research guide - UTEP Magazine - University of Texas at El Paso
research guide - UTEP Magazine - University of Texas at El Paso
research guide - UTEP Magazine - University of Texas at El Paso
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Studying Nanotechnology’s Environmental Impact<br />
<strong>UTEP</strong> particip<strong>at</strong>es in $38 million intern<strong>at</strong>ional project<br />
The <strong>UTEP</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Chemistry is part <strong>of</strong> a $38 million<br />
intern<strong>at</strong>ional <strong>research</strong> project to study the impact <strong>of</strong> nanotechnology—the<br />
manipul<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> m<strong>at</strong>ter <strong>at</strong> the <strong>at</strong>omic level—on the environment.<br />
Funded by the N<strong>at</strong>ional Science Found<strong>at</strong>ion and the U.S. Environmental<br />
Protection Agency, the study establishes two Centers for the Environmental<br />
Implic<strong>at</strong>ions <strong>of</strong> Nanotechnology. One will be <strong>at</strong> UCLA and the other <strong>at</strong><br />
Duke <strong>University</strong>.<br />
The only university in <strong>Texas</strong> to particip<strong>at</strong>e, <strong>UTEP</strong> joins the UCLA center,<br />
which received $24 million. Selected for its experience in this field <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>research</strong>, <strong>UTEP</strong> will study the effects <strong>of</strong> metal nanoparticles on plants such<br />
as alfalfa and mesquite.<br />
Chemistry Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jorge Gardea-Torresdey, Ph.D., (pictured left,<br />
forefront) project principal investig<strong>at</strong>or and chemistry department<br />
chairman, says his <strong>research</strong> team will evalu<strong>at</strong>e how metal nanoparticles<br />
impact a plant’s biochemistry or germin<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Research Assets<br />
Center for Environmental<br />
Resource Management -<br />
<strong>research</strong>.utep.edu/cerm<br />
• <strong>University</strong>-wide coordin<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong><br />
environmental <strong>research</strong> and outreach<br />
• Rio Bosque Wetlands Park<br />
- Wetland preserv<strong>at</strong>ion and management<br />
• Energy Center<br />
- Energy efficiency and<br />
passive solar design<br />
Systems Ecology Labor<strong>at</strong>ory -<br />
sel.utep.edu<br />
• Understanding environmental<br />
change in extreme environments<br />
• Developing technology to improve<br />
monitoring and predicting<br />
environmental change<br />
Aqu<strong>at</strong>ic Ecology Labor<strong>at</strong>ory -<br />
ael.utep.edu<br />
• Studying isol<strong>at</strong>ed ponds and wetlands<br />
in extreme environments<br />
• Understanding causes and<br />
consequences <strong>of</strong> damage to<br />
aqu<strong>at</strong>ic ecosystems<br />
• Controlling invasive plants such as<br />
salt cedar and tumbleweeds<br />
Indio Mountains Research St<strong>at</strong>ion -<br />
www.utep.edu/indio<br />
• 38,000 acres owned and<br />
managed by <strong>UTEP</strong><br />
Research includes:<br />
• Reptilian popul<strong>at</strong>ion ecology<br />
• R<strong>at</strong>tlesnake venom analysis<br />
• Terrestrial and aqu<strong>at</strong>ic<br />
arthropod ecology<br />
• Plant surveys<br />
• Anthropological sites<br />
Research Guide | 49
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