{"380571":{"#nid":"380571","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Provost Rafael Bras: \u0027The trajectory of our Institution is unequalled\u0027","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENo other institution has experienced the trajectory in reputation and success Georgia Tech has enjoyed during the past five years and that trajectory looks to continue in multiple areas, including online education, according to Provost Rafael Bras.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBras addressed a group of more than 75 institutional researchers and private industry leaders attending Renewable Bioproducts Institute\u2019s inaugural symposium, \u201cRenewable Bioproducts: Advances in Lignocellulosic Processes and Products,\u201d Oct. 1-2.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe have an extraordinary story,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have taken something that has been very good, something that has had a great impact and moved it forward, evolving along the way, with the strategy of combining education and research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDuring the worst economic downturn in a long time, the quantity and quality of our students have increased and our graduate program is growing. Our students are averaging the highest GPA ever \u2013 3.94. Our engineering college is the largest in the nation and consistently ranked in the Top 4 or 5. As a matter of fact, every one of our programs is in the Top 8, not just engineering. We\u2019ve gone from a regional engineering school to a global power.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe research undertaken by Georgia Tech has also grown by 40 percent to $750 million in a $1.5 billion budget, opening the door to more opportunities to define technol ogy research, not follow the trends, he said, and the Renewable Bioproducts Institute fits that strategic plan.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s a dynamic institute that is moving onward. It fits our quality enhancement program, our accreditation process, our economic development and industrial strategy,\u201d Bras said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are many exciting things going on with the research being done inside this institute. Biofuels? This will come. No doubt about it. Pharmaceuticals, agriculture, forestry, energy, biology and human health \u2013 all of these will be based on renewable bioproducts.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBras said there could not be a better time for industry to partner with Georgia Tech researchers in developing enhanced and new technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want industry engaged. We want to be a partner in economic development,\u201d he said. \u201cOur goal is to reach $1 billion in research monies with one-quarter of that coming from an industrial base. I believe we can do that. I believe we can show you \u2013 the leaders in industry \u2013 what a valuable partner we can be.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Bras addressed a group of more than 75 institutional researchers and private industry leaders attending Renewable Bioproducts Institute\u2019s inaugural symposium, \u201cRenewable Bioproducts: Advances in Lignocellulosic Processes and Products,\u201d Oct. 1-2."}],"uid":"28159","created_gmt":"2015-02-20 15:49:14","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:01:50","author":"Kelly Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2014-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2014-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"233411":{"id":"233411","type":"image","title":"Provost Rafael Bras","body":null,"created":"1449243627","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 15:40:27","changed":"1475894906","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:48:26","alt":"Provost Rafael Bras","file":{"fid":"197607","name":"13c7023-p1-074.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/13c7023-p1-074_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/13c7023-p1-074_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":475588,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/13c7023-p1-074_0.jpg?itok=rjOMrwEU"}}},"media_ids":["233411"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKelly B Smith, Communication Manager, (404) 894-6700\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["kelly.smith@rbi.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}