ESF professors lead initiative that wins $5 million NSF grant

SYRACUSE — Two professors at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) are leading an international initiative to develop sustainable bioproducts from waste biomass. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is supporting the work with a $5 million grant to the Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts (GCSB), an international research hub dedicated to developing sustainable bio-based solutions for environmental and economic challenges, per ESF’s Feb. 19 announcement. Chang Geun Yoo, with ESF’s department of chemical engineering, and Gyu Leem, with ESF’s department of chemistry, are at the helm of the NSF Global Centers program that brings together experts from Canada, Finland, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. Their goal is to create eco-friendly and economically viable alternatives to traditional plastics and composites, ESF said. “Dr. Yoo and Dr. Leem’s groundbreaking work is crucial for developing sustainable solutions that can transform industries and protect our environment,” ESF President Joanie Mahoney, said in the school’s announcement. “Their leadership in this international initiative highlights ESF’s commitment to innovative research with real-world impact.” GCSB’s research focuses on four main areas. They include sustainable bio-utilization, or transforming abundant biomass into valuable materials; ensuring processes help mitigate climate change; designing eco-friendly products that are also market-viable; and improving technologies for efficient bioproducts production. The team involved is focused on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a biodegradable bio-based plastic from agricultural residues. By combining PHA with bio-fillers such as nanocellulose and nanolignin, they aim to develop materials for 3D and 4D printing. They will also work to ensure these new materials are environmentally friendly and cost-effective. ESF will lead the research and educational programs with a $1.45 million grant, the SUNY school said. “By integrating cutting-edge science with industry applications, we’re building a sustainable future,” Yoo said in the ESF announcement. Leem also adding, “This research bridges the gap between science and real-world solutions.” The NSF award highlights the foundation’s support for “impactful global research.” With backing from international agencies, GCSB’s work aims to “make a lasting impact on global sustainability.” Partnering institutions include the University of Tennessee, University of Iowa, Howard University, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Surrey, University of Strathclyde, Åbo Akademi University, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, and Hanyang University.