Articles in "Science and Technology"

Presentation of exciting new research and laboratory tours are just part of the festivities planned for the first annual Polymer Science and Engineering Conference set for Friday, March 23 at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Approximately 800 researchers, professors and students from across the state converged on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi for the 82^nd Annual Mississippi Academy of Sciences meeting held Feb. 22-23 on the Hattiesburg campus.

O’Rourke Elementary School Pre-K teacher Allison Peavy uses words like “exciting,” “unbelievable” and “phenomenal” to describe the unexpected receipt of Samsung tablets fitted with the multi-faceted Speakaboos app for her students.

The tablets were provided by The University of Southern Mississippi through a $900,000 grant from the Kellogg Foundation. More than 700 students at four elementary schools in the Mobile (Ala.) County Public School System have received the tablets, which helps them learn concepts in language, mathematics, and science.

Groundbreaking research being conducted in polymer science labs at The University of Southern Mississippi could lead to enhanced protective wear for United States warfighters.

A $4.9 million grant provided by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has enabled the School of Polymer Science and Engineering to acquire a state-of-the-art Xeuss 2.0 Small-Angle/Wide-Angle (SAXS/WAXS) scattering system.

With Pasco County, Fla., residents being forced to seek safety from dangerously strong storms during hurricane season, the Mike Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter was designed. Sitting on 5.54 acres, this renowned 38,395-square-foot shelter is capable of housing 1,000 occupants and sustaining winds of 190 mph. Its environmental design conserves energy, allowing the shelter to function self-sustaining for up to 72 hours.

University of Southern Mississippi sophomore Madalyn Mares has been there – confused, intimidated, overwhelmed, and struggling as a first-year college student. And that is why the Covington, La., native pounced at the chance to be a member of the University’s Learning Assistant pilot program.

“Being that I was a freshman just a year ago, I totally understand the stresses of being a first semester college student,” said Mares, a mathematics licensure major. “Being able to relate to other students definitely builds a stronger trust and makes it so much easier for students to open up to and learn from you as a learning assistant.”

High school students from across the Pine Belt participated in demonstrations, quizzes, and other activities in celebration of Mole Day on The University of Southern Mississippi’s Hattiesburg campus. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at USM sponsored the event.

More than 100 high school students from the Pine Belt area will congregate on The University of Southern Mississippi’s Hattiesburg campus Monday, Oct. 23 in celebration of Mole Day – a day devoted to the wonders of chemistry.

With NASA’s goal to explore Mars in the 2030’s, Tougaloo College professor, Dr. Santanu Banerjee has been called upon to assist with research in preparation.

A $26,000 grant will allow Banerjee to conduct research which will mimic environmental conditions on Mars such as UV radiation, temperature, humidity and microgravity. The goal will be to test bacteria samples to determine how long it will survive.

Junior ROTC cadets from the Jackson Public Schools and the Mobile County Public Schools will convene on The University of Southern Mississippi’s Hattiesburg campus Sept. 29-30 for a unique conference focused on cybersecurity and coding.

Dr. Vijay Rangachari, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at The University of Southern Mississippi, was recently awarded one of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) most competitive grants, the Research Project Grant or R01. This grant will enable him to further his research on Alzheimer’s disease.

At The University of Southern Mississippi, research and innovation are fueling new discoveries in technology that offer real-world applications in the private and commercial sectors.

Nothing illustrates this synergy better than a recent National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps grant fostered within the University’s School of Polymers and High Performance Materials. The $50,000 grant – the first of its kind awarded to a Mississippi university – helped yield a cellulose reinforced thermoplastic polymer composite created in the lab of USM Polymer Professor Dr. Joshua Otaigbe.