{"647066":{"#nid":"647066","#data":{"type":"news","title":"RBI Student Internationally Recognized for Innovative Forest-based Industry Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUdita Ringania\u003C\/strong\u003E, a Ph.D. candidate funded by the \u003Cstrong\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute\u0026rsquo;s\u003C\/strong\u003E (RBI) Paper Science \u0026amp; Engineering (PSE) Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology won the \u003Cstrong\u003E2021 Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation Award\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe award is given by the American Forest \u0026amp; Paper Association (AF\u0026amp;PA) and the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA). Ringania was one of three scientists awarded at the 2021 ICFPA-hosted Global CEO Roundtable, a biennial gathering of forest product industry associations and leaders.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ELaunched in 2016, the international contest recognizes, celebrates and promotes noteworthy innovations being developed in the global forest sector by students, researchers and engineers age 30 years and younger.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ERingania was recognized for her research project, \u003Cem\u003EDewatering of Cellulose Nanomaterials Using Ultrasound\u003C\/em\u003E. She is a PSE fellow in the lab of \u003Cstrong\u003ESaad Bhamla\u003C\/strong\u003E, assistant professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;Udita Ringania\u0026rsquo;s research is an impressive example of innovation in the forest products industry with great potential to help paper and packaging manufacturers advance sustainability,\u0026rdquo; said \u003Cstrong\u003EHeidi Brock\u003C\/strong\u003E, AF\u0026amp;PA president and CEO. \u0026ldquo;On behalf of AF\u0026amp;PA and our members, we congratulate Udita and look forward to seeing this exciting research progress.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe theme for the 2020-2021 award program was \u0026ldquo;Boosting the Forest Bioeconomy: Nature-Based Solutions Toward a Lower Carbon Economy.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to Ringania, two other international finalists were recognized:\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJes\u0026uacute;s Rodr\u0026iacute;guez\u003C\/strong\u003E of Chile for research, \u003Cem\u003EFlexbio, A Biodegradable and Compostable Bioplastic. Radiata Pine Sawdust Derivative\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrancine Ceccon Claro\u003C\/strong\u003E of Brazil for research, \u003Cem\u003ELow Cost Wood-Derived Nanocellulose Wound Dressing\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAF\u0026amp;PA and TAPPI manage the U.S. Blue Sky Award application and selection process, nominating up to three candidates for the international competition. The U.S. judging panel was organized by the Alliance for Pulp \u0026amp; Paper Technology Innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe international Blue Sky Awards program is sponsored by the ICFPA, a worldwide network of forest and paper associations that promotes cooperation in areas of common interest to its members and serves as the industry\u0026rsquo;s advocate at the international level.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe 2021 Blue Sky Award competition included 21 contestants from nine countries around the world. This year\u0026rsquo;s judging panel included representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, International Union of Forest Research Organizations, Monash University and University of British Columbia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe top three finalists presented their work at the ICFPA\u0026rsquo;s virtual Global CEO Roundtable discussion and were awarded cash prizes for their achievement. \u003Cstrong\u003EMike Doss\u003C\/strong\u003E, president and chief executive officer for Graphic Packaging presented Ringania with her award.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;The Blue Sky Awards are proof of a vibrant, bright future for an essential and sustainable forest products industry,\u0026rdquo; said Doss. \u0026ldquo;The talent and innovation demonstrated by this year\u0026rsquo;s finalists is impressive.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ELearn more about the ICFPA Blue Sky Awards and 2021 award-winning research projects at: icfpa.org\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUdita Ringania\u003C\/strong\u003E, a Ph.D. candidate funded by the \u003Cstrong\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute\u0026rsquo;s\u003C\/strong\u003E (RBI) Paper Science \u0026amp; Engineering (PSE) Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology won the \u003Cstrong\u003E2021 Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation Award\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Udita Ringania, a Ph.D. candidate, won the 2021 Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation Award."}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2021-04-29 18:39:10","changed_gmt":"2021-04-29 18:40:55","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2021-04-29T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2021-04-29T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"647064":{"id":"647064","type":"image","title":"Udita Ringania","body":null,"created":"1619721132","gmt_created":"2021-04-29 18:32:12","changed":"1624992346","gmt_changed":"2021-06-29 18:45:46","alt":"Udita Ringania, a Ph.D. candidate funded by the Renewable Bioproducts Institute\u2019s (RBI) Paper Science \u0026 Engineering (PSE) Program at Georgia Tech","file":{"fid":"245657","name":"E0JjriYWQAEwzsl.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/E0JjriYWQAEwzsl.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/E0JjriYWQAEwzsl.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":78572,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/E0JjriYWQAEwzsl.jpeg?itok=hzVP1pgN"}}},"media_ids":["647064"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"}],"keywords":[{"id":"129001","name":"paper mill"},{"id":"187091","name":"energy usage"},{"id":"187509","name":"go-rbi."}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:walter.rich@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nResearch News\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["walter.rich@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}