UA polymer program in 50th year.Fifty years ago, five scholars embarked on an historic journey at the University of Akron Enrollment in fall 2006 was 23,539 students.[1] The school offers more than 200 undergraduate degrees [2] and 100 graduate degrees [3]. The University's best-known program is its College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, which is located in a , OH, entering the institution's inaugural Ph.D. program in polymer chemistry. Now, more than 1,000 doctoral degrees later, the university's College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering and the Department of Chemistry will celebrate the 50th anniversary of that first Ph.D. program. The celebration, to be held on the UA campus August 9-12, will include a symposium on technology policy featuring Arden Bement, director of the National Science Foundation, and five symposia focused on emerging technologies. There will also be a family picnic, alumni banquet and campus tours. The inaugural Ph.D. group, which included Edgar E. Bostick, Marvin A. Deisz, William E. Gibbs, Ralph Milko vich and Masao Ohta, is said to have played a unique role in the evolution of what would become a world-renowned institution for polymer education and research. The university's journey began in 1909 with the world's first courses in rubber chemistry, and continued when it became a key participant in Allied efforts to develop synthetic rubber during World War II. The university's polymer science and polymer engineering program has been rated second in the United States by U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report Weekly newsmagazine published in Washington, D.C. U.S. News was founded in 1933 by David Lawrence (1888–1973) to cover important domestic events; he founded World Report in 1945 to treat world news. The two magazines were merged in 1948. . There are 34 full-time faculty members and more than 200 graduate students. "The 50th anniversary of our doctoral program is indeed another milestone in our history; we are looking forward to an enjoyable and memorable celebration in the finest tradition of our polymer programs," said Dr. Frank Kelley, dean of the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. "It will be an informative, educational and fun event for attendees and their families." On Wednesday, August 9, the celebration will begin at noon with a family picnic at Wingfoot Lake Park, a private facility operated by Goodyear Tire & Rubber. Symposia focusing on emerging technologies in polymers will be featured on Thursday, August 10. Morning sessions will include: "Polymeric devices," by Dr. Timothy Swager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Cambridge; coeducational; chartered 1861, opened 1865 in Boston, moved 1916. It has long been recognized as an outstanding technological institute and its Sloan School of Management has notable programs in business, ; "Biomaterials," by Dr. Buddy Ratner, University of Washington; and "Nanomaterials," by Dr. Emmanuel Giannelis, Cornell University. Afternoon sessions will include: "Green chemistry," by Dr. Joseph DeSimone, University of North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. ; and "Supramolecular su·pra·mo·lec·u·lar adj. 1. Consisting of more than one molecule. 2. Of greater complexity than a molecule. ordering," by Prof. Ludwik Leibler, Laboratoire Matiere Molle et Chimie ESPCI ESPCI Ecole Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris (France) , Paris, France. Campus tours will follow. On Friday, August 11, UA President Luis M. Proenza Dr. Luis M. Proenza is the president of University of Akron. He is a member of the United States President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, a council originally established by President George H.W. will chair the symposium, "Impact of globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation on technology policy," featuring the NSF's Bement and other speakers. Further information on this event is available from the university at (330) 972-7502. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion