Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 7258 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6 B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 59 Research to Commercialization In 2014, Manning and three students— Tess Baker, Brittany Butler, and Sydney Plummer—participated in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) review process, which allowed professionals to review the artificial reef project and determine its merit for commercialization. According to Manning, the I-Corps program takes university research groups through an evaluation process to determine if their technology has commercial value. “After a rigorous seven-week process, which included over 100 interviews with people in public and government positions, as well as a series of presentations to an NSF technical panel, we were given the thumbs up to commercialize our product,” Manning said. “It is based on three patent applications. One is based on growing marine biofilms on cellulose; a second is focused on growing marine biofilms on concrete; and the third is focused on deploying small, modular reefs over large areas rather than sinking single large structures.” Butler, who is now a Ph.D. student at James Cook University in Australia, presented the advantages of deploying the green technology reefs compared to the practice of using steel ships to create artificial reefs. While Butler was making presentations to the panel of researchers and industry leaders, Baker and Plummer were meeting with legislative aides and members of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to discuss the environmental value of their artificial reef project. “We were primarily talking to legislative representatives from coastal and agricultural states,” said Plummer, who is now a Ph.D. student at the University of Georgia. “We were approached by a representative from Louisiana who was interested in our research because of the potential to increase the oyster population.” Manning explains that oysters are not just a food source; they serve a greater role. For example, in Virginia and Maryland, there is a large-scale effort to restore oyster reefs because of water quality issues. An oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water each day, and 99 percent of oyster bars in the Chesapeake have disappeared. “Oyster bars also play a significant role in preventing shoreline erosion,” Manning said. “In Louisiana, there is currently a significant financial investment in preventing shoreline erosion.” Plummer said, “This was the aha moment when the light bulb came on. We began to think, ‘Maybe we can move our research toward the oysters instead of coral.’” The students regrouped and started discussing with I-Corps the possibility of using the artificial reefs for oyster production. I-Corps was in agreement that the oyster production provided more of an economic impact because of the food sources and environmental issues. Manning and the team then switched from just using cellulose in the ocean to specially created concrete cinder blocks produced locally by The Scruggs Company. “We started doing work with cellulose but have migrated to a mineral-based mixture that incorporates cellulose, in addition to approximately 100 other chemicals into the structure,” Manning explained. “The minerals use either cement or stearic acid as the binding for the limestone and chemicals.” Over time the chemical slowly leaks out, providing a biofilm or bacterial mat for the oyster larvae to colonize the surface. The team then placed the chemically CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Valdosta State University students signing up to conduct research with Dr. Thomas Manning, professor of chemistry, may find themselves sloshing around the murky coastal banks near Apalachicola, Florida, or examining coral growth in the more pristine waters of the Florida Keys, or even walking the marble floors of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. For more than 23 years, Manning has embraced his profession as a teacher and researcher. His unique approach to research is centered on a team effort, with his undergraduate students on the first string. Manning encourages VSU students to engage in research not only as part of their undergraduate experience but also prepare them for graduate or medical school. With more than 80 papers published in national and international peer-reviewed journals, many of which were co-authored by his students, Manning continues to see his mission as providing students with valuable experience and helping find solutions to world environmental and health issues. Several years ago, during a class trip to the Florida Keys, VSU students, under the direction of Manning, initiated research on developing biodegradable material for artificial reefs and other marine applications. Artificial reefs are man-made structures that are placed underwater to promote marine life. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) allows reefs to be constructed from steel or concrete; however, this can be costly and produce an environmental hazard. For example, the steel from old ships contains chromium and nickel—both are toxic metals that have been linked to contamination in lobster, fish, and other marine life. At first, the students used dried bamboo and pine—both are a good source of cellulose—in an oven and then soaked the wood in nutrients to create an artificial reef. The wood products were then attached to concrete blocks to hold the reefs in place once they were lowered into the ocean. After deploying the artificial reefs in the Florida Keys and monitoring the marine ecosystem for several months, the students found that the artificial reefs contributed to the growth of a variety of marine organism and that other marine life, including octopuses, crabs, and shrimp, were using it as a food source. The students then moved the artificial reef project to the panhandle of Florida and found significant growth in the oyster population. Manning, in collaboration with VSU students, applied for U.S. and international patents to support the artificial reef project, which included the application of cellulose and concrete to construct artificial reefs that encourage the growth of marine life. The entire system is considered green technology because of its biodegradable design that leaves a functioning marine ecosystem after it decomposes. VSU Goes Under the Sea to Build Ecosystem, Saves Lives Through Research Dr. Tom Manning, Sydney Plummer, and Tess Baker are collaborating on various research projects, including the development of biodegradable materials for artificial reefs and production of pharmaceuticals from the sea. PHOTO: PAUL LEAVY 58 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6