Keynote
Polymer Research in Shenkar College - from Ideas to Publications

The department of Polymers and Plastics Engineering at Shenkar College has developed a unique platform that allows Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree students to combine studies with cutting-edge research in polymer science. The academic program includes number of courses that introduce the students to basic principles of literature survey and applied research on one of the topics for projects, which are provided by faculty members. The faculty members also supervise and guide the students during their work on the project through the different stages that include gathering and analyzing the literature data, planning the experiments, working in the lab, processing and analyzing the acquired experimental data and presenting the final results. This talk will show highlights of several research projects conducted by students in our department during recent years under my guidance.

Our research focuses on the development of new synthetic strategies for the preparation of nanostructured materials with advanced properties and functions for microelectronics, biomedical and smart textile applications. The talk will describe new methods for covalent surface modification of solid cellulose, specifically seeking processes, which are modular, inexpensive, technically simple and would not damage the cellulose backbone, while providing durable functional coatings. This approach allows preparation of cellulose-based textile with super-hydrophobic, electro-conductive and fluorescent coatings for advanced applications.