World-renowned UAH Astrophysicist Dr. Zank seeks partnership with Huntsville business community

World-renowned astrophysicist Dr. Gary P. Zank spoke with members of the Huntsville Rotary Club on Tuesday. The meeting was held in The Life Center of Huntsville’s First Baptist Church.

Dr. Zank’s presentation served two purposes: to describe promising practical applications for plasma physics and to seek partnerships with local and regional business people. 

While Dr. Zank holds numerous scientific and academic roles, he was addressing the Rotarians and their guests from his position as the Principal Investigator for the Future Technologies & enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP) grant.

FTPP is funded by $40 million in awards from the National Science Foundation. Nine Alabama universities, and one research corporation, are collaborating on the FTPP project; UAH leads this 10-member coalition. 

The stated mission of FTPP is to “transition plasma research into agricultural, manufacturing, space science, space weather prediction, and other applications, establishing Alabama as a Southeastern regional hub for plasma science expertise and creating thousands of high-paying technical careers in the state and region.”

FTPP’s three specific aims are to conduct research in plasma physics, commercialize plasma science technologies, and to educate Alabama workers to become well-trained employees in the emerging plasma physics industry. 

One of the promising practical applications of plasma physics is its potential to turn waste, or by-product, materials into profit. Dr. Zank brought the discussion to a relatable level by pointing to the example of the poultry industry. The poultry industry is big business in Alabama and many chicken feathers are created as a by-product of poultry meat production. Dr. Zank has found a potential use for these excess feathers. 

“Well, it turns out that the proteins and some of the fiber character of feathers, in fact, make for extraordinarily good material to help bond and reinforce polymers. And so those polymers become particularly interesting, particularly flexible, and extremely strong. And plasma treatment of those feathers enables that,” Zank explained.

Other promising practical applications for plasma technologies include increasing food safety and production, forecasting weather in space, and growing gem-quality diamonds.

Dr. Zank’s next step is to gather experienced engineers, entrepreneurs, and business people who can bring this vision of a plasma physics commercial sector to reality.

Zank says, “You can make Huntsville the hub of an Alabama plasma physics technology powerhouse. We have scientists, we have researchers who can translate the cutting-edge university plasma science research into interesting technologies, but it’s commercializing those technologies that is the critical thing.”

Zank stressed the importance of forming community partnerships with those who can provide guidance, ideas, and the ability to move the technology from the lab to the marketplace. 

For those who seek to build a science-business partnership with FTPP, please contact Dr. Zank at garyp.zank@gmail.com.