PREC Track 2: Partnership for Research and Education in Chemistry-Sustainable Polymers

该奖项全部或部分根据2021年美国救援计划法案（公法117-2）资助。从石油中提取的塑料在我们的社会中无处不在，包括负担得起的包装，汽车组件，计算机，建筑材料，医疗器械等，但是，由于其耐用性和稳定性，以及其回收水平低，环境和海洋中的塑料污染已成为一个主要的社会问题，世界性问题。NSF化学可持续聚合物研究和教育伙伴关系（PREC-SP）将采用整体方法来开发可持续聚合物的基础知识和应用，以满足社会需求。拟议工作的成功实施将导致PREC-SP教师和学生与现有NSF可持续聚合物中心（CSP）的教师和学生进行合作研究，作为化学创新（CCI）的第二阶段中心，由化学部（CHE）支持。这种伙伴关系有可能协同联合收割机，通过创新研究和参与教育，将他们的塑料制造，非制造和改造的变革性工作结合起来。PREC-SP/CSP合作伙伴关系的支柱是多机构合作研究项目，包括：（1）开发和研究多孔结晶骨架催化剂，用于可持续的生物质聚合物原料;（2）PLA的制备，表征，加工和生物降解（聚乳酸）和PHB用纤维素纳米晶体增强的（聚羟基丁酸酯）纳米复合材料;（3）通过新的聚合技术合成可持续的嵌段共聚物、功能聚合物和毛状纳米颗粒。 PREC-SP有可能扩大支持可持续聚合物开发的研究人员的多样性。成功实施将通过本科生，教师和学生交流，联合PREC-SP/CSP研讨会研讨会，研究小组会议和其他专业成长实践的研究经验，增加教育和研究机会。这些机会可以显着增加招聘，保留，学位完成，非洲裔美国人谁注册并完成化学科学研究生学位，可行的管道的关键要素。一个成功的合作伙伴关系将建立一个可持续的途径，为代表性不足的少数民族学生进入专业劳动力和高等教育的研究和发展的立场。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准的支持。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2). Plastics derived from petroleum are ubiquitous in our society, comprising affordable packaging, components of automobiles, computers, building materials, medical devices, etc. However, because of their durability and stability, and their low level of recycling, plastic pollution in the environment and oceans has become a major societal, worldwide problem. The NSF Partnership for Research and Education in Chemistry‒Sustainable Polymers (PREC-SP) will embrace a holistic approach to developing fundamental knowledge and applications of sustainable polymers to meet societal needs. Successful implementation of the proposed work will result in he PREC-SP faculty and students conducting collaborative research with faculty and students of the existing NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP), as Phase II Center for Chemical Innovation (CCI), supported by the Division of Chemistry (CHE). This partnership has the potential to synergistically combine their transformative work of how plastics are made, unmade, and remade through innovative research and engaging education. The multi-institutional, collaborative research projects that will be the backbone of this PREC-SP/CSP partnership include: (1) development and study of porous crystalline framework catalysts for sustainable biomass valorization to polymer feedstocks; (2) preparation, characterization, processing, and biodegradation of PLA (polylactic acid) and PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate) nanocomposite material that are reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals; (3) synthesis of sustainable block copolymers, functional polymers, and hairy nanoparticles via novel polymerization techniques. The PREC-SP has the potential to expand the diversity of researchers supporting the development of sustainable polymers. Successful implementation will increase education and research opportunities through research experiences for undergraduates, faculty and student exchanges, joint PREC-SP/CSP workshops & seminars, research group meetings, and other practices for professional growth. These opportunities could significantly increase the recruitment, retention, degree completion, of African Americans who enroll in and complete graduate degrees in the chemical sciences, key elements of viable pipeline. A successful partnership will build a sustainable pathway for underrepresented minority students into the professional workforce and higher education research and development positions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.