Thursday, October 21, 2004
GE chemist gives $25,000 to chemistry department
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Jim Hoover, a GE Plastics senior chemist, chose University of Southern Indiana as the institution to receive a $25,000 grant for undergraduate research. Hoover could name a university to receive the funding as the 2004 recipient of the GE Edison Award. The Edison Award is presented to GE employees for recent technical contributions that have made a significant impact on the current and future vitality of their business. Leadership teams from GE select the award winner. Jerry Cain, dean of the Pott School of Science and Engineering, and Jeff Seyler, associate professor of chemistry, said the award will benefit the chemistry department’s capabilities in polymer analysis, instrument training, and undergraduate research in polymer chemistry. At GE Hoover is the supervisor of the Maxilab, where development efforts for new, value added LEXAN copolymers are ongoing. He is a LEXAN technology expert in resin process, finishing, and color control. Hoover is one of the founding developers of opaque and transparent LEXAN EL, two breakthrough products that utilize siloxane copolymer technology that dramatically increases the toughness of polycarbonate resin while maintaining all other LEXAN properties. To date, over 15 million pounds of LEXAN EL has been commercially produced. He also was instrumental in the development and translation to manufacturing of the resin that supported the commercialization of FlexPlay Limited Play DVD format. He holds nine U.S. patents and one European patent. Hoover met USI chemistry students and visiting high school students on October 21, 2004 when the chemistry department observed National Mole Day. National Mole Day is typically observed on October 23, but since it falls on a Saturday this year, October 21 was selected as the date for USI’s observation. Chemists and especially chemistry teachers celebrate National Mole Day as a way to show how chemistry is a vital, positive force in everyone’s lives. National Mole Day celebrates Amedeo Avogadro’s Number, 6.02 x 10^23, a basic measuring unit in chemistry. In general, one mole of any substance contains 6.02 x 10^23 molecules or atoms of that substance. Local high school students were on campus for a chemistry competition, tour of campus, and chemistry demonstrations as part of National Chemistry Week celebrated from October 17 to October 23, 2004. Dr. Marie Hankins, professor of chemistry, conducted the chemistry demonstrations which included fire-breathing pumpkins, flaming bubbles, exploding balloons, elephant toothpaste, collapsing bottles, and more. |
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