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From the development of hybrid cars to
the popularity of reusable shopping bags, the United States is
thinking green. Most of us are familiar, in some way, with
efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, slow global warming and
reduce our carbon footprints. This month, ISTC
Catalyst focuses on one of the essential but perhaps
overlooked components of "going green" - the development and use of
advanced materials.
Advanced materials make things stronger, lighter, more flexible,
more durable, more efficient and, by extension, often increase or
promote sustainability. They promise to transform the
way biomedical devices, solar cells, fuel cells, airline components
and even textiles are constructed. This month's ISTC
Catalyst includes a strong sampling of Illinois-based research
in this area, yet it just begins to touch on the multitude of work
currently underway in our universities and labs.
In your exploration of this month's feature, you will notice that
one key and recurring component to the development of advanced
materials is nanotechnology. As Illinois ranks eighth on
Small Times' list of leading nanotechnology states and
fourth specifically for research and education in nanotechnology, I
invite you to visit our ISTC Catalyst
archives and click on the August feature to
learn more about Illinois' leadership in
nanotechnology.
Matthew Summy, President & CEO
Illinois Science & Technology Coalition
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