KU News Release

Provost says KU center has strong future with industry, in biorefining

LAWRENCE — Citing confidence in future success with environmentally friendly chemical and biorefining research and partnerships with 10 of the world’s leading chemical and technology firms, the University of Kansas announced today it will not seek renewal of a National Science Foundation grant for KU’s Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis.

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Lariviere said KU will not ask the NSF to reconsider a decision not to renew beyond 2008 the five-year multimillion Engineering Research Center grant that established the CEBC in 2003.

Instead, Lariviere said the NSF’s $13 million investment in CEBC has given the researchers a solid foundation for future research and he was confident the CEBC team can proceed successfully on its own, citing three factors:

• The CEBC has built a team of 35 talented scientists and a state-of-the-art research infrastructure focused on the enterprise of finding environmentally friendly chemical processes. This investment will provide major support for all future work of the CEBC for alternate funding partners.

• The CEBC has assembled a panel of industry partners consisting of the world’s leading chemical and technology firms — ADM, BP, ChevronPhillips, ConocoPhillips, DuPont, Engelhard, ExxonMobil, Novozymes, Procter&Gamble and UOP. Many of them are funding proprietary research projects with the CEBC as well as recruiting KU students for internships and permanent employment.

Lariviere said past and current NSF officials have reported that the CEBC is very engaged with industry and doing good science for its industry partners.

• Confidence in CEBC director Bala Subramaniam and his research team to replace the NSF funding over time and go on with work in biorefining — of vital importance to agriculture in Kansas and the Midwest — and the development of other environmentally friendly chemical processes for industry.

“The NSF decision was disappointing, and while we may not agree with all conclusions leading to it, we will continue to move forward, conducting world-class research in this vital area,” Lariviere said.

“The CEBC’s story is not unusual in the research grant world. Scientists put forward many, many proposals and only a small percentage are funded. Funding sources may choose to withdraw support through no fault of the researcher. Funding is never guaranteed. Outcomes are never certain.

“But strong researchers, such as those at CEBC, constantly refocus to seek innovative solutions to address the world's needs.”

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.