From microbes to plants, OSU researchers are leveraging biological materials to develop a variety of new products. Here are some highlights: Cellulose Power Professor Michael Penner in the Department of Food Science and Technology is studying one of the holy grails of the bio-based fuel industry: the economical conversion of woody plant materials into ethanol [...]
Category » Innovation
February 1, 2007
Pressure’s On
High-strength building products
It was a great idea, just ahead of its time. More than 50 years ago, engineers came up with a way to increase the strength and stiffness of wood. By applying steam, heat and pressure, they increased strength by about 250 percent. Problem was, strong wood was in plentiful supply. So, except for some minor [...]
February 1, 2007
Know Thy Customer
Companies as diverse as electronics manufacturer Hewlett-Packard and peat producer Sun Gro Horticulture are looking to the College of Business for research-based services to enhance their customers’ satisfaction. When HP wanted to improve user comfort with its digital projectors, and Sun Gro wished to expand its customer base for an innovative horse-bedding material, both turned [...]
July 23, 2006
The Weight of Wine
For Jim Kennedy, it’s all about mouth feel. The sensation of wine on the palate can be silky and smooth or coarse and hard. Wine experts call it texture.
July 23, 2006
Greening the Bottom Line
In the business world, profit has long been the standard for performance. Red ink on the bottom line raises red flags with investors. However, companies are increasingly judged on their social and environmental behavior as well as economics.
July 23, 2006
Training for a Science-Smart Workforce
Innovative businesses need savvy employees, people who know science and understand commerce, people like Bill Becker and Akihide Takagi.
July 23, 2006
Maps Help Plow New Ground for Oregon Grass
Two OSU scientists have produced the first collection of maps that show climate, soil characteristics and plant species suitability for the People’s Republic of China.
July 23, 2006
Green Power
Plugging into Nature
Oil addicition — how can we kick it? OSU scientists and engineers have new ideas that hold promise and well-developed technologies that are already replacing fossil fuels. Here are five projects leading to our energy future.
April 23, 2006
Amber Waves of SuperSoft Wheat
Wheat fields may have inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write a song about America’s beautiful “amber waves of grain,” but not all wheat is created equal.
April 23, 2006
Solutions for Business
The Business Solutions Group in the College of Business has performed those services for Fortune 500 companies, start-ups and public agencies such as the Oregon Department of Transportation.
April 23, 2006
Open Source, Hot and Cool
Alex Polvi may work and study at OSU, but he gets paid by Mozilla, an Internet software company in Mountain View, California.
