For release: March 2, 2007

Contacts: 
Kerry Gibson, Public Affairs, 515-294-1405

MALLAPRAGADA NAMED BIG 12 "RISING STAR"

Honored at Big 12 Innovation and Capital Formation Conference

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ames Laboratory program director and Iowa State University chemical engineering professor Surya Mallapragada was one of 12 distinguished scientists from Big 12 universities honored as “Rising Stars” at the Big 12 Innovation and Capital Formation Conference being held March 1, 2007 at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Mo. Mallapragada was cited for her expertise in chemistry and biomolecular materials.

These scientific “super stars” leading some of the most promising technologies under development on Big 12 university campuses and their expertise ranges from metabolic engineering to chemical engineering and animal and food sciences.

“Brilliant minds at Big 12 universities are developing technologies that can shape the region’s economic future, and we are thrilled to honor these leading scientists,” said Ron Kessler, a founder of Big 12 CEDIC. “At this conference, these innovators will be matched with the best thinking in commercialization and capital formation strategy so that they might serve as economic engines for future growth in this region.”

The Conference is designed to boost collaboration among Big 12 universities, foundations, state governments, and private sector businesses as a means to encourage and foster innovation-driven economic development in the central United States. The Conference is the inspiration of lifelong civic entrepreneurs and policy advisors Pike Powers and Ron Kessler and will provide a constructive format for venture capitalists to advise leading university scientists and business advisors on the commercialization strategies for some of the most promising innovations under development on these 12 campuses.

To see a listing of all the winners, go to the Conference Press Release.

Ames Laboratory, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2007, is operated for the Department of Energy by Iowa State University. The Lab conducts research into various areas of national concern, including energy resources, high-speed computer design, environmental cleanup and restoration, and the synthesis and study of new materials.

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