2018 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials
Nano2018 Snapshot:
The 2018 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, was co-located with the Forest Products Society's 72nd International Convention at the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Attendees were able to move freely between all technical sessions and breaks, providing opportunities for these two communities to intermingle, network, and to learn the state of the art in wood-science and renewable nanomaterials. With a combined attendance of over 500 people, from academia, industry, federal research institutes, from all over the world, there was a heightened buzz of excitement with the R&D and application of renewable materials.
Now in its 13th year, this years NANO conference had 314 delegates from 24 countries, which is record attendance. There was a Buzz of Activities: 2-Keynote talks, 2-lunch sponsorship talks, Tour of Forest Products Laboratory, 2-workshops (safety, and CNM Characterization), 5-table top displays, 4-NanoDivision Awards, End-Users Panel Discussion, Product showcase, Career Panel, poster session with student poster competition, welcome reception, Young Professional Mixer, conference dinner, and a technical program that highlighted over 160 technical presentations on production, characterization, applications and functionalization of renewable nanomaterials.
Conference Venue - the Monona Terrace
Nano2018 Highlights:
- Opening Keynote: Driving the Automotive Industry Using Sustainable Materials: Dr. Alper Kiziltas, Ford Motor Company, briefed both the NANO and FPS groups in the sustainable materials research and development interests of Ford, and highlighted areas were natural fibers and nanofillers may have utility.
- Keynote: Beyond Nano: Why Tiny Bits of Trees Make a Big Difference for Forests: Mr. Michael Goergen, VP of P3Nano, discussed the broader positive impacts that can happen in forestry management if we can successfully take cellulosic nanotechnology from the lab to commercialization, and how bringing together partners in the public and private sectors can accelerate the development of innovative uses of renewable materials from forests.
- Keynote: FogKicker from Nanocellulose: A Journey from Lab to Market: This was a sponsored Keynote talk by CelluForce, a Gold Sponsor of Nano2018, hosted by Richard Berry of CelluForce, and presented by Dr. Yinyong Li, the Co-founder of Treaty BioTech, LLC, and inventor of FogKicker. Dr. Li gave an exciting talk via Skype, as he was at the time in China overseeing the startup of the first manufacturing plant of FogKicker products, this gave a unique “raw” experience in the fast pace of innovation of renewable nanomaterials into new product lines.
- Keynote: Present Situation and Future Prospects of Nanocellulose R&D in Japan: This was a sponsored Keynote talk by Nanocellulose Forum (NCF) who were a Gold Sponsor of Nano2018. Prof. Akira Lsogai gave an exciting and entertaining lunch talk on current state of Nanocellulose production, research and product development within Japan as accelerated through the Nanocellulose Forum.
- Two new NanoDivision Awards: The Mid-Career Award and the Student Award were introduced at Nano2018, both of which help to recognize earlier career scientist who are conducting outstanding research and development efforts with renewable nanomaterials and have vested time and service to our community and to the NanoDivision.
- Tour of the Forest Products Laboratory: A sold out event, in which 110 conference attendees toured to see the pilot-scale cellulose nanomaterial (CNC & CNF) production facilities, an engineering mechanics lab where testing from single fibers to full-scale wood structures is completed, a composites processing facility, and an environmental chamber to measure moisture movement through full-scale wall assemblies.
- NanoDivision Gala Event: A sold out event, in which 150 conference attendees, socialized and networked over dinner and music at the historic 1926s built Orpheum Theater. After the NanoDivision Awards Ceremony, attendees enjoyed the live music of “Piano Fondue”, a high energy dueling piano show, and many danced the night away.
Nano2018 Workshops:
- Practical Safety Strategies for Bio/Nano Technology Commercialization Workshop: Presented by Vireo Advisors, LLC. This workshop focused on the demonstration of occupational, environmental, and consumer health and safety for new technologies, with special consideration of bio-based and nanoscale materials.
- Cellulose Nanomaterials Characterization Workshop –Primary Characterization: This workshop summarized and outlined details of best practices and limitations for several techniques/methods typically used for the characterization of cellulose nanomaterials.
NanoDivison Award Recipients:
- Technical Award & FiberLean® Technologies Prize: Presented to Wadood Y. Hamad, PhD, FPInnovations.
- Leadership & Service Award: Presented to Colleen C. Walker, PhD, Director of the Process Development Center, University of Maine.
- Mid-Career Award: Presented to Mehdi Tajvidi, Assistant Professor, University of Maine.
- Student Award: Presented to Nathan C. Ellebracht, PhD Student, Georgia Institute of Technology.