News

The Oregon Green Chemistry Advisory Group, which was convened by Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) has released their final report, Advancing Green Chemistry in Oregon. It includes priority recommendations to help drive innovation through the use of green chemistry.

The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) plans to publish a new strategic plan in December 2010 that will include priorities and objectives for the next 5-10 years.  The goals of the plan are to:

In an article written by Jim Barlow, director of science and research communications at UO: "Nanotechnology is now the top applied-science priority in the world, and that effort is being led by industry but in strong collaboration across disciplines. However, putting undergraduate-level students into nanotechnology's adoption of green chemistry principles remains vitally important.

At a May 6th ceremony, EMSL’s Galya Orr was recognized as a DOE Outstanding Mentor and as a nominee for the Fitzner-Eberhardt award. Theva Thevuthasan received the 2010 Fitzner-Eberhardt Laboratory Director’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Science and Engineering Education.

(Nanowerk Spotlight) Metal nanomaterials are often synthesized using the toxic reagent formaldehyde at concentrations thousands of times higher than necessary. Many of these same nanomaterials are being investigated for use in cancer treatment – however, there is a risk that they could do more harm than good. The large excess of formaldehyde that is used originates from methods developed 100 years ago. Because these methods work well, they have stood the test of time.

Most of the millions of electronic gadgets manufactured, bought and discarded annually contain noxious chemicals. The process to produce these gadets require toxic chemicals and chemical processes. In an article printed in New Scientist on 12 March 2010, Dr. Hutchison describes greener alternatives to produce a microcircuit. The article can be assessed through the New Scientist site.

SNNI's 5th annual conference, GN10: Reducing principles to practice will feature the latest developments in the design and production of greener nanomaterials, discuss and debate how to move the technology forward while developing environmentally sound products and processes, and focus on a few critical developments that will determine whether the U.S. will be a leader or a follower in this critical field. For more information, check out our registration site here.

The Center for Green Materials Chemistry will hold an Industrial Partners Program at the Lorry I. Lokey Laboratories on the UO campus on Friday, 22 January 2010. This one day program will focus on research and education activities of the Center for Green Materials Chemisty.

The program will include:

• Technical presentations by faculty and students
• Overview of industrial activities
• A tour of the Lorry I. Laboratories

For more information, see: http://www.uoregon.edu/~grnchem/newsevents.html

Center for Green Materials Chemistry website goes live.

Nano Week in Seattle - Nanotech Now

Paul Anastas "Father of Green Chemistry" tapped to head EPA's research and development office - C&EN

SNNI's director's ACS talk available on the web - UO News Media Relations

Researchers look to make 'messy' nanotech production 'clean and green' - The New York Times

Ancient diatoms lead to new technology for solar energy - e! Science News

Green Chemistry 'movement' sprouts in the press - The New York Times

Scientists unite in Nanoscale issues - C&EN News

Greener Nano 2008 Conference slated for 10-11 March—SNNI

UO opens new Integrative Science Complex —The Register Guard

SNNI hosts 2nd annual conference —Nanotechnology Now

Public Invited to SNNI's Nanotech Forum —UO Press Release

Green Chemistry can help nanotechnology mature —Nanowerk news

SNNI participates in NNI's public forum to address research needs for nanotechnology —National Nanotechnology Coordination Office Press Release

David Johnson receives Oregon Academy of Science 2006 Outstanding Scientist Award — Inside Oregon

Rapid Purification and Size Separation of Nanoparticles — National Cancer Institute Nanotech News

Oregon event plants seeds for greener nanotech —Small Times

U.S. Regulators, Experts Launch "Green" Nanotechnology Effort —Washington File

Finding a few million in the defense budget —The Oregonian

Oregon research gets budget boost —The Oregonian

White House approves Oregon nanotech center —EE Times

Wyden and Smith announce $8 million for Nanotechnology Center in Oregon —Wyden Press Release