOMY.
Subramaniam: "When the center invents new products or processes, those in turn have enormous potential to generate licensing agreements, create new start-up companies and also new jobs in the technology sector in Kansas." (16 sec.)