Cornell professor to kick off new seminar series at UMES with topic 'Advanced Green Composites'

PRINCESS ANNE — The School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (SANS) at UMES will start its SANS Seminar Series for the fall semester on Thursday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m.-noon at the Carver Hall Auditorium on the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Dr. Anil N. Netravali, Jean and Douglas McLean Professor of Fiber Science (emeritus) at Cornell University, will be the featured speaker for the series which continues through November.

Dr. Netravali will speak on “Advanced Green Composites” and the lecture is free and open to the public.

Biodegradable, fully sustainable and easily composted, advanced green composites are high-strength, transparent all-cellulose, self-healing, fire-resistant and thermochromic. Applications could range from automobiles to sporting goods, circuit boards to housing, and furniture to packaging.

This presentation will review many developments that fall into the category of “Advanced Green Composites” including high strength green composites, transparent all-cellulose, self-healing, fire-resistant and thermochromic green composites.

Netravali received his Ph.D. in Fiber & Polymer science from North Carolina State University in 1984 and joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Cornell University as a postdoctoral associate. In 1987, he joined the Department of Fiber Science & Apparel Design as an assistant professor. He retired last year as the Jean and Douglas McLean Professor of Fiber Science.

His research is focused on fiber reinforced composites and green materials and processing. Other research interests include fiber surface modification to control fiber/resin interfaces in composites.

Netravali is a member of the American Chemical Society, the Fiber Society and the American Nano Society. He was an Adjunct Professor at Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM) in Manaus, Brazil and Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, AL. He serves on the editorial advisory boards of six international research journals.

Additional series dates are Oct. 3, 10, 17 and 24, and Nov. 7,  14 and 21 with speakers and topics to be announced. Visitors attending should check-in at the public safety building for a parking pass, with parking nearby in the lot located behind Carver Hall.