Biomaterials Lab
Plastic insulation like Styrofoam is commonplace in seafood packaging and buildings. But plastics never completely disappear, instead they break up into ever smaller particles or microplastic. These tiny particles are harmful to the soils, marine environment and wildlife, and may affect human health.
Researchers with the Biomaterials Lab seek to better understand the effects of these stray plastic bits. The team is working to solve the global plastic pollution problem by developing insulation that is recyclable, reusable, and biodegradable. Researchers combine design-thinking, microbiology, and physics to dream-up scalable biological materials that store carbon and provide a sustainable vital barrier from the elements.
Their key ingredients to de-carbonizing industries include beetle-kill spruce trees and renewable cellulose that is literally grown in a lab. The Biomaterials Lab is an active innovation platform for new bio-based materials and circular bio-economy solutions in the Circumpolar North. The lab uses norm-critical design thinking as a framework to tackle some of the most pressing environmental and public health problems facing the Arctic today.
NEWS & Stories
Assistant Dean for the UAA Division of Population Health Sciences Travis Hedwig worked with the Municipality of Anchorage Assembly to pass a resolution declaring April 7–13 National Public Health Week (NPHW) in Alaska.
Division of Population Health Sciences alumna By Thao has been named one of Alaska’s 2025 Top Forty Under 40.
Micah Hahn associate professor for the Institute of Circumpolar Health recently discussed research she co-authored examining preterm births in Alaska.
Savannah Ivanoff, a UAA Division of Population Health Sciences alumna, fondly remembers the supportive environment at UAA as she now pursues her Doctor of Pharmacy.
Master of Public Health student highlights the importance of inclusive education and accessible resources in improving sexual health for Alaskans.
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Phone: 907-786-6574
Email: nbbeckage@alaska.edu
