Submitted by Morgan Grover, NEC Counselor's Assistant and Secretary
Recent NEC@ Co-Lin graduate Cameron Butler was selected to take part in the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Thames Polymer Science Research Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
The research experience runs from May 23 - July 29 and requires participants to live on campus for the duration of the research project.
According to their website, the program is focused on 21st Century issues concerning sustainable approaches to polymer materials development utilizing complex interdisciplinary teams to address technical challenges and environmental and global impacts of the research. The aim of the research is to meet critical societal needs by focusing on materials which are renewable and sustainable while also developing materials with enhanced properties to increase lifetime, materials to improve utilization of natural resources, reduced energy polymer processes, and biodegradable materials, while working towards accumulating tools to assess impacts on the environment from new material development.
“My personal assignment and research topic is centered around trying to find ways to recycle plastic,” Butler said. “Specifically, plastic containing both poly-propylene and poly-ethanol which do not mix well together.”
Butler said he will be working with these materials and adding a chemical compound to them in order to form a more stable matrix which can sustain them both and even (theoretically) make them stronger.
Butler was selected to participate in this research after two former teachers, Ms. MaKone and Mrs. Thibodeaux recommended him.